WINNER OF THE DIVERSITY BOOK AWARDS, CHILDREN (UK) 2020
'I've always wanted to be a Star Hunter...
But I don't want to be the kind that looks for old stars that have already been burning for millions of years. I want to find the new ones - the ones that have only just been born and are searching for the people they have left behind...'
Following the disappearance of her mum, 10-year-old Aniyah suddenly finds herself living in foster care. With her life in disarray, she knows just one thing for sure: her mum isn't gone for ever. Because people with the brightest hearts never truly leave. They become stars.
So when a new star is spotted acting strangely in the sky, Aniyah embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to make sure everyone knows who it belongs to. An adventure that involves the Royal Observatory of London, a mischievous scurry of squirrels and the biggest star in Hollywood...
Told through the innocent voice of a child, this story that explores the subtle faces and endless impacts of domestic violence, and celebrates the power of hope and resilience, from Onjali Raúf, the award-winning author of The Boy at the Back of the Class.
*Parental guidance recommended: issues relating to domestic abuse included*
If you enjoyed A Minecraft Movie, you’ll love this series!
The first OFFICIAL Minecraft novel for young readers 7+
It's Ash's first day at Woodford Middle School and she's very nervous. But fellow student, Morgan, isn't doing a good job of making her feel welcome. He liked things before Ash arrived.
When Doc Culpepper, the science teacher, asks Morgan and his friends to test her new Virtual Reality Minecraft Project, they can't wait! Inside the world of Minecraft, the friends build and gather to make a castle and survive the night.
But something isn't right. Morgan and his friends are in trouble and Ash might be the only person that can help.
For fans of the Minecraft game, Jumanji and Wreck it Ralph.
The first book in the bestselling BATTLE OF THE BEETLES
series – perfect for fans of Roald Dahl!
Winner of the Branford Boase Award
Shortlisted
for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize
Shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Children's Book
Award
Chosen for the Tom Fletcher Book Club
'Truly great storytelling.' MICHAEL MORPURGO
'Funny, exciting and genuinely eccentric' PHILIP
REEVE
'Roald Dahl meets 101 Dalmatians in a rollicking
ride, full of adventure with vivid characters' EXPRESS
'By the end, you'll think beetles are the coolest creatures
on the planet' TOM FLETCHER
Darkus’s dad is missing – vanished from a locked room
in the Natural History Museum. The police are baffled; how can
someone disappear without a trace?
Moving in with his eccentric uncle, Darkus discovers a new friend
in a giant beetle – and it wants to communicate.
But can a boy and a beetle be friends? And can they find Darkus’s
dad together?
The first book in MG Leonard's acclaimed trilogy, followed
by Beetle Queen and Battle of the Beetles!
Featuring exotic beetles, a daring quest, a mixture of
bold male and female characters and a truly venomous villain
Includes brilliant illustrations by Julia Sardà
From the author of Hunt for the Golden Scarab,
Twitch and the Adventure on Trains series, co-written
with Sam Sedgman
The third adventure in the brand-new 12-book collectible series for young readers from survival expert and Chief Scout BEAR GRYLLS.
Omar is fiercely competitive and very impatient about anything that holds him back. . . especially other people. Activity camp is brilliant because he's the best at all the challenges, it's just so annoying that not all his teammates are as quick or brave or strong as he is. It would be much easier just to ditch them and go it alone.
But when he's given a mysterious compass it transports him to a thick jungle that is impossible to get through quickly - he has to learn to move with the rhythm of the environment around him with the help of his guide, adventurer Bear Grylls. Can his time in the rainforest change his mind about what makes someone successful? And who will he give the compass to next?
Each book in this fun 12-book series from BEAR GRYLLS follows a different child on the outdoor activity camp. Once they are given the magical compass, they meet the inspirational adventurer in an amazing place and learn new skills and facts they can take with them back to their real life.
Winner of the Book of the Year, Children's Fiction at The British Book Awards, 2021
'Like Murder on the Orient Express but better . . . a terrific read!' – Frank Cottrell Boyce, author of Millions
Adventures on Trains is a major mystery series from bestselling authors M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. First stop is The Highland Falcon Thief, a breathless train journey full of deceptions, puzzles and clues to solve. Beautifully illustrated by Elisa Paganelli.
Harrison Beck and his Uncle Nat are enjoying the final journey of the Highland Falcon, Britain's most famous steam train. But when a precious jewel goes missing, Harrison and his new friend Lenny find themselves at the centre of the investigation. Can they solve the mystery and catch the culprit before they reach the end fo the line?
Hear whispers in the dining car, find notes in the library, and unknown passengers among the luggage as you help Harrison to solve the mystery aboard one of the world's grandest trains.
Join Hal and Uncle Nat on the next stops in this thrilling series, Kidnap on the California Comet, Murder on the Safari Star and Danger at Dead Man's Pass.
'A chuffing triumph' – The Times, Children's Book of the Week
'A first-class book' – Telegraph
A Sunday Times Children's Book of the Year 2020 pick.
From the imagination of Tom Gates' multi-million-copy
bestselling creator Liz Pichon...
'Following up a best-selling series like Tom Gates is
no easy feat, but Liz Pichon does so in huge style in Shoe Wars
[...] Bursting with imagination and fabulous gadgets, Shoe
Wars is full of Pichon's characteristic warmth,
humour and quirky illustrations.' The Bookseller
Welcome to Shoe Town - and meet brother and sister
Bear and Ruby Foot.
They are running out of time to rescue their
inventor dad from his hideous boss, Wendy Wedge.
She'll do ANYTHING to win the glitzy Golden Shoe Award
and knows that entering flying shoes is her hot
ticket to the trophy.
Flying shoes that Ruby and Bear just happen
to be hiding...
Get ready for a gadget-packed, wedge-of-your-feet adventure like
no other!
Fully illustrated throughout with Liz's hilarious doodles
Laughs on every single page!
More praise for Shoe Wars:
'As with the Tom Gates books, every page here is dynamic
and attention-grabbing, packed with cartoons and typeface trickery.'
Financial Times
'An original and outrageous storyline gives plenty of scope for
absurd inventions, loathsome baddies and heroic deeds from underequipped
underdogs. This is a tale oozing creativity and packed
with pen and ink illustrations, exciting and expressive typography
and visual jokes.' Booktrust
'Shoe Wars is an exciting story with lively characters
that offer plenty of laughs [...] Like Pichon's other books, it
can be enjoyed as a funny, action-packed page-turner, but also as
a comic book of cartoons so that children can keep returning to
their favourite bits again and again.' Books for Keeps
Meet Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy. Together they are THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton's most popular adventure series. All 21 titles also available as audiobooks!
In book five, the Famous Five go on a caravan holiday. When they stumble across a circus troupe, the gang are thrilled.
But some of the circus people have more sinister plans than just clowning around...
This edition features the original cover art and inside illustrations by Eileen Soper.
Dot, her best friend Beans and her dog McClusky all love sniffing out a good mystery and together they will solve the case and save the day . . .
Dotty is sporty, funny, creative, clever and FEARLESS: She is great with codes and puzzles and most of all – if there’s a mystery to solve – she’s your girl. This time round her trusty sidekick, Beans and TOP DOG, McClusky are keeping secrets from Dotty – will she like their surprise?
The first book in a laugh-out-loud, high-voltage, action-packed
adventure series for 8+ readers from hugely popular TV
personality, Alesha Dixon, written in collaboration with Katy Birchall.
10-year-old Aurora Beam lives at home with her utterly unremarkable
family - until the day she sees her little sister being picked
on in the playground and suddenly beams of light shoot
out of her fingers!
It's time for her parents to drop a life-changing bombshell.
Mum is a secret superhero, fighting crime across the globe while
Dad looks after the kids at home.
As Aurora's own powers come into play, will she be able to balance
her new super skills training with school?
Will she be able to keep it all a secret from her friends?
And when her mum's evil twin pops up, will Aurora think that being
a super VILLAIN might be more fun...?
Laughs on every page
fantastically funny illustrations throughout
Alesha Dixon is one of the judges on Britain's Got Talent
Also, check out Alesha's stand-alone book, Girls
Rule
Alesha Dixon says:
My inspiration to create a superhero called Lightning Girl
began with wanting my young daughter to feel empowered.
It's been a dream to create a strong role model that any child
can look up to - I want my readers to see themselves in Aurora,
who is dealing with trouble at home and trouble at school alongside
her new powers.
I also have a love of precious stones and their healing properties;
I have always been fascinated with their spectacular colours
and the positive energy that they bring.
As human beings we are always searching for something greater
within ourselves and a deeper meaning to life and it's my belief
that we all have a light within us that can affect change and
bring good to the world... we just have to harness it! :) Enter
Aurora Beam!
A brand new young fiction series by TV broadcaster and intrepid explorer Ben Fogle, inspired by his real-life animal experiences…
Co-written with best-selling children’s author Steve Cole and illustrated throughout with beautiful black and white illustrations by Nikolas Ilic.
You can always count on Mr Dog to help an animal in trouble…
When a mother rabbit is captured in a trap, he ends up playing bunnysitter…
But someone wants rid of All the rabbits, not just this one, and time is running out for Mr Dog to save them…
Welcome to a magical world where animals talk and play - just like you and me!
Best friends Jess and Lily love all animals. But when they follow a mysterious golden cat into Friendship Forest - a place where animals live in tiny cottages and sip dandelion tea at the Toadstool Cafe - their summer holidays suddenly become much more magical!
Goldie has invited Lily, Jess and kitten Bella Tabbypaw for a sleepover! The girls can't wait to spend a night in Friendship Forest, but brave little Bella decides to go exploring on her own - with the Boggits! Lily and Jess must head into the tunnels underneath the forest to find her, but will Grizelda the witch get there first?
From bestselling children's author and broadcaster, Dermot O'Leary, comes an action-packed adventure. When all the cheese in the world disappears, it's up to Toto the Ninja Cat to sniff it out!
Toto, the amazing ninja cat, is almost blind, but that doesn't stop her having brilliant adventures.
Something CAT-ASTROPHIC has happened: ALL the cheese in the world has been stolen. Join Toto, her brother Silver and their best friend Catface on a secret mission to save the day. Toto is going to need all her ninja skills to defeat the fur-midable cheese thief . . .
Ideal for reading aloud or for children to curl up with and read alone, the story features brilliant black and white illustrations throughout by Nick East. With themes of friendship, inclusivity and winning in the face of adversity, this is a hilarious must-read for all animal-loving kids!
**Toto the Ninja Cat has recently been adapted into a purrfect stage play - find it in a theatre near you!**
Have you seen Toto's other adventures? The Great Snake Escape, The Superstar Catastrophe, The Mystery Jewel Thief, The Legend of the Wildcat and The Pirate Treasure Hunt are out now, and make perfect gifts for young readers. (The books can be read by themselves or as part of the series - so pick up the title that sounds the most fun to you!)
Dermot O'Leary has also written Wings of Glory and Spy Fox - funny action-adventure stories set during the Second World War.
