SEASON HIGHLIGHTS February
against the backdrop of an imminent world catastrophe in this original and charming début, by turns poignant, thoughtful and life-affirming. The winner of the inaugural Guppy YA Open Submissions Competition for unpublished and unagented writers.
Split Survival Kit Wren & Rook, 17 February, pb, £9.99, 9781526364029 A positive,
PSHE & Citizenship
empathetic and empowering
10-step guide for children whose parents are splitting up, filling a much-needed gap in the market for older children. With expert insight from child psychologist Angharad Rudkin, this is co-written by children’s author Ruth Fitzgerald.
March
Elle McNicoll Like a Charm Knights of Media, 3 February, pb, £6.99, 978191331278
Fiction 9–12 Following wins at the Blue Peter
and Waterstones prizes, McNicoll goes magical with the first in a fantasy duology. A neurodivergent heroine is drawn into a hidden world of unseen mystical creatures, and the secrets of her own family.
Alex Wheatle Kemosha of the Caribbean Andersen Press, 3 February, pb, £7.99, 9781839131219
Fiction 12–16 Kemosha joins the crew of
Captain Morgan to win her brother’s freedom in this fierce and thought-provoking pirate adventure. Wheatle’s previous historical novel, the excellent Cane Warriors, was shortlisted for both the YA Book Prize and the Jhalak Prize.
Joe Todd-Stanton The Comet Flying Eye Books, 3 March, hb, £12.99, 9781838740658
Picture books When Nyla moves to the
city, all she can think about is what she has left behind—until the arrival of a glowing comet changes everything. Visually stunning and thought- provoking, from the award- winning creator of The Secret of Black Rock.
Paul Linnet & Sue Hendra Supertato: The Great Eggscape! Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, 3 March, pb, £6.99, 9781398511613
Picture books It’s night- time in the
supermarket and someone has snaffled all the chocolate. Never fear! Supertato and the veggies have a plan to get it all back. Ninth in the hit picture book series. Look out too for the second I Spy Island title in the summer.
Sophie Anderson, Joanna Lisowiec (illus) The Thief Who Sang Storms Usborne Publishing, 31 March, pb, £7.99, 9781474979061
Helen Rutter The Boy Whose Wishes Came True Scholastic: Fiction, 3 February, pb, £6.99, 9780702300868
Fiction 9–12 When Archie bumps his head,
he sees his favourite football player, who grants him 10 wishes… Comedy with a tender, wise heart and an unforgettable hero, from the author of Blue Peter Award-shortlisted The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.
Fiction 9–12 On the broken heart-shaped
Dr Janina Ramirez, Sarah Walsh (illus) British Museum: Goddess Nosy Crow, 24 February, hb, £16.99, 9781788009959
History Fifty tales of powerful female figures from
around the world who have played an important role in shaping belief today. Written by the historian and broadcaster Ramirez and illustrated in Walsh’s vivid art. Publication coincides with a goddess exhibition at the British Museum
Manjeet Mann, Amanda Quartey (illus) Small’s Big Dream HarperCollins Children’s Books, 31 March, pb, £6.99, 9780008501099
Picture books In Small’s world, everything is
small. But her dreams are big. And Small discovers that when you dream big, anything—and everything—can happen. The picture book début from the Costa-winning YA author of The Crossing.
Lemn Sissay, Greg Stobbs (illus) Don’t Ask the Dragon Canongate Books, 3 March, pb, £6.99, 9781838854003
Picture books The writer and broadcaster
Nadia Mikail, Nate Ng (illus) The Cats We Meet Along the Way Guppy Books, 3 February, pb, £7.99, 9781913101596
Fiction 12–16 A family attempts to make amends
10
Dr Angharad Rudkin & Ruth Fitzgerald, Stef Murphy (illus)
The Bookseller Buyer’s Guide Children’s
makes his children’s début, teaming up with illustrator and street artist Stobbs for the story of a little boy in search of his place in the world. Flooded with colour and brimming with life, says Canongate.
Jo Clarke, Becka Moor (illus) Libby and the Parisian Puzzle Firefly Press, 3 March, pb, £7.99, 9781913102708
Fiction 9–12 Libby is starting her first term in
Paris, when her aunt is arrested. Can Libby and her new best friend Connie find the real thief? Full of friendship and Parisian treats, a cosy mystery adventure from the creator of the BookLoverJo blog.
island of Morovia, Linnet dreams of reuniting the humans and the alkonost bird-people. Themes of division, community and kindness are woven into a spellbinding adventure.
Hannah Gold, Levi Pinfold (illus) The Lost Whale HarperCollins Children’s Books, 3 March, hb, £12.99, 9780008412944
Fiction 9–12 Dive into an incredible story
about the connection between a boy and a whale and the bond that sets them both free. The Last Bear, Gold’s début, was one of my favourite books of 2021; this is another unforgettable, highly accomplished animal adventure.
Marcus Sedgwick Wrath Barrington Stoke, 3 March, pb, £7.99, 9781800900899
Fiction 12–16 The Earth is crying and only
Cassie listens. But Cassie is missing and only Fitz can find her... Sedgwick makes his Barrington Stoke début with this thought-provoking and unsettling novella, touching on timely environmental themes.
Jess French It’s a Wonderful World Dorling Kindersley, 10 March, hb, £9.99, 9780241533543
Science The vet, TV presenter and author introduces
a wide variety of environments, plants and animals in a friendly, constructive guide that celebrates the importance of biodiversity and focuses on solid
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