Books We Love in February 2024

On Silver Tides

Author: Sylvia Bishop
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

What would you endure to save the life of someone you love? This stunning and original fantasy adventure explores the clash between the ancient wisdom of amphibious humans and the desire to protect an innocent child.

The Den

Author: Keith Gray
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

The story of teenage boys navigating friendship and family in summer holidays.

Cross My Heart and Never Lie

Author: Nora Dåsnes Translator: Matt Bagguley
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 10+

Tuva is torn between two friendship groups – those who fall in love and those who don’t. But where does she fit? Charming and reflective of many a ‘tween’s’ experience.

Dr Roopa’s Body Books: The Brilliant Brain

Author: Dr Roopa Farooki Illustrator: Viola Wang
Publisher: Walker
Interest age: 6-8

A simple introduction to the way the brain works, with gorgeous bright illustrations. Ideal for young, curious children.

The Great Henna Party

Author: Humera Malik Illustrator: Sonali Zahra
Publisher: Lantana
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Noor’s cousin is getting married and Noor’s family is throwing a henna party to celebrate. Noor is especially excited to play the ‘henna name game’ – when you choose a loved one’s name to be hidden in the henna. A heart-warming tale of tradition, family and love.

The Best Eid Ever

Author: Sufiya Ahmed Illustrator: Hazem Asif
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Eid al-Fitr is Aisha’s favourite festival. Every year, her family hide gifts in a treasure hunt for her Aisha and her brother Samir to find. But between the chaos and celebrations, will Aisha ever get her presents?

Measuring Me!

Author: Nicola Kent
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 4-5

This charming non-fiction picture book takes a fun and whimsical look at the important early learning concept of measurement. Features a colourful, illustrated size chart that little learners can pull out and colour in themselves!

L is For Love

Author: Atinuke Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 2-3

L is for Love and L is for Lemons... A warm and joyful picture book which follows one family as they journey to the bustling Nigerian city of Lagos to sell lemons at the market.

Wild Book Day

Author: Karl Newson Illustrator: James Brown
Publisher: Owlet Press
Interest age: 4-5
Reading age: 5+

It’s Wild Book Day, when all the pictures escape from the books. What fun they have! This is a book to make children leap about with excitement, but also to encourage a love of reading. Fun-filled book joy!

Middle School and Other Disasters: Worst Broommate Ever!

Author: Wanda Coven Illustrator: Anna Abramskaya
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

Heidi is off to boarding school – where she’ll have secret magic lessons! But will she ever get on with her broommate? Funny and relatable, with bags of charm.

Tummy Time Farm

Author: Louise Lockhart
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 0-1

Let’s say hello to the farm animals! A bright and charming board book that will help baby’s development, as well as being a great tool for shared fun.

Finding Hope

Author: Nicola Baker Illustrator: Rachael Dean
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

While staying on her aunt and uncle’s farm, Ava helps to nurse an abandoned, newborn lamb back to health. However, she keeps making mistakes and wonders if she’ll ever be good at anything. A heart-warming chapter book for junior readers.

Supertato: Eviltato vs Superpea

Author: Sue Hendra & Paul Linnet
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 2-3
Reading age: 4-5

This time Evil Pea becomes GOOD, and Supertato becomes EVIL. Can the veggies restore order? A fabulous addition to this hilarious series.

Shadowhall Academy: The Whispering Walls

Author: Phil Hickes
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Set in a 1980s boarding school, a clever plot takes the atmosphere in this tense ghost story from intriguing to quite creepy then through spine-tingling to moments of complete terror.

Look Out! Hungry Snake: A hide-and-seek flap book

Author: Paul Delaney
Publisher: Kumusha Books
Interest age: 0-1

This lovely lift-the-flap book – with good, thick pages and flaps– is colourful and playful, and introduces little ones to a selection of animals and their noises or actions.

Where Magic Grows

Author: Onjali Q Rauf Illustrator: Katarzyna Doszla
Publisher: Orion
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Short stories perfect for bedtime reading.

Peng and Spanners

Author: Steve Webb
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+

Peng and Spanners are wannabe superheroes, so when the head teacher’s pizza place is stolen, they must catch the culprit! A very silly graphic novel, or comic book, full of action and humour.

Dreamstalkers: The Night Train

Author: Sarah Driver
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 10+

When everyone’s dreams disappear, and shadowy nightmares take over, Bea is flung into a magical adventure full of peril. A fast-paced, complex fantasy.

Aliya to the Infinite City

Author: Laila Rifaat
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Featuring flying carpets, sphynxes, invisibility cream, knowledge turbans and a genie who has been trapped in a cookie tin for 152 years, this exciting fantasy adventure story also includes snippets of the rich history of Egypt.

Murray and Bun: Murray the Viking

Author: Adam Stower
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Best friends Murray the cat and Bun the rabbit are magically transported back to Viking times, where they become troll hunters. This hilarious comic caper, which is generously illustrated throughout, is the first instalment in an exciting new series for independent young readers.

Weird and Wonderful Nature

Author: Ben Hoare Illustrator: Kaley McKean
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 8+

Discover more about strange and fascinating species and behaviours, with colour photographs and bite-size facts. Perfect for fact-obsessed children who aren’t squeamish.

Stitch

Author: Pádraig Kenny Illustrator: Steve McCarthy
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

A powerful re-imagining of Frankenstein that provokes empathy and compassion. Compelling and thrilling.

Time Travellers: Adventure Calling

Author: Sufiya Ahmed Illustrator: Alessia Trunfio
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

A fascinating time-travel adventure exploring the politics and history of suffragettes.

Reggie Houser Has the Power

Author: Helen Rutter
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+

A touching, light-hearted book about finding confidence and friendship.

Don’t Panic! We CAN Save the Planet!

Author: James Campbell Illustrator: Rob Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+

A guide to saving the world, packed with humour, brilliant illustrations and top tips.

Are You A Sleepy Monster?

Author: Guilherme Karsten
Publisher: Happy Yak
Interest age: 2-3

It’s sleepover time for little monsters – and the monster in this book is very excited to welcome readers to their special monster den under the bed. They are a little confused to realise that readers may prefer to sleep on top of the bed, however, AND that they don’t have special monster pyjamas. Most odd.

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

Author: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+

When young moth Marnie Midnight enrols at Minibeast Academy, she and her new friends, Floyd the bee and Star the ant, embark on a perilous lunar adventure. The first in an exciting new series, this imaginative, bug-sized tale is richly illustrated and full of humour.

The Clockwork Conspiracy

Author: Sam Sedgman
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+

Isaac’s life is thrown into disarray when his dad mysteriously vanishes from the belfry of Big Ben. As they search for him, Isaac and his friend Hattie uncover a sinister plot which threatens Time itself. A fast-paced mystery, which will have readers on the edge of their seats.

How Families are Made

Author: Dr Amir Khan Illustrator: Donough O’Malley
Publisher: Red Shed
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

All families are different, and all are special! A friendly guide to the diverse range of families, and how they might begin.