A Totally Big Umbrella by Sarah Crossan, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, Walker, £12.99
Rain ruins all Tallulah’s favourite things until she finds a really huge umbrella – but it’s so big it holds her back. Could there be worse things than getting wet? Enchanting and imaginative, this gentle, playful picture book addresses an anxious child’s need to find control.
The Elephant and the Piano by Colette Hiller, illustrated by Nabila Adani, Magic Cat, £7.99
Short-tempered and destructive, Bonti the elephant is all alone – until the music of a piano reaches him. A luminous, touching picture book, based on a true story.
My Sister Is a Treasure by Tracy Darnton, illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail, Simon & Schuster, £7.99
A little girl ponders the different nicknames her family give her baby sister in this exuberant, joyous picture book celebration of sibling relationships.
On the Streets of Paris by Clémentine Beauvais and Seula Yi, Big Picture Press, £14.99
Lyrical, fascinating and gorgeously illustrated, this “poetic tour of Paris” for 6+ distils the French capital’s glamour, history and hidden secrets into brief, memorable verses.
Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Case of the Missing Flower by Kristyna Litten, Magic Cat, £9.99
Oh no! The rare Agave flower has been stolen from the Bearona botanic gardens; 5+ readers with an interest in detective stories and nature will enjoy helping Ivy and her grandpa solve the case in this absorbing, beautifully designed puzzle book.
Luna Grace: Girl from Outer Space by Julie Sykes, illustrated by Emily Jones, Piccadilly, £7.99
When Luna Grace’s family arrives on Earth from the planet Starbright, she’s keen to fit in – but her colour-changing hair and telekinetic powers make her stand out in this charming, colourfully illustrated new 5+ series about self-acceptance and managing emotions.
The Superhero’s First Aid Manual by Dr Punam Krishan, illustrated by Hannah Li, DK, £12.99
An invaluable resource for readers of 7+, this bright, calming, straightforwardly accessible guide details exactly what to do in accident and emergency situations.
The Unexplained: Ghosts by Adam Allsuch Boardman, Flying Eye, £10.99
Marrying bold graphic illustrations and intriguing pared-back text, this collection of hauntings from different countries, cultures and historical periods will enthral ghost enthusiasts of 8+.
The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy Brewster: The Frenemies by Jenny Valentine, illustrated by Hannah McCaffery, Simon & Schuster, £7.99
Daisy Brewster hopes to win a lead role in her drama club’s next production – but when her annoying cousin Maxxy, an actual TV star, pays an unexpected visit, will she crush all Daisy’s dreams? A witty, engaging diary-format story about family, ambition and the pitfalls of fame, ideal for 8+ fans of Dork Diaries.
Spirit Warriors by Ashley Thorpe, Usborne, £7.99
When Evie’s magical island home is ravaged by evil ghouls, her best friend Arthur’s soul is swapped into a cat’s body. Now Evie and Arthur must team up with apprentice shaman Cai to switch their bodies back – and prevent the evil Blackheart Man destroying the barrier between the living and the dead. A compulsively readable 9+ fantasy adventure, richly laced with Jamaican folklore and genuine terror.
Gloam by Jack Mackay, illustrated by Ben Joel Price, Rock the Boat, £7.99
Gwen’s used to looking after her younger siblings – so when they move to their grandmother’s old house after their mother’s death, she’s confident that they don’t need Esme Laverne, the new babysitter. But as Esme’s powers slowly reveal themselves, the children must face their own fears to have any hope of banishing the monstrous intruder … A superbly unsettling 9+ horror.
A Murder of Rogues by Joe Heap, illustrated by Max Marin, Scholastic, £8.99
In Regency England, Cascabel Gray wants more freedom than girls are allowed; disguising herself as a boy, she enrols at an Oxford college, intending to study medicine. But it’s not long until she receives a letter threatening exposure, and when her blackmailer is found dead, she swiftly becomes a murder suspect in this utterly absorbing YA novel, compellingly blending historical mystery and queer romance.
Bury Your Friends by Benjamin Dean, Simon & Schuster, £8.99
Graduating from the exclusive Woodthorn Academy, Noah and his friends arrive at the Black Stone estate expecting a spectacular party – only to discover that they’ve been locked in. They must now choose one of their number to evict every hour, sacrificing them to the murderer who’s controlling all the doors. Otherwise the killer will enter the building … This twisty, blackly comic YA thriller is both an addictively gory pageturner and a scathing look at “nepo baby” privilege.
Not Going to Plan by Tia Fisher, Hot Key, £8.99
Expelled from her previous school, Marnie finds herself sitting next to social pariah Zed, whose gifts for maths and physics might help her through her GCSEs while she coaches him in Spanish. But when Marnie has sex with a boy who lied to her about wearing a condom, can the thin beginnings of her friendship with Zed stand up to the fallout? Told from two perspectives, this poignant, powerful, often hilarious 14+ verse novel asks questions about respect, consent and how to hold it together when the plan falls apart.
Torchfire by Moira Buffini, Faber, £8.99
In a world divided by attitudes to songlight (or telepathy), tensions between the Aylish, who accept it, and the Brightlanders, who abominate it, have never been higher. Now the Teroans have entered the fray, telepaths (Torches) who hold ordinary humans in contempt. Who will win control of humanity’s future – those with songlight, or without? Buffini continues to enthral in the second volume of her hugely ambitious dystopian YA trilogy, interweaving multiple perspectives with effortless assurance and unforgettable impact.
