SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
practical solutions, showing that small actions can make a big difference.
can come true, in the most unexpected ways. Evans’ brilliant Wed Wabbit, was shortlisted for the Carnegie, Costa and Blue Peter awards.
Fiction 9–12 Now officially a Junior Agent,
Amari’s challenges have only just begun. With new anti- magician rules and her brother’s curse worsening, has she still got what it takes to save magiciankind? The sequel to Amari and the Night Brothers, which was one of my favourite débuts of 2021.
includes The Butterfly Club series by M A Bennett.
Picture books Drawing on her experience of
growing up with a disabled sister, Patterson deftly handles the subject of childhood play and disability in this unicorn- filled, laugh-out-loud picture book. Patterson won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize for the excellent My Big Shouting Day.
Rizanino Reyes, Sara Boccacini Meadows (illus) Grow Magic Cat Publishing, 3 March, hb, £16.99, 9781913520403
Sports, crafts & hobbies
Meet 15 plants’ surprising relations and life-changing powers. Discover their
history, then follow the instructions to grow and care for them, either in a back garden or on a windowsill. An exceptionally good-looking volume, full of practical advice.
Michael Rosen, Michael Foreman (illus) Please Write Soon Scholastic: Fiction, 7 April, hb, £12.99, 9780702303180
Fiction 7–9 Two children’s book legends team up
with the Royal British Legion to tell an incredible story about the Second World War, inspired by true events. Other highlights from Rosen include Ready for Spaghetti, illustrated by Polly Dunbar, from Walker in June.
Varsha Shah, Sonia Albert (illus) Ajay and the Mumbai Sun Chicken House, 7 April, pb, £7.99, 9781913696337
Fiction 9–12 Aspiring journalist Ajay dreams of
creating his own newspaper, but what is the cost of uncovering the truth? A high-stakes, warm- hearted adventure, says the publisher, which pitches it as Emil and the Detectives meets “Slumdog Millionaire”.
Alison Hammond Black in Time Puffin, 14 April, pb, £7.99, 9780241532317
Liz Pichon You Can Draw Tom Gates with Liz Pichon Scholastic, 31 March, pb, £6.99, 9780702316258
Fiction 9–12 The must-have art activity book
for fans of Tom Gates: a celebration of imagination and creativity, packed with drawing guides, how-to doodles, colouring pages and things to make and do.
Jacqueline Wilson, Rachel Dean (illus) Baby Love Penguin, 17 March, hb, £12.99, 9780241567104
Fiction 12–16 In 1960s suburban
England, a teenage girl gets pregnant and is sent to a Mother and Baby home. Heartbreaking and compelling, says Penguin, this is for teenage readers. Also from Wilson comes The Runaway Girls paperback in February.
April
Lissa Evans Wished David Fickling Books, 7 April, hb, £12.99, 9781788452021
Fiction 9–12 A hilarious misadventure
about how the biggest wishes 12 B B Alston
Amari and the Great Game Farshore, 14 April, hb, £12.99, 9781405298643
The Bookseller Buyer’s Guide Children’s
Skye McKenna Hedgewitch Welbeck Flame, 14 April, hb, £12.99, 9781801300087
Fiction 9–12 Cassie runs away and ends up in
Hedgely, only to discover she comes from a family of witches: women who protect Britain from the denizens of Faerie. A major launch for Welbeck Flame, whose new fiction list also
Rebecca Patterson Four Bad Unicorns Andersen Press, 5 May, hb, £12.99, 9781839131035
History The TV presenter makes her children’s
Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth Uviebinené The Offline Diaries HarperCollins Children’s Books, 28 April, hb, £12,99, 9780008444778
Fiction 9–12 The authors of Slay in Your Lane
make their children’s début with a fresh and funny contemporary story. It’s a tale of friendship following two Year 8 girls, Ade and Shanice, as they navigate the highs and lows of friendship, family and secondary school.
début with a journey through British history to highlight Black figures and the impact they have made on our society, showing that Black history is British history. “Accessible and inspirational,” says Penguin, pitching it for readers of Horrible Histories or Adam Kay.
Holly Bathie, Nancy Leschnikoff & Kate Sutton (illus) Social Media Survival Guide Usborne Publishing, 28 April, pb, £6.99, 9781474999267
PSHE & Citizenship
A comprehensive book for young people, equipping
them with the skills they need to manage social media safely and confidently. Covers mental health, influencers, fake news, trolling and lots more. Accessible, friendly and well- pitched for children aged 10 and above.
May
Michelle Paver Wolfbane Zephyr, 14 April, hb, £12.99, 9781789542448
Fiction 9–12 In the grand finale of the Wolf
Brother series, Torak and Ren must race to save their pack brother when Wolf is swept out to sea and hunted by an ice demon bent on eating his soul. The story works as a standalone but I highly recommend the whole, epic series.
Nicolette Jones, Mary Kate McDevitt (illus) Writes of Passage: Words to Read Before You Turn 13 Nosy Crow, 5 May, hb, £12.99, 9781788005029
Collections & anthologies
An inspiring collection of words that
matter, expertly selected by Nicolette Jones, children’s book critic for the Sunday Times. The selections include prose, poems, speeches and lyrics.
Caryl Lewis Seed Macmillan Children’s Books, 12 May, pb, £6.99, 9781529077667
Fiction 9–12 Marty’s mum is a hoarder and life
at home is tough. His sanctuary is down at the allotment with his eccentric grandfather, who gives him a very special seed for his birthday... Funny, uplifting and bighearted, says the publisher, with themes of hope and imagination.
G M Linton My Name is Sunshine Simpson
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