Summer Reads 2022
Looking for some good children’s books to get stuck into during the summer holidays? We’ve put together a list of some of our favourite new children’s books out this summer, listed by age group. Our summer selection includes stories of adventurous getaways, creatures of the deep, treasure quests, seashore escapades and plenty of exploration of […]
The Insiders
Secrets. Lies. Promises. Sometimes keeping things inside is dangerous. Callie, Ted, Zara, and Nico are best friends. More than friends – they’re like family to each other. But since being embarrassed at school in a practical joke gone wrong, Ted has stopped talking to the rest of the gang. And when Callie, Zara and Nico […]
Rex: Dinosaur in Disguise
A comedy of errors starring the instantly-loveable Rex – the first book in a fantastically funny series for 7+ readers, from Lollies Prize winning author-illustrator Elys Dolan. Rex is king of the dinosaurs: carnivores want to be him and herbivores want to be eaten by him… That is, until a pesky Ice Age comes along […]
Young Zoologist: Humpback Whale
Head to the depths of the ocean to study humpback whales in this beautiful non-fiction field guide for kids. You may know that humpback whales use whale song to communicate with each other, but there’s so much more to discover about these giants of the sea! In this book, acclaimed marine biologist Dr Asha de […]
The Inflatables
Welcome to the Have A Great Spray waterpark! There’s slides, rides and fried ice cream, but that’s not the real attraction . . . Meet Flamingo, Cactus, Donut and Watermelon – four inflatable pool floats who live in an almost-forgotten pool next to the Lost-and-Found office. They may have been left behind by their original […]
The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams
Welcome to the Shop of Impossible Ice Creams! Step inside to discover a delicious world of magical adventure, from bestselling author Shane Hegarty. First in a comic, heart-warming illustrated series, for 7+ fans of The Nothing to See Here Hotel and Charlie Changes into a Chicken . Limpet’s mum is opening an ice-cream shop, full […]
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
Black Panther meets Percy Jackson in this action-packed and empowering middle-grade superhero series about a British-Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers. Soon to be a feature film with a major streamer! I close my eyes, trying to push the power bubbling in me back down . . . Hairbands snap […]
Escape to the River Sea
In 1946, Rosa Sweetman, a young Kindertransport girl, is longing for her family to claim her. The war in Europe is over and she is the only child left at Westwood, a rambling country estate in the north of England, where she’d taken refuge seven years earlier. The arrival of a friend of the family, […]
A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy
A brilliantly funny story of what happens when a galactic princess moves in next door and almost brings about the end of the world. Exciting new fiction from the bestselling, award-winning author of My Brother is a Superhero. Gavin’s got a new neighbour and she’s really annoying. Niki follows him everywhere, bosses him about, and […]
The Animal Lighthouse
Brought up by a wonderful group of animals on a hidden island somewhere deep in the Caribbean, Jim knows no other life or who his real parents are. He washed up on the island as a baby in a barrel of rum and treasure, and has been helping run its special lighthouse with the animals […]
The Perfect Rock
Ollie, Bea and Ula do everything together. They play in the waves, eat shellfish feasts and snuggle up together to sleep. But there comes a day in every otter’s life when they must find a perfect rock. One shiny and strong enough to crack open shells for themselves. When they find the best rock of […]
Find Your Happy
A joyful and imaginative book of feelings from the creator of The Happy News. Feeling happy is a wonderful thing! But do you ever feel sad or angry, frightened or shy? Everyone does sometimes, but with a little help from Sloth and the people you love, there is always a way to FIND YOUR HAPPY! […]
Octopants: The Missing Pirate Pants
The long-awaited second book in the best-selling Octopants series from the hilarious and hugely talented Suzy Senior and Claire Powell! Pufferfish has lost his pants! Where COULD those undies be? Ahoy there, Pirate! Step aboard – Let’s join the search and see! Join Octopants, Pufferfish and their underwater pals on a pant-tastic adventure filled with […]
The Great Hamster Getaway
Raffleton Grey is as BORED as a hamster can be. He wants to go to the fair – but he’s STUCK in his cage. There’s only one thing for it . . . Get ready for the most exciting HAMSTER GETAWAY in history! Freedom means new friendships and tasty ice cream and fairground rides. But […]
When I Was a Pirate
When I was a pirate, I woke up to whale song. A chorus of humpback, beluga and blue. They waved with their tails, as we sailed along. Back when I was a pirate, before I met you. Although these days Grandpa might prefer his rocking chair to climbing the rigging or hoisting the mainsail, he […]
Sam Plants a Sunflower
Discover the joy of growing things in this non-fiction nature picture book series from Axel Scheffler and the National Trust Sam loves big, yellow sunflowers, so when his friends Worm and Ladybird suggest he grows his own, he soon plants some seeds in his garden. Join Sam as he watches them grow, with fun flaps […]
How to Spot a Dinosaur
The perfect rhyming children’s book for little dino lovers!
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: Pirates Ahoy!
The detective dogs are back for a swashbuckling pirate adventure! Shifty and Sam have swapped their life of crime for a career in cupcakes. But when they’re asked to bake for a pirate party, they find themselves caught up in the middle of a robbery. Uh-oh! Captain Sharpwhiskers and his criminal crew have stolen Captain […]
A Lighthouse Story
On a rocky island in the middle of the sea, Eva’s Grandad is the keeper of the lighthouse. When storms brew and the mist descends, the lighthouse offers a beacon of hope to sailors trying to find their way home. Why were lighthouses first created? How does the light travel so far? What happens when […]
Grandude’s Green Submarine
As the Chillers explored, Lucy spotted a picture of Nandude, their adventurous grandmother. “When will we see her again?” asked Bob. “Perhaps we could go on an adventure to find her!” said Em… Grandude and the Chillers are back! Jump aboard Grandude’s magical green submarine and join the quest to find Nandude, following her musical […]
Supernan’s Day Out
An unexpected family secret has hilarious consequences in this action-packed story from Phil Earle and illustrator Steve May – perfect for superhero fans. Plane crashes, robberies and fires were not what Stanley was expecting on a day out at the seaside with his nan and the other residents of her care home! Nan doesn’t know […]
Slime? It’s Not Mine
A laugh-out-loud funny story, full of animal facts and … SLIME. Lenny the lemur is on holiday in California. He’s having a wonderful time swinging through the redwood trees, when – ew – he gets slimed! Lenny is determined to find the source of the slime, so off he sets… Lenny meets lots of slime-producing […]
Marv and the Pool of Peril
Marvin’s life is perfectly ordinary until one day he discovers a superhero suit with infinite powers . . . In this story, supervillain Shadow takes over the water park with her army of robot sharks. Armed with his super-suit and robot sidekick, Pixel, Marvin dives into action to become the invincible, unstoppable MARV!
The Sea Below My Toes
From the Look Closer series, this richly illustrated concertina book takes you on a journey through the deep dark waters, all the way down to the seabed, before floating back up to the surface. A follow-up to The Street Beneath My Feet , The Skies Above My Eyes and The World Around Me, this visually […]
Unipiggle: Camping Chaos
Meet the princess who loves breaking the rules and her Royal Unicorn, who happens to be a pig! A madcap and much-loved adventure series for 6-8 year olds, perfectly bridging the gap from picture books to chapter books, from award-winning author-illustrator Hannah Shaw, filled with pictures in all the colours of the rainbow and interactive […]
A Seal Pup Called Pearl
The thirteenth in a fantastic series of animal stories for younger readers by Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted author Helen Peters, with beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Ellie Snowdon. Jasmine’s dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. […]
Treasure under the Jam Factory
The second hilarious adventure starring Scooter the inventor and his top secret alien sidekick. Scooter’s hyper-creative brain is a constant fizz of brilliant ideas, but when he pairs up with his best friend Fizzbee the alien, his inventions are out of this world… McLay’s Jam factory is scheduled for a Grand Re-Opening TONIGHT. That is […]
Hot Dog
From the creators of Mince Spies , Santa Jaws and Jingle Smells comes another hilarious romp that’s guaranteed to make you laugh this summer! This is the story of a little hot dog who longs for just one thing: to be a REAL dog. But when the Mustard Fairy makes his dreams come true, will […]
Luna Loves Dance
Discover the joy of dancing and the importance of family, whatever your culture, ability or style with Luna! When Luna dances, she feels like the world’s volume turns up, like all colours brighten, like sunlight sparkles behind every cloud. But when she takes her dance exam she ducks, dives, spins and… falls. Luna thinks she […]
Dr Ranj Brain Power
Discover how to train your brain and become the best you can be in this empowering and inclusive guide by the nation’s favourite doctor, Dr Ranj. If you want to learn how to make the most of YOUR brain, this is the book for you. It doesn’t just explain how the brain works. It’ll teach […]
Dragon Storm
The first book in a thrilling, magical, and action-packed new fantasy series, illustrated throughout and perfect for 7 – 9 year olds. In the land of Draconis, there are no dragons. Once, there were. Once, humans and dragons were friends, and created the great city of Rivven together. But then came the Dragon Storm, and […]
Red Panda Rescue
Do you like exploring, animals and adventure? Then join The Adventure Club this summer! A brand new illustrated series for younger readers about animals and adventure from much-loved author Jess Butterworth – writer of classic adventure stories in vibrantly described settings. Tilly has no plans for the summer holidays and is dreading months of boredom […]
Libby and the Parisian Puzzle
Mystery-lover Libby is excited but nervous when she’s sent to live with her aunt while her mother is working abroad. Aunt Agatha is the headmistress of an extraordinary travelling school that moves from country to country. Libby joins it in Paris, where she is just starting to find her feet when her aunt is arrested, […]
