my dad can by Stephen Lightbown, illustrated by Claire Sahara Lemp, quarto, £7.99
Iris’s dad can turn into dinosaurs, unicorns, whatever she imagines – although some people see dad’s wheelchair and assume he can’t do anything. This soft-spoken, colorfully illustrated book celebrates the playfulness and creativity of parenthood.
fluffy futon by Yuichi Kasano, translated by Kathy Hirano, Gecko, £12.99
When Grandma spreads the futon in the air on the sunny porch, it’s so fluffy that Kittycat, Grandma, Hen, the Chicks, and the whole family join each other for a snooze in this delightful picture book, perfect for enjoying at bedtime.
Princess Pete by Zoe Allen, illustrated by Frances Sana, Walker, £7.99
Imaginative princess Pete, who loves blue wellies, butterfly sandals, getting dirty, and playing salon, doesn’t always feel like a boy Or A girl – but their parents accept them for who they are in this inclusive, softly glowing picture book.
Monsieur Mustard: The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth Charlie Rabbit, by Anderson, £9.99
This fun, charming 7+ blend of highly illustrated chapter book and graphic novel follows the famous mouse detective Monsieur Mustard as he investigates a series of mysterious animal disappearances, interrupted by his flatulent young assistant Mobsy.
How to make a chocolate bridge By Roma Aggarwal, illustrated by Robert Tse-Heng, Laurence King, £14.99
In this entertaining, engaging 7+ scientific booklet, structural engineer Aggarwal examines the physics of materials through seven practical challenges. Guides to building chocolate bridges reinforced with sticky laces and meringue rockets with ice cream inside are interspersed with impressive information about leading scientists, complemented by Se-Heng’s bright, welcoming illustrations.
The Odyssey: A Modern Retelling By Liv Albert, illustrated by Hazem Asif, DK, £18.99
Podcaster and “myth nerd” Albert presents a satisfyingly nuanced, rich, and moving version of Odysseus’s homecoming in this brilliant retelling, complete with thoughtful historical and geographical context, a list of the crew members lost to every misfortune and more, while Asif’s lush, dynamic full-color illustrations invite readers ages 7 or 8+ to lose themselves in the story.
othernauts By Claire Pollard, illustrated by Matcha Yao, Piccadilly, £7.99
When the young-witch Phoebe goes into hiding with the Argonauts, the journey leads to terrible danger: hungry harpies, crashing rocks, thirsty whirlpools, and skeleton soldiers. Luckily, Phoebe and her dubious predictions are there to help, along with Cora, the tone-deaf baby siren, and apprentice shapeshifter Perry. This funny, original, irreverent take on the Greek myth will delight Loki fans 8+.
wishful thinking By Clemency Brown, Chicken House, £7.99
The rebellious Leonie is being trained to control her magic at the Wishmaker Institute. One day she will be married to a rich boy and will dedicate the rest of her life to fulfilling his wishes. When she escapes her matching and escapes to our world, Leonie makes a new best friend, Cress – but as forces from her past pursue her, she has no choice but to grant Cress a dangerous wish, in this thrillingly thought-provoking 9+ magical fantasy.
Demon Hunter: Soul Feeder By Jennifer Killick, illustrated by Marina Vidal, Barrington Stoke, £7.99
When Caden and Sam help Caden’s father clean out a creepy house, they don’t realize they’ve brought back a terrifying uninvited guest. A powerful, 9+ horror from an award-winning author and dyslexia-friendly publisher.
Lily’s Trip: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler By Amelia Tait, Starboard, £8.99
Lily Tripp is an ordinary 13-year-old girl – except for one small thing. Every New Year’s Day, Lily wakes up in a new century, trying to navigate first love, escape her current nemesis, and cope with life without chicken nuggets. Meticulously researched history meets hilariously relevant misadventures in this surefire winner for over 10 Lottie Brooks fans.
six weeks by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, Starboard, £8.99
Since his mother died a year ago, Alfie has not spoken to his stepfather. Now, as the six-week summer holidays begin, all he can do is set out on his bike, trying to ride out the darkness and chaos of his grief – until a pedal stops, and Alfie needs the help of the man he hates. This heartbreakingly poignant 11+ verse novel delicately traces the slow, non-linear processes of acceptance and healing enhanced by Todd-Stanton’s shadowy, sweet black-and-white illustrations.
flood of memories Nadia Mickel, by Guppy, £8.99
In Malaysia, urgent flood warnings bring 18-year-old Leila back to Sarawak, where she must help her widowed mother defend the family home. But the house is tainted by the memories of her alcoholic father, whose conditioning has shaped her in ways she cannot escape. A deeply affecting YA novel from the winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, which connects the devastation of the climate crisis with the old scars of family trauma and the first shoots of tentative new love.
runaway road By Sue Devine, First Ink, £9.99
In dire straits, 16-year-old Ezra’s only hope is to cross the Northern Irish border – even if it means leaving his quirky, beloved sister behind with her foster parents. However, as far as Evie is concerned, Ezra means home, and she has no intention of staying behind. A powerful, compassionate 14+ story of two siblings searching for security and acceptance.
survival show Juno Dawson, by S&S, £16.99
In StarMaker, the world’s most watched reality TV show, the winner will be rich for life, but the losing contestants are literally eliminated. Can the talented Taryn Starmaker survive increasingly brutal challenges to bring down the Machine from the inside out? Squid Game meets The X Factor in this sharply executed 14+ dystopian satire.
