TEN NOT TO MISS Ten titles not to miss Highlights of the Season
John Agard, Sophie Bass (illus) John Agard’s Windrush Child Walker Books, April, hb, £12.99, 9781529501124
Poetry, plays & songs
A boy says farewell to the Caribbean as he boards the “Empire Windrush”. Agard’s
poem, written in 1998, is now a picture book, paired with the vibrant art of Sophie Bass. Other Windrush-themed titles this spring include Benjamin Zephaniah’s We Sang Across the Sea (Scholastic, March) and Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush by Patrice Lawrence (Nosy Crow, May).
Louie Stowell Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good Walker Books, 3 February, pb, £6.99, 9781406399752
Fiction 9–12 Trickster god Loki has pulled one
prank too many and is banished to live as a “normal” 11-year-old school boy and suffer the indignities of Earthly life, forbidden from using his awesome godly powers. One of the funniest children’s books I’ve read for a very long time Stowell puts a fresh and clever spin on the illustrated diary format, with a highly visual package.
Emma Carroll Escape to the River Sea Macmillan Children’s Books, 9 June, hb, £12.99, 9781529062700
Fiction 9–12 In 1946, Rosa Sweetman, a
Kindertransport girl, is the only child left at the rambling English country estate where she took refuge seven years earlier. The arrival of a family friend takes Rosa deep into the lush beauty of the Amazon rainforest—and a danger greater than she could ever have imagined. Carroll captures all the wonder of Eva Ibbotson’s original in this thrilling eco-themed adventure.
Benjamin Dean, Sandhya Prabhat (illus) The Secret Sunshine Project S&S Children’s Books, 17 March, pb, £7.99, 9781471199752
Fiction 9–12 When Bea’s family move to
the countryside following her father’s death, she concocts a plan to cheer her sister up, bringing Pride to the village with the help of new friends. Dean’s début Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow, was one of my Editor’s Choices last year and a Waterstones Book of the Month, and this channels the same uplifting energy and optimism.
A F Steadman Skandar and the Unicorn Thief S&S Children’s Books, 28 April, hb, £12.99, 9781398502710
Fiction 9–12 Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith
has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider—but as the dream is about to come true, things start to take a dangerous turn. A twisted enemy has stolen the island’s most powerful unicorn and Skandar discovers a secret that could blow his world apart. Rights have been sold in over 30 countries, and a film deal has been struck with Sony. This début lives up to the hype.
Rachel Morrisroe, Ella Okstad (illus) The Drama Llama Puffin, 14 April, pb, £6.99, 9780241453001
Picture books Alex gets worried about
Ayana Gray Beasts of Prey Penguin, 3 March, pb, £7.99, 9780241532546
Fiction 12–16 Monsters, myths and magic
combine in the first in a major fantasy trilogy from a US début writer, inspired by Pan-African mythology. The series follows two Black teenagers: Koffi, indentured to the notorious Night Zoo; and Ekon, destined to be an elite warrior. It’s already a New York Times bestseller in the US, and a Netflix film deal was recently announced.
Onjali Q. Raúf, Pippa Curnick & Isobel Lundie (illus) Hope on the Horizon Wren & Rook, 26 May, pb, £9.99, 9781526364418
PSHE & Citizenship
From the award- winning author of The Boy at the
Back of the Class comes her début non-fiction title, which will draw on her work with refugee and human rights charities. A children’s handbook of empathy, kindness and making the world a better place, Rauf aims to give children hope in a world they feel is out of their control, with practical advice offered.
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Guilherme Karsten (illus) Little People, Big Dreams: Marcus Rashford Frances Lincoln Childrens Books, 5 April, hb, £9.99, 9780711270978
Sports, crafts & hobbies
Discover the story of the England and Manchester United footballer’s life and
his inspiring fight against childhood poverty, in a new addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. Macmillan will publish Rashford’s début fiction title, co-written with Alex Falase-Koya, in May. NB: This title has moved to August 2022.
lots of things. Every time he worries, a real-life llama appears, one which gets bigger and more dramatic as his worries increase. Can he learn to control his worries and get rid of this pesky llama? Morrisroe’s hilarious read-aloud text approaches a tricky subject with heart and empathy, paired with Okstad’s joyful, energetic illustrations. Morrisroe is a rising star in the picture book world. How to Grow a Unicorn, illustrated by Steven Lenton, was one of the bestselling début picture books of 2021 and is followed by How to Grow a Dragon in July.
Christine Pillainayagam Ellie Pillai is Brown Faber & Faber, 5 May, pb, £7.99, 9780571366910
Fiction 12–16 Fifteen-year-old Ellie is trying to
navigate friendship, first love, strict parents, an over-dramatic personality and many, many misunderstandings. Most days she’s somewhere between invisible and not very cool—and she’s usually OK with that. But being brown in a predominantly white environment makes her hyper-aware of her colour and how that feeds into her sense of identity. A major lead for Faber from a UKYA author, I loved the fresh and original voice of this coming-of-age début, approaching big themes with a light touch.
February 2022–July 2022
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