There’s a watery feel to picture books this month. Nen and the Lonely Fisherman (Owlet) by Ian Eagleton and James Mayhew is a lovely, gentle story of friendship and love between a merman, Nen, and Ernest, the fisherman of the title, with a conservationist theme rippling throughout. Mayhew’s light-dappled, tender illustrations are the perfect foil for Eagleton’s quiet, well chosen words.
The exuberant Splash (Farshore) by Paralympian Claire Cashmore, illustrated by Sharon Davey, is full of the joys of swimming, following a little girl from initial aquaphobia to eventual championship. Like Cashmore herself, the heroine has a limb difference, understatedly conveyed in both text and pictures, while the chief focus of the story is fun, perseverance and supportive family love.
The Pirate Mums (Oxford) by Jodie Lancet-Grant, illustrated by Lydia Corry, continues the aquatic theme; when Billy goes to sea on a school trip, he is anxious for his eccentric mums to behave “normally”. But their piratical knowhow is soon needed to save the day when stormy weather traps the captain in the toilet in this colourful, riotously swashbuckling adventure.
In slightly older picture books for five and up, illustrator Dapo Adeola’s debut as author, Hey You! (Puffin), is a moving, lyrical celebration of growing up black. Featuring the work of 18 illustrators, including Diane Ewen, Onyinye Iwu and Selom Sunu – since, as Adeola states: “I’m just one person, I can’t possibly hope to speak for the entire diaspora” – it distils the fierce heartache of racist injustice as well as a passionate sense of joy and hope for the future.
Meanwhile, Tim Hopgood’s My Big Book of Outdoors (Walker) is a blissful immersion in the natural world, full of poetry, seasonally themed activities and engaging facts, with illustrations saturated in vivid colour. This handsome hardback invites children to plant sunflowers, go pond-dipping, and identify butterflies, birds and plants.
From Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey, the dream team behind the Dave Pigeon books, comes Bad Panda (Faber), in which cute, furry Lin decides to be so wicked that she’ll be ejected from the zoo and sent home. There’s toilet humour, villainous cobras and silliness aplenty in this uproarious beginning to a potentially addictive new series.
For eight-plus, Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths (Bonnier) by Maisie Chan, illustrated by Anh Cao, features would-be artist Danny, who is excited about a promised surprise – until it turns out to be his Nai Nai from China, taking up residence in his top bunk. But there’s more to Danny’s wrinkled little grandma than meets the eye. Funny, light-hearted, and challenging racist stereotypes, Chan’s debut is a delightful celebration of intergenerational love, individual strengths and bingo.
The Secret Detectives (Nosy Crow) by Ella Risbridger follows Isobel Petty, newly orphaned and on her way from India to England, as she attempts to solve a murder onboard her ship with the help of new friend Sameer and her chaperone’s aggressively well-behaved daughter, Letitia. This elegantly detailed, supremely readable detective tale revisits the back story to The Secret Garden, offering a nuanced modern homage to Golden Age crime fiction and children’s literature.
Finally, Musical Truth by Jeffrey Boakye, illustrated by Ngadi Smart (Faber), is an engaging and accomplished journey through black British history from the Windrush to the present day, via 28 songs by musicians including Lord Kitchener, Eddy Grant, Neneh Cherry, Sade and Stormzy. Boakye’s text, enriched by Smart’s striking images, is perfectly judged for young readers; his analysis of his chosen songs and the moments and movements they represent is celebratory, sad and challenging by turns, bearing out Boakye’s claim: “Music can carry the stories of history like a message in a bottle.”
Teenagers roundup
Felix Ever After
by Kacen Callender, Faber, £7.99
Even in New York, being queer, trans and black isn’t easy – and despite Felix Love’s surname, he has never yet come close to romance. When a mysterious enemy displays pre-transition photos of him at school, though, Felix’s plan to identify the culprit opens up unexpected possibilities: a wonky love-triangle between Felix, his rival and his best friend. Can he let down his guard enough to let someone else get close? A poignant exploration of identity, self-acceptance and the fearful wonder of first love, from an award-winning author.
Not My Problem
by Ciara Smyth, Andersen, £7.99
Aideen is always in trouble, unlike ambitious, overachieving Maebh. When Aideen pushes Maebh down the stairs to help her skive her sports commitments, she discovers a gift for solving other people’s problems; with her irrepressible new accomplice Kavi, she’s soon sorting issues for the whole school. But with her mother drinking again, Aideen is failing academically; her best friend is avoiding her – and now she’s noticed that uptight Maebh is worryingly attractive. Romantic, hilarious and full of crazy capers, Smyth’s second novel also quietly conveys the grinding anxiety of growing up poor without parental support.
Ace of Spades
by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Usborne, £7.99
At the exclusive Niveus Private Academy, the privileged students seem set for greatness – until two of them, gifted musician Devon, and head girl Chiamaka, are targeted by an anonymous texter determined to expose their weak points. Soon Devon’s private photos are no longer private – and Chiamaka’s darkest secret is dragged into the spotlight. But why is it only the black students being singled out for ruin and disgrace? Fast-paced and intensely readable, this high-school thriller with a difference investigates the ugliness of systemic racism as it pelts towards a nerve-racking conclusion.
