Books we love in June 2023

Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer

Author: Jeffrey Boakye Illustrator: Beth Suzanna
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Kofi is always coming up with ways to make money and when he discovers his friend Kelvin can remember every song lyric, it’s time to hit the big time! Funny and packed with brilliant dialogue, readers will fall for the irrepressible Kofi and his crazy schemes.

Tales From Beyond The Rainbow

Author: Collected and adapted by Pete Jordi Wood
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Interest age: 8-10
Reading age: 9+

Ancient folklore celebrating LGBTQ+ stories is unearthed and retold in this stunningly illustrated collection of queer fairy tales.

Dodos Are Not Extinct

Author: Paddy Donnelly
Publisher: O’Brien
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

The bird in this book has a big secret to tell - they are in fact not a bird at all, rather a dodo in disguise! But dodos are extinct, aren’t they? This dodo is here to prove otherwise…

P'un a yw'n gosod pig ar ei hun i edrych fel aderyn neu'n gwisgo mewn siaced ginio i edrych fel un o'r pengwiniaid, mae dodos wedi dod o hyd i ffordd i fynd o gwmpas ac osgo…

Baby on Board: Car

Author: Seb Braun
Publisher: Templar
Interest age: 0

All aboard the baby car with this bright and chunky board book for little ones.

Miss Dotty’s Potty School

Author: Tracey Corderoy Illustrator: Ali Pye
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 7+

This charming and reassuring picture book offers up gentle tips and guidance in a super child-friendly way for children starting out on their toilet training journey.

Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star

Author: Laura Noakes Illustrator: Flavia Sorrentino
Publisher: HarperCollins
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 9-11

Cosima and her fellow ‘Unfortunates’ forge a plan to expose a villain through a jewellery heist. Funny but also thought-provoking, it’s a mystery adventure with a difference.

Speak Up!

Author: Nathan Byron Illustrator: Dapo Adeola
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Rocket loves visiting her local library every week, but on one visit, she discovers it will be closing. It’s time to speak up and see if she and the local community can save their beloved library.

Mae Rocket wrth ei bodd â mynd i'r llyfrgell leol bob wythnos gyda'i mam a'i brawd hŷn. Felly mae hi'n torri ei chalon pan ddaw i wybod y bydd y llyfrgell yn cau …

Wonderfully Wired Brains: An introduction to the world of neurodiversity

Author: Louise Gooding Illustrator: Ruth Burrows
Publisher: DK
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Divided into four sections: Wonderfully working brains, which explains how brains work and which bit does what; Wonderfully diverse brains, which explains a variety of neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, synaesthesia, OCD, tics, dyslexia and many more; Wonderfully wired history, which shows the timeline of neurodiversity awareness and …

Friendship Survival Guide

Author: Caroline Young Illustrator: The Boy Fitz Hammond and Helen Lang
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 9+

A warm, practical book offering tips for what to do when friendships have problems, while celebrating all that is great about good friends.

Clicks: How to be your Best Self Online

Author: Natasha Devon Illustrator: Rubyetc
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 10+

Friendly and practical, this guide to navigating online life and its joys and perils is a must-have for secondary pupils.

The Time Travel Twins Viking Invasion.jpg

Time Travel Twins: The Viking Attack

Author: Josh Lacey Illustrator: Garry Parsons
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Twins Scarlett and Thomas have a grandad with a time machine! When Thomas is struggling with his homework on Vikings, Grandad suggests he meets some. So Thomas whooshes back to the year 859AD, but without the crucial device to bring him home. Now Scarlett will have to go after him!

Just Like Everyone Else

Author: Sarah Hagger-Holt
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

A funny, thought-provoking story that challenges gender stereotypes, explores different ideas of family and acknowledges the difficulty that can be experienced by a young man coming to terms with his sexuality.

Animal Atlas

Author: Ingela P Arrhenius
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 2-3

This attractive, large-format board book, featuring pop-ups and flaps to lift, introduces young children to a range of animals from around the world.

City of Stolen Magic

Author: Nazneen Ahmed Pathak Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

It is 1855 and the practice of magic is being eradicated from India under British rule. Many magical folk are going missing, and when her mother is kidnapped, Chompa journeys to London to get her back. A thrilling, imaginative tale, bursting with magic, friendship and betrayal.

My Dad is a Tree

Author: Jon Agee
Publisher: Scallywag Press
Interest age: 4-5

Madeleine persuades her dad to be a tree, so she can stay outside with him all day long. This delightful picture book, infused with quirky humour, celebrates a touching father-daughter relationship and the simple joy of a child’s make-believe world.

What it was like to be a Viking

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

This informative non-fiction book explores different aspects of Viking life, including housing, religion, travel and trade. With short chapters, illustrations and diagrams, it is ideal for dyslexic and reluctant readers.

I Will Swim Next Time

Author: Emily Joof and Matilda Ruta
Publisher: Floris Books
Interest age: 2-3

A child begins their journey of experiencing water as a baby in their mother’s arms – but the sea is so big that they feel scared by it.

Snug as a Bug?

Author: Karl Newson Illustrator: Alex Willmore
Publisher: Happy Yak
Interest age: 4-5

Ronald the bug is very snug in his cosy home, until he makes the mistake of answering the door to Snake, who tries to eat him. Sadly, it’s the beginning of a predator-filled day for poor Ronald, with not only Snake, but Mole, Frog, Bird and Crocodile also having a go at making him lunch.

Mae Ronald y pryf yn glyd a chysurus iawn nes iddo wneud camgymeriad a…

Quiet Storm

Author: Kimberly Whittam
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 12-14
Reading age: 9+

Do you hate reading aloud in front of other people? Do you never put your hand up because you can’t stand everyone looking at you? Well, Storm feels exactly like that.

Finn Jones Was Here

Author: Simon James Green Illustrator: Jennifer Jamieson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Eric can’t believe that his best friend, Finn, has died. Or has he? A funny, poignant story about embracing life and making every second count.

Fablehouse

Author: EL Norry
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

This is a wonderful book, full of hope and magic. Heather and her friends don’t feel special, they don’t feel like the ‘chosen ones’. But through the magic of friendship they grow strong – discovering maybe being chosen isn’t something you are but something you become. So this is a book about making your own destiny, being the architect of your own life and …

Never Trust a Gemini

Author: Freja Nicole Woolf
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 12+

This charming, funny romantic comedy about a girl who likes girls is packed with awkward moments, sticky situations and complex characters.

Interdimensional Explorers

Author: Lorraine Gregory Illustrator: Jo Lindley
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

Not only does Danny discover multiple dimensions in his grandad’s workshop, but now he has to stop evil aliens from total multidimension domination. Luckily, he has his best friend and clever cousin to help! A funny adventure packed with thrills and amazing creatures.

Rani Reports on the Missing Millions

Author: Gabrielle and Satish Shewhorak Illustrator: Navya Raju
Publisher: Rock the Boat
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+

Ten-year-old Rani is so excited – her nani from Mauritius is coming to stay! Rani hopes she’ll help her find something to write about for the junior journalist competition.

Word Trouble

Author: Vyara Boyadjieva
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4-5

When Ronnie and his mum and dad move to England, Ronnie only knows a few phrases in English: Hello, My name is Ronnie, I am four, Yes and No. So, when he starts at nursery, he is a little nervous that he won’t fit in with the other children.

Into the Wild

Author: Thomas Docherty
Publisher: Oxford
Interest age: 4-5

Joe loves wild animals and nature, but he lives in the city where it feels like there is no wildness to be found.

Deadlock

Author: Simon Fox
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Archie Blake can pick locks. And when a diamond necklace goes missing and his dad is arrested, it’s down to Archie and his unusual skills to prove his dad’s innocence. An action-packed thriller with many knife-edge moments, this is a real page turner.