Books We Love in August 2024

The Cat at Night

Author: Dahlov Ipcar
Publisher: Pushkin
Interest age: 3-8
Reading age: 7+

Follow a cat’s journey through a farm at night, seeing through the darkness with brilliant night vision. 

Mo’s Best Friend

Author: Bridget Marzo 
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 7+

Mo finds a new four-legged friend in this energetic and accurate story about Stone Age life and the domestication of dogs. 

The Boy and the Octopus

Author: Caryl Lewis Illustrator: Carmen Saldaña
Publisher: Puffin Books
Interest age: 4-5

Can Stanley’s octopus help Stanley face his fears? A moving and visually stunning book about expressing your emotions through art – with a lovely father-son relationship at its heart. 

Olu’s Teacher

Author: Jamel C. Campbell Illustrator: Lydia Mba
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4-5

Olu’s nervous about going to nursery – but luckily his teacher is the very cool Jay! A reassuring, gentle story to allay any worries about this first step. 

Number Train

Author: Jonathan Emmett Illustrator: Ingela P Arrhenius
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 4-5

Step aboard the number train in this striking, fold-out book, complete with moving wheels! Little ones are in for a treat as they unfold the book to reveal ten colourful carriages and lift the flaps to reveal a different animal scene.

One Extra Sparkle: Ellie and the Marriage List

Author: Tricia Seabolt Illustrator: Lucy Rogers
Publisher: Lantana
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+

A light-hearted middle-grade story about family and friendship with a protagonist who has Down syndrome.

Mama Car

Author: Lucy Catchpole Illustrator: Karen George
Publisher: Faber
Interest age: 4-5

A hugely appealing picture book offering a child’s perspective on family life with wheelchair-using mum.

The Twirly Wiggly Dance

Author: Farrah Riaz Illustrator: Navya Raju
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 4-5

Will Initsar learn the correct dance in time for her auntie’s wedding? A lovely book that celebrates individuality. 

Worry Boots

Author: Lisa Thompson Illustrator: Aysha Awwad
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 7+

Connie is donning her new red boots for her first day of school. On the way to school, Connie notices something strange inside her boot. Is it a dinosaur? A shark? A funny, reassuring story about dealing with nerves and worry.

The Beanstalk Murder

Author: P G Bell
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

When a dead giant falls from the sky and squishes their village, two trainee witches find themselves caught up in the hunt for a killer in a land where their suspects could squash them with just a footstep. 

What it was like to be an Ancient Maya

Author: David Long Illustrator: Stefano Tambellini
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

This fascinating and informative book in the What it was like to be… series introduces readers to the ancient Maya, a mysterious civilisation who dominated Central and South America for centuries, until their eventual demise in the sixteenth century.  

Fantastically Great Women: Sports Stars and their Stories

Author: Kate Pankhurst
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

This inspirational non-fiction book celebrates the achievements of eight fantastically great women from the word of sport. 

How to Shine at Primary School

Author: Kit Brown Illustrator: Allison Steinfeld
Publisher: Wren and Rook
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 9+

Teacher, BBC Bitesize presenter and TikTok star Kit Brown shares his top tips on how to shine at primary school in this sensitive and inspiring non-fiction book. 

Cowgirls & Dinosaurs: Big Trouble in Little Spittle

Author: Lucie Ebrey
Publisher: Piccadilly
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

In this action-packed graphic novel set in the wild west, dinosaurs and people live side by side and ancient magic lurks in the strangest places. A rip-roaring crime-fighting adventure. 

Moving on Up

Author: Rosie Jones Illustrator: Hayley Wells
Publisher: Wren & Rook
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

The Super Sunny Murder Club

Author: Various Editor: Serena Patel and Robin Stevens Illustrator: Harry Woodgate
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

A collection of exciting, action-packed mystery stories from 13 brilliant contemporary authors – all with a summer theme. A perfect summer holiday read. 

Martha Maps it Out in Time

Author: Leigh Hodgkinson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 6-8

Filled with tons of doodles and interesting notes, Martha Maps It Out In Time takes the reader through the history of the Earth, complete with a cool ‘road map’ of the different evolutionary eras on Earth at the end in a double-page spread

The Wild Life of Animals

Author: Mike Barfield Illustrator: Paula Bossio
Publisher: Buster Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

Brilliantly entertaining and informative, this guide to wild animals is a must-read for all nature fans. Told in comic style, with dialogue from the animals themselves, it’s great fun.

Why Do We Need Worms

Author: Katie Daynes Illustrator: Moesha Kellaway
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 6-8

A fascinating guide to worms, their habitats and helpful habits in nature, with lift-the-flap features and adorable illustrations.

Dig Dig Dinosaur

Author: Professor Anjali Goswami Illustrator: Maggie Li
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 2-3
Reading age: 4-5

Three children set off on an expedition to a faraway land to discover dinosaurs.

Zeki Eats Out

Author: Anna McQuinn Illustrator: Ruth Hearson
Publisher: Alanna Max
Interest age: 2-3

Zeki goes for lunch at a restaurant with Daddy and Nana-G. It’s a fun day exploring a new experience, interesting food and having special time with family.

A Ticket to Kalamazoo! Zippy Poems to Read Out Loud

Author: James Carter Illustrator: Neal Layton
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Interest age: 2-3
Reading age: 4-5

Featuring 19 upbeat poems, A Ticket to Kalamazoo is a delightful picture book of fun rhymes.

Changing Tides

Author: Júlia Moscardó
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 7+

Lula and her dad travel to the seaside with her new brother and step mum. A beautiful, expressive story about forming a new family.  

Alex vs. Axel: The Impossible Quests

Author: Sam Copeland Illustrator: Dotty Sutton
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

A normal kid called Alex and the heroic Axel swap worlds and must complete quests to return home in this fast-paced, hilarious fantasy adventure.  

Gordon the Meanest Goose on Earth

Author: Alex Latimer
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

Gordon is terribly mean. But when Anthony the Piglet gives him a flower, he feels unsettled. Could he be brave instead of mean? A very funny story with amazing colour illustrations. 

Super Sausage to the Rescue

Author: Rachel Morrisroe Illustrator: Jenny Taylor
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 6-9
Reading age: 7+

Dottie the flying dachshund must team up with her new owner Harry to rescue the Superpets from the evil clutches of a sparkly supervillain in this hilarious chapter book. 

Fallout

Author: Lesley Parr
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

If people think you are bad news, what do you have to do to prove them wrong? And if they think you’rebad news regardless of what you do, what’s the point in trying to be better?  

Evil Duck and the Feather of Fortune

Author: Chris Judge
Publisher: Gill Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+

Evil Duck plans to destroy Ducklin City! Can twins Eddie and Flo help stop him? A colourful, funny graphic novel packed with gags and action. 

Monster School

Author: Kate Coombs Illustrator: Lee Gatlin
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Interest age: 5-8
Reading age: 5+

This richly illustrated collection of ghoulish poetry is set in a kindergarten full of young ghosts, goblins and zombies. Accompanied by macabre illustrations and plenty of gruesome humour, these spooky rhymes are great fun to read aloud to little monsters.

Best of All: The Magical Mix That’s You

Author: Smriti Halls Illustrator: Chaaya Prabhat
Publisher: Two Hoots
Interest age: 4-5

This joyful picture book celebrates what makes us who we are, from the qualities we inherit from family to our cultural heritage and personal experiences. With lyrical text and stunning illustrations, this is an unusual, thought-provoking and uplifting tale.  

Smelly Peggy

Author: Helen Stephens
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4-5

This delightful picture book about Peggy, a lovable, mischievous and sometimes smelly rescue dog, is full of warmth and gentle humour, and perfectly captures the joys of living with a beloved canine friend.