Books beginning with: V
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Valdemar's Peas
Author: Maria Jönsson
Publisher: Gecko Press
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+A cheeky and ingenious little wolf must find a way to get the ice cream he loves without having to eat the peas he hates.
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Valentine Joe
Author: Rebecca Stevens
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 10-12
Reading age: 9+Based on a true story, Valentine Joe offers an intriguing insight into the war, but at the same time provides a window into Rose's relationship with her family.
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Vanilla Ice Cream
Author: Bob Graham
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+A curious little sparrow travels from a dusty Indian truck stop to a vast southern city across the ocean. This endearing picture book about how lives are interconnected is accompanied by gentle pen, ink and watercolour illustrations.
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Vanya and the Wild Hunt
Author: Sangu Mandanna Illustrator: Kristina Kister
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+11-year-old Vanya is catapulted into a world of magic and monsters as she joins the enchanted school of Auramere to learn to battleagainst the forces of the Old Ones.
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Varjak Paw
Author: SF Said
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Pedigree cat Varjak Paw lives in a luxurious mansion with his family, but when trouble comes to their door, he's forced to escape to the streets to enlist the help of a sworn enemy. A modern adventure which considers what it is to be persecuted for coming from a different culture, and, at the same time, find strength in the wisdom passed down from our ancest…
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Veg Patch Party
Author: Clare Foges and Al Murphy
Publisher: Faber
When the moon is high and the farm animals have gone to bed... it's time for the vegetables to wake up and throw a party!
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Vegetables of India
Author: Jill Hartley
Publisher: Tara Publishing
Reading age: 1+For the first time, over twenty of the most commonly consumed vegetables in India have been presented in a colourful and appealing book for babies and toddlers.
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Vehicles ABC
Author: Jannie Ho
Publisher: Nosy Crow
This alphabet board book is a surefire hit for any little people who love things that go. The sturdy card pages mean even overenthusiastic readers can’t damage the book and it will stand up to being flipped through time and time again.
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Velvet
Author: Mary Hooper
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 12-13
Reading age: 12+This novel engagingly depicts the Victorian fascination with spiritualism and also paints a vivid picture of life for a working class girl in this era
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Verity Fibbs
Author: Cathy Brett
Publisher: Headline
Interest age: 12-13
Reading age: 10+Whether she's impersonating her fashion designer mum to sneak into celebrity night spots, jumping into limousines with mysterious boys, or sneaking her way on board a yacht for an exclusive party, 15 year old Verity Fibbs is always determined to make life as interesting as possible - even if it means twisting the truth.
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Vern and Lettuce
Author: Sarah McIntyre
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 8-10
Reading age: 8+A collection of humorous comic-strip stories that follow best friends Lettuce the rabbit and Vern the sheep as they meet a range of equally likeable characters.
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Veronica Twitch the Fabulous Witch: in Double-Bubble Girl-Band Trouble!
Author: Erica-Jane Waters
Publisher: Wacky Bee Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+A light-hearted adventure for newly independent and middle grade readers, packed with spells, magical gadgetry and witch-related witticisms.
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Vi Spy: Licence to Chill
Author: Maz Evans
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+Thrilling, funny and inventive adventure featuring a wannabe spy, an evil supervillain and a secret weapon that could explode her Mum’s brain.
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Vi Spy: Never Say Whatever Again
Author: Maz Evans
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 8+The second adventure for Vi, the wannabe spy, and her blended family as they seek to foil Umbra’s latest dastardly plot for world domination.
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Vicky Angel
Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 8-9
Reading age: 9+A moving novel about guilt and bereavement, written with humour and sensitivity.
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Victor, The Wolf with Worries
Author: Catherine Rayner
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 7+Victor is a young wolf who has lots of worries. He worries about pretty much everything: that he isn't brave enough, that he isn't big enough and that he isn't fierce enough. But with the help of his best friend and some gentle techniques, Victor eventually learns to cope with his anxieties.
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Victoria Stitch: Bad and Glittering
Author: Harriet Muncaster
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Meet Victoria Stitch - gothic, glamorous, and determined to be Queen! Perfect for young witchy fans of Muncaster's Isadora Moon or Laura Ellen Anderson's Amelia Fang.
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Victoria's Day
Author:
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 5+A photographic diary documenting a day in the life of a four year old girl.
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Victory
Author: Susan Cooper
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+Two children cross an ocean, two hundred years apart. Newbery medal winner and Carnegie nominee Susan Cooper offers an outstanding contribution to the flood of novels inspired by the Trafalgar bicentenary.
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VIII
Author: H M Castor
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Interest age: 12-13
Reading age: 11+This outstanding young adult novel tells the story of Henry VIII, from his earliest days as precocious young Prince Hal, right up until his death
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Viking Boy
Author: Tony Bradman
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 8-10
Reading age: 9+When Gunar’s father is taken by the Valykries to Valhalla, Gunar makes it his mission to bring his father back – but unfortunately, he is no fighter.
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Viking Longship
Author: Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9Learn how the Vikings travelled from their homeland facing storms and rowing for days across the ocean.
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Viking Voyagers: Discover the Story of the Vikings
Author: Jack Tite
Publisher: Big Picture Press
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 6+Engaging, clear and stylish illustration along with some glorious fold-out sections make this book a real treat to discover. A wonderful, detailed look at all aspects of Viking culture, from crafts to boats, legends, social hierarchies, food, animals and fighting methods
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Vikings in the Supermarket
Author: Nick Sharratt
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 5-6
Reading age: 5+Six Vikings on a shopping trip, one tartan-patterned cat, a clever little mermaid, a naughty vampire bat, the queen who's really fond of green, the pirate Tidy Clyde, open up this jolly book and meet them all inside!
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Violet and the Pearl of the Orient
Author: Harriet Whitehorn Illustrator: Becka Moor
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Interest age: 8-10
Reading age: 8+The exciting tale is peppered with clues so readers can follow Violet's quest as well as guess themselves who the baddies might be.
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Violet and the Smugglers
Author: Harriet Whitehorn Illustrator: Becka Moor
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 7-10
Reading age: 7+While on a sailing trip to Venice, Violet and her friends stumble across a gang of smugglers. An action-packed sleuthing adventure, ideal for newly confident readers.
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Violet Ink
Author: Rebecca WestcottIllustrator: Matt Jones
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 11-12
Reading age: 11+An engaging read that shows the importance of family, and the many shapes and forms it can come in.
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Violet’s Tempest
Author: Ian Eagleton Illustrator: Clara Anganuzzi
Publisher: Lantana
Violet’s class are preparing for their school play – Shakespeare’s The Tempest. While her classmates buzz with excitement, she begins to worry. Recently, Violet’s world has changed. Her voice has gone from a giggle to a whisper. She’s not sure how she can play the role of the airy and mischievous sprite Ariel, when she feels so sad and heavy.
At home, her wo…
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Viper's Daughter
Author: Michelle Paver
Publisher: Zephyr
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+Torak and his mate Renn have been living happily with their wolf pack in the great Forest for two years. Yet one day, Torak discovers that Renn has taken a canoe and disappeared. Why has she left, and can Torak find her? The seventh book in Paver's multi-million selling Wolf Brother is an epic new adventure for fans of the franchise or those coming to i…
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Virus (4u2read)
Author: Tommy Donbavand
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 7-9
Reading age: 7+This short, snappy, fast-moving story packs a lot of action into an entertaining, imaginative, technologically inspired plot.
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Virus: Virtual Kombat 2
Author: Chris Bradford Illustrator: Anders Frang
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 9-14
Reading age: 9+A tense and gripping thriller set in the world of virtual reality gaming, presented in a super-readable and accessible format for teens.
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Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend
Author: Lizzie Huxley-Jones
Publisher: Knights Of
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+Vivi must use her newfound powers to stop a ruthless tyrant from destroying the human world. This enthralling magical adventure seamlessly blends ancient Welsh mythology with a diverse cast of characters in a contemporary setting.
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Vivian Versus the Apocalypse
Author: Katie Coyle
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Interest age: 14-15
Reading age: 13+Sixteen-year-old Vivian Apple is awaiting the predicted 'Rapture' with a healthy degree of scepticism.
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Voices in the Park
Author: Anthony Browne
Publisher: Picture Corgi
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 5+An aloof, stern mother and her lonely son encounter an unemployed father and his friendly daughter as they walk their dogs in the park. Beautiful, profound and with lots to look at in Browne’s painterly tableaux.
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Vote for Effie
Author: Laura Wood
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+Laura Wood brings us a contemporary book for fierce pre-teens who want to make the world a better place. Effie's aims to make her new school a more inclusive space will encourage everyone to fulfil their potential.
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Voyage of the Sparrowhawk
Author: Natasha Farrant
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 9+12-year-olds Ben and Lotti each need to get to France in the aftermath of World War I; so in the middle of a dark night they set off aboard the barge Sparrowhawk.
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Vroom, Zoom! Here Comes the Fire Engine!
Author: Wee Gallery
Publisher: Wee Gallery
Do you know what noise a helicopter makes when it is flying through the sky? How about the bell of a bicycle or a fire engine's siren as it rushes down the road? Press the buttons on each page of this book and find out!