Children may have seen the BAFTA-winning animated version of this tale of friendship between a boy and a penguin, however, before it appeared on television, it was a Nestle and Blue Peter prize-winning picture book. Lost and Found is a visual delight, and its themes of loneliness and friendship will resonate with many readers. This book seems well on its way to becoming a modern classic.

As a picture book creator Oliver Jeffers has been the recipient of some of children's books highest accolades, including the Nestle Gold Medal for Lost and Found and the Irish Picture Book of the Year for The Incredible Book Eating Boy. Other award-winning titles include The Way Back Home, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway medal. An animated film of Oliver's book Lost and Found won a BAFTA for Best Animation in 2009. Oliver was born in Belfast but now lives in New York City.

Passionate, beguiling and moving, the book is also an unflinching examination of the horrors of war and the injustice surrounding the execution of soldiers by firing squad, on the – often false – grounds of desertion or cowardice.

Children's Laureate 2003-2005

Award-winning children's writer Michael Morpurgo was born in 1943 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. He is the author of many award-winning books for children, including Kensuke's Kingdom, My Friend Walter and Private Peaceful. Many of his books have been successfully adapted for the stage or for film and television including War Horse and Private Peaceful (due to be released in 2012)

As well as writing, Michael runs the charity Farms for City Children with his wife Claire. In 2003 he became the third Children's Laureate (2003-2005), taking on a role he helped to establish together with the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. During his time as laureate he toured extensively, concentrating on sharing the power of stories.

Visit Michael's website

Bob knows almost everything there is to know about the moon - but there's something going on behind his back that he hasn't spotted...

This exciting novel offers action, romance, mystery, revenge, crime and horror. Tom, a Londoner, can't imagine a life not on the move, as the traction city of London trawls the world on wheels, capturing and eating smaller towns and cities.

Philip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years. Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children’s books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.

Mortal Engines was Philip’s first book to be published, and this developed into a series – Predator Cities. His latest book is Goblins.

Philip lives on Dartmoor with his wife and son, and his interests are walking, drawing, writing and reading. Visit Philip's site:

Robert is having a tough time at school, being bullied by Nicker; he's also trying to deal with the break-up of his parents' marriage

This is a stunningly original fantasy, set in the mythical city of Aramanth, where every hosehold is judged solely on its members' ability to perform in examinations.

This retelling of John Bunyan's classic story is filled with drama, excitement and adventure