Books we love in October 2020
Explore our pick of the top new children's titles in October 2020.
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Trace the Trails: Follow That Truck!
Author: Georgie Taylor Illustrator: Sam Meredith
Interest level: 2-3
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Trace the Trails: Follow That Truck!
Author: Georgie Taylor Illustrator: Sam Meredith
Interest level: 2-3
Reading age:
A truck makes its way through a busy city, heading to a construction site and passing houses, farms and children on their way to s…
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A Story About Afiya
Author: James Berry Illustrator: Anna Cunha
Interest level: 4-5
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A Story About Afiya
Author: James Berry Illustrator: Anna Cunha
Interest level: 4-5
Reading age:
Afiya’s fine black skin contrasts beautifully with her flowing white dress, as she skips through the landscape and encounters a va…
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Be Kind
Author: Pat Zietlow Miller Illustrator: Jen Hill
Interest level: 4-5
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Be Kind
Author: Pat Zietlow Miller Illustrator: Jen Hill
Interest level: 4-5
Reading age:
Tanisha is so embarrassed when she spills grape juice on her dress at school, but the little girl telling the story thinks of lots…
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Creature Features: Oceans
Author: Natasha Durley
Interest level: 4-5
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Creature Features: Oceans
Author: Natasha Durley
Interest level: 4-5
Reading age:
Organised into eleven double page spreads of creatures with enormous eyes, snazzy spikes, black and white markings, fantastic fins…
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Jonathan the Magic Pony
Author: Stuart Heritage Illustrator: Nicola Slater
Interest level: 2-5
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Jonathan the Magic Pony
Author: Stuart Heritage Illustrator: Nicola Slater
Interest level: 2-5
Reading age:
Jonathan the pony has been practicing his magic tricks and he's ready to show the world! But things don't quite go to plan, and wh…
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Rapunzel to the Rescue
Author: Lucy Rowland Illustrator: Katy Halford
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
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Rapunzel to the Rescue
Author: Lucy Rowland Illustrator: Katy Halford
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
Expecting the story of the princess trapped in a high tower? Well, this Rapunzel sets out to rescue a prince being kept prisoner b…
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Robo-Babies
Author: Laura Gallagher Illustrator: Nicci Martin
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
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Robo-Babies
Author: Laura Gallagher Illustrator: Nicci Martin
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
A thoughtful and entertaining, robot-themed, picture book for early years and preschool children that can serve as a foundation fo…
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Say Goodbye... Say Hello
Author: Cori Doerrfeld
Interest level: 4-5
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Say Goodbye... Say Hello
Author: Cori Doerrfeld
Interest level: 4-5
Reading age:
Even the most difficult times, like saying goodbye to a pet when it dies, or a friend when they move house, can lead to saying hel…
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The Monstrous Tale of Celery Crumble
Author: Ben Joel Price
Interest level: 4-8
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The Monstrous Tale of Celery Crumble
Author: Ben Joel Price
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age:
A witty, dynamic, cautionary tale about a seemingly angelic little girl who doesn’t like saying sorry.
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I Say Boo, You Say Hoo
Author: John Kane
Interest level: 4-8
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I Say Boo, You Say Hoo
Author: John Kane
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age:
The rules are simple: if you see the colour blue, you must shout out Stinky Poo! If you see a tree, you have to shout&nb…
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Baller Boys
Author: Venessa Taylor Illustrator: Kenneth Ghann
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
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Baller Boys
Author: Venessa Taylor Illustrator: Kenneth Ghann
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
The big football trial to join All Cultures United is coming up, and football-crazy besties Shay and Frankie can't wait to join th…
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Dream Team: A Case of the Jitters
Author: Tom Percival
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
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Dream Team: A Case of the Jitters
Author: Tom Percival
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
Erika and the Dream Team are on a mission to help Chanda, a girl who has too many worries - but can they defeat the insidious Jitt…
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Pretend Cows
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Cathy Fisher
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
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Pretend Cows
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Cathy Fisher
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
When Maxy's beloved herd of cows has to be killed for suspected disease, Maxy refuses to believe they're gone, choosing instead to…
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Rock Bottom: A Midsummer Nightmare
Author: Ross Montgomery Illustrator: Mark Beech
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
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Rock Bottom: A Midsummer Nightmare
Author: Ross Montgomery Illustrator: Mark Beech
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
When Nick discovers that his crush, Jessie, is leaving at the end of term to go to drama school, he devises a plan - show of…
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The Monster Doctor
Author: John Kelly
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
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The Monster Doctor
Author: John Kelly
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 6+
There's chaos at the local monster doctor's surgery - so Ozzy steps in to help out. It's one calamity after another in this f…
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Dear Ugly Sisters and Other Poems
Author: Laura Mucha Illustrator: Tania Rex
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 6+
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Dear Ugly Sisters and Other Poems
Author: Laura Mucha Illustrator: Tania Rex
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 6+
A stunningly original collection of accessible poems from the witty and wry to more thought-provoking and wise.
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Season of the Witch: A Spellbinding History of Witches an...
Author: Matt Ralphs Illustrator: Nuria Tamarit
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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Season of the Witch: A Spellbinding History of Witches an...
Author: Matt Ralphs Illustrator: Nuria Tamarit
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
This beautifully illustrated book provides an introduction to a variety of magical cultures, from Haitian vodou and Central A…
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Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!
Author: Various (selected by Fiona Waters) Illustrator: Britta Teckentrup
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 6+
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Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!
Author: Various (selected by Fiona Waters) Illustrator: Britta Teckentrup
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 6+
A lavishly illustrated, hardback gift book with an animal poem for every day of the year.
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Boy, Everywhere
Author: A. M. Dassu
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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Boy, Everywhere
Author: A. M. Dassu
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
The story of Sami, a Syrian boy who is forced to leave his home with nothing when war strikes.
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Jungledrop: The Unmapped Chronicles Book Two
Author: Abi Elphinstone
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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Jungledrop: The Unmapped Chronicles Book Two
Author: Abi Elphinstone
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
A riotous and witty fantasy adventure in which miserable, warring twins must find a way to work together if they are to save two w…
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Life of Riley: Beginner's Luck
Author: Simon James Green
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
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Life of Riley: Beginner's Luck
Author: Simon James Green
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
Following a badly timed sneeze at a funfair, Riley finds himself cursed - everything he does is doomed to be a complete disaster, …
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Lori and Max and the Book Thieves
Author: Catherine O'Flynn
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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Lori and Max and the Book Thieves
Author: Catherine O'Flynn
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
Ten year old Lori wants to be a detective when she grows up, and she's got all the kit - but crimes are a bit thin on the ground. …
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My Story: Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan
Author: Sufiya Ahmed
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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My Story: Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan
Author: Sufiya Ahmed
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
This is the incredible true story of Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim woman who spied for Britain during the Second World War. Noor is w…
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October, October
Author: Katya Balen
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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October, October
Author: Katya Balen
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
October has a happy life living with her dad in the forest - but when Dad gets injured in an accident, she's forced to go and live…
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Tamarind and the Star of Ishta
Author: Jasbinder Bilan
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9-11
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Tamarind and the Star of Ishta
Author: Jasbinder Bilan
Interest level: 9+
Reading age: 9-11
Tamarind's mum died when she was a baby, so when she goes to stay with her family deep in the Himalayan mountains she's destermine…
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The Midnight Swan
Author: Catherine Fisher
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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The Midnight Swan
Author: Catherine Fisher
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
This gripping conclusion to the compelling Clockwork Crow magical trilogy is set in a dream-like fantasy world, reminiscent of Ali…
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The Night Bus Hero
Author: Onjali Q. Raúf
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
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The Night Bus Hero
Author: Onjali Q. Raúf
Interest level: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
Hector is a bully who reports an innocent homeless man to the police because he thinks he's probably responsible for a spate of th…
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The Otherwhere Emporium
Author: Ross MacKenzie
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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The Otherwhere Emporium
Author: Ross MacKenzie
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
11 year old Mirren is dismayed to learn that her mother is being held captive inside the Nowhere Emporium, an enchanted shop which…
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When Life Gives You Mangoes
Author: Kereen Getten
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
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When Life Gives You Mangoes
Author: Kereen Getten
Interest level: 9-11
Reading age: 9+
Twelve year-old Clara can’t remember what happened last summer, or understand why her best friend is so angry with her. What myste…
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Cane Warriors
Author: Alex Wheatle
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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Cane Warriors
Author: Alex Wheatle
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
This story is inspired by a real life rebellion in British-owned slave plantations in Jamaica in 1760. Moa has spent his entire li…
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Things the Eye Can't See
Author: Penny Joelson
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
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Things the Eye Can't See
Author: Penny Joelson
Interest level: 12+
Reading age: 12+
When a former classmate gives 15 year old Libby a mysterious envelope, she finds herself drawn into a a very strange and potential…
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