PREVIEWER’S PERSPECTIVE Previewer’s perspective


Middle Grade takes top billing as children’s market goes green


There’s an abundance of riches in the already bustling Middle Grade sector in the next six months, with new titles from the likes of M G Leonard and Abi Elphinstone. But environmental titles are making the biggest mark


Fiona Noble Children’s & YA Previews editor


A


nd so to 2020! For this Children’s Buyer’s Guide highlights, I have selected 70 titles published between February and July 2020 from publishers big and small who uploaded their titles to the database. These are my highlights from across the categories, from commercial must-haves to ones to watch. Any sales data is Nielsen BookScan TCM, unless otherwise stated. On the whole, these are all original publications; paperbacks will be covered in my monthly previews.


The explosion of Middle Grade fantasy continues apace, from débuts such as Struan Murray’s Orphans of the Tide and L D Lapinksi’s The Strangeworlds Travel Agency—both highly recommended—to the continuation of series launched in 2019: Michelle Harrison’s A Sprinkle of Sorcery, Thomas Taylor’s Gargantis, Abi Elphinstone’s Jungledrop and Jenny McLachlan’s Return to Roar. And many more. There is some wonderful talent here but, my goodness, it’s an intensely competitive area. Middle Grade is not all about fantasy: do look out for the Adventures on Trains series from Beetle Boy creator M G Leonard, writing with Sam Sedgman, and Sharna Jackson’s Mic Drop, the second High-rise Mystery. In YA, Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, with its crossover appeal and chunky price point, is set to give the category a much-needed boost, while Holly Jackson follows her bestsellilng début with Good Girl, Bad Blood. But if I were to pick one over- arching theme, it has to be the environment. From picture books to fiction, non-fiction to activit the green and eco-conscious is everywhere. Usborne gets technical with


If I were to pick one over- arching theme, it has to be the environment. From picture books to fiction, non-fiction to activity, the eco-conscious is everywhere


NICOLA PENFOLD: RECONNECTING WITH NATURE


Liſt-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Plastic, DK looks to young campaigners Amy and Ella Meek in We are the Future and Pavilion inspires action in Challenge Everything. Reconnecting with nature is at the heart of Nicola Penfold’s futuristic adventure Where the World Turns Wild, while Gill Lewis’ new young fiction takes a magical slant on the wilderness in Willow Wildthing and the Swamp Monster.


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You can find Fiona on Twitter (@fionanoblebooks), or make contact via email (fionanoble@btinternet.com)


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The Bookseller Buyer’s Guide Children’s


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