What’s On

Elisabeth and the Box of Colours by Katherine Woodfine (illustrated by Rebecca Cobb)

A touching tale about friendship, family and finding joy in the darkest of times. Inspired by the childhood of French portrait artist Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun.

The Girl and the Mermaid by Hollie Hughes (illustrated by Sarah Massini)

From the bestselling creators of The Girl and the Dinosaur comes a stunning story about a girl, her grandmother, and a magical underwater adventure

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How I Feel: 40 Wellbeing Activities for Kids by Becky Goddard-Hill (illustrated Assia Ieradi)

Help young children to understand and talk about their feelings with this beautifully illustrated book of activities.Sometimes it can be hard for children to know exactly how they feel. Talking about feelings makes them easier to understand and helps them choose how to react to them.Written by children’s therapist and emotional wellbeing author, Becky Goddard-Hill, the fun, simple activities are designed to give you and your child the tools to cope with a whole range of different emotions.Go on a happiness hunt, play animal charades, feed your worry monster and do the cushion walk!

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Recycle and Remake by DK Children's

Kids are on a mission to save the Earth! Recycle and Remake is the hands-on, practical guide you need to get started.

The Rapping Princess by Hannah Lee (illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan)

A completely original rhyming picture book that celebrates daring to be different, featuring Shiloh, the rapping princess

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Michael the Amazing Mind Reading Sausage Dog by Terrie Chilvers (illustrated by Tim  Budgen)

Michael's dream is to go from being an unknown pup to a Hollywoof sensation and global su-paw-star. But becoming famous is no walkies in the park…

Monster Max and the Marmalade Ghost by Robin Bennett (illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury)

Max is an ordinary boy, except that he can turn into a monster when he burps...

Max and Peregrine are volunteering at an old people’s home, when strange things start to happen. One resident is walking on the ceiling, one is riding their wheelchair through walls, and Reggie says his marmalade is haunted (no one listens).

Can Max and his friends work out what’s happening to protect his family and the local community? Things aren’t looking good: the Marmalade Ghost is turning into a sticky Godzilla, Max falls out with his (joint) best friend, and then just when it can’t get any worse, someone kidnaps Max’s cat, Frankenstein...

Time to ‘Protect and Do Good Stuff!’

I am Nefertiti  by Annemarie Anang (illustrated by Natelle Quek)

I am Nefertiti is a heart-warming story about identity, belonging and friendship. This rhythmical read aloud is perfect for every classroom and is filled with rich and colourful images.

The New Girl by Nicola Davies (illustrated by Cathy Fisher)

Kiku starts a new school in a strange new town. The children in her class are unfriendly towards her and refuse to include her. Kiku helps introduce the other children to the art of paper folding, creating many different kinds of flowers and introducing them to her culture, helping to transform the children's attitude towards her and their vision of themselves and their own lives in this inspiring story.

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 The Gecko and the Echo by Rachel Bright (illustrated by Jim Field)

This funny and touching rhyming story is perfect for sharing, reminding us all that treating others with kindness makes the whole world a better and happier place.

All the Wonderful Ways to Read by Laura Baker (illustrated by Sandra de la Prada)

Books take us on journeys that we can all share,

And give us the power to go anywhere!

So no matter just how, or what book, or your speed, what I wish for NOW . . .

Is that YOU love to read!

This fantastic book inspires ALL children to find their own wonderful way of reading. 

Fox & Sons Tailers by Paddy Donnelly

Rory’s dad, Fox, is a tailer. The BEST in the business! Animals come from all over to have their tails made by him. Rory helps his dad in the shop and one of his jobs is measuring the customers for the tails - which isn't always easy!

But Rory is bored of making the same old tails. He has his own amazing ideas ...

Shu Lin's Grandpa by Matt Goodfellow (illustrated by Yu Rong)

Shu Lin is starting at a new school. She stands alone in the playground and at lunchtime she eats by herself from little boxes of brightly coloured food. "What's up with her?" says Barney.

But when Shu Lin’s grandpa comes to school and shows the class his amazing Chinese paintings, everything changes….

With a stunning double-gatefold spread revealing a beautiful Chinese picture, this uplifting story shows the transformative power of art and imagination in developing cultural understanding and empathy.

Ballet Bunnies: Trixie is Missing by Swapna Reddy (illustrated by Binny Talib)

It's the day before the big show, and Millie and her friends, the Ballet Bunnies, have a busy day planned ahead. Between a visit to the Costume Shop, a delightful cup of hot chocolate, and a successful dance rehearsal, everything seems to be going to plan. Until Millie checks her bag and finds that Trixie is missing!
It's time for Millie to retrace her footsteps . . .

The Artist by Ed Vere

One brave little artist goes on one epic adventure to share her art, and in doing so learns that it doesn't matter if you colour outside the lines, that art is full of heart... and that maybe you are an artist too!

What is an artist?

Someone who sees beauty... Someone with a mind full of colours, feelings, and ideas... Someone who plays and dreams and makes...

Frida the Rock-and-Roll Moth by Kim Hillyard 

Frida is a musical moth who loves to rock out ­- she puts on her pointy boots and plays her purple guitar really LOUD! But when the Big Bright Light is switched on, more moths appear, ready to rock together, and Frida starts to feel that everyone is much better than her. Perhaps she isn't so rock-and-roll after all . . .

With the help of her biggest fan, Auntie Edna, Frida learns to reclaim her style, find her confidence and get up and rock on once more!

This positive picture book will inspire readers to find what makes them feel good and let their inner confidence shine.

Patrick's Polka Dot Tights by Kristen McCurry (illustrated by MacKenzie Haley)

Patrick's tights are smooth and stretchy, purple and polka-dotty, and absolutely perfect for pretend play. But Patrick's tights aren't his at all. They belong to his sister, Penelope, who does NOT deserve them. Author Kristen McCurry proves that a pair of tights and a little imagination can provide endless fun in this charming picture book about a boy's creativity.

I Love Books by Mariajo Ilustrajo

From the award-winning creator of Flooded and Lost comes a magical story about the joy of discovering a connection with books for the very first time.

This brightly illustrated adventure story is perfect for kids who claim to hate reading, as the enchanting narrative opens their eyes to a fantasy world created by words on a page.

This charming and engaging picture book shows children how wonderful books can really be, leaving them with a lifelong affinity for reading. Discover adventure on every page and get lost in The Spell of a Story.

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Nina Peanut is Amazing by Sarah Bowie

Nina Peanut creates amazing videos - so why is it only her nan and best friend Brian who watch them? Surely everyone should be interested in her SERIOUS and NOT-STUPID videos about potatoes with faces?

Nina dreams about being as popular as class queen bee Megan Dunne, who films NOT AMAZING AT ALL content of her pampered dog, Princess Trixie Bell.

So when Nina's stinky cat Les wanders into one of Megan's videos by accident, and goes viral, Nina and Les are suddenly internet famous!

But is overnight stardom as wonderful as Nina always imagined it would be?

Hilariously funny, with themes of friendship/frenemies, big dreams, brilliant pets: hours and hours of reading fun guaranteed for kids.

Warm, offbeat wit and gorgeous, bright full colour pictures through

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The Great Paint by Alex Wilmore

The Great Paint is a brilliantly funny tale about what can happen when we forget to think of others and get carried away with our artistic endeavours...

Frog thinks he’s pretty artistic and that the rest of the forest could do with a little bit of inventive improvement. From painting to sculpture, to performance art and origami, Frog gets to work on beautifying everything around him... but will his friends appreciate his creativity? And how will Frog show them he’s sorry and that true creative inspiration lies in the friendship of others?

Magic Faces: Heroes of the Pirate Ship by Esi Merleh (illustrated by Abeeha Tariq

Open the magic face paints and adventure awaits . . .

Austin, Alanna, and sausage dog Ozzy have been transformed into pirates! Their mission is to find a golden treasure chest before their time in this world runs out.

When two very suspicious pirates climb aboard the New Leaf ship and start snooping around, Austin and Alanna know they must help their crewmates . . . can they save the ship and complete their mission on time?

The Library Mouse by Frances Tosdevin (illustrated by Sophia O'Connor)

Quill, the mouse, is a dreamer! He longs to write stories and share them with children in his beloved library. But getting his words noticed seems impossible for such a small creature. Can he and his spider friend, Leggsy, find a way to make his voice stand out from the crowd ― or will Quill’s stories remain forever unheard?

How to Make a Picture Book by Elys Dolan

Ever wanted to make your own picture book? Award-winning author Elys Dolan shows you how - with the help of her very enthusiastic assistant, Bert. From finding a brilliant idea to using colour and space to tell your story, this entertaining guide is packed with activities, tips and jokes. Find inspiration, grab your pens and pencils, and get making!

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Vashti thinks she can't draw, but her journey of self discovery and expression is an enchanting invitation to everyone to explore his or her own creative spirit.

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Maddy Yip's Guide to Life by Sue Cheung

A madcap new story from Sue Cheung, winner of the Diverse Book Award, filled with belly-laughs and packed with drawings! Perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Sam Wu.

Maddy Yip is perfectly happy in life, until she realises that everyone she knows has a talent – except for her! Maddy is determined to change that, with the help of her brothers, bewildered grandad and her best friend Dev. There are disastrous attempts at breakdancing and playing the recorder, revolting cakes, and a magic disappearing trick that ends up with an escaped guinea pig. Will Maddy ever find her true calling?

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Little House by Katya Balen (illustrated by Richard Johnson

Juno’s furious about being sent to stay with her grandfather for the summer. She’ll miss all the fun she and her friends had planned for the holidays. She’ll also miss her mum, but it’s her mum’s fault for leaving anyway.

Then Juno discovers a long-forgotten little family in her grandfather’s attic. As she works to carefully craft a new home for them, can she learn to forgive her mum and understand her reasons for going away?

Marvin and the Book of Magic by Jenny Pearson (illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff)

Marvellous Marvin braves the stage to showcase the magic that can be found in true friendship in this hilarious and heartfelt tale from bestselling author Jenny Pearson.

After being humiliated by a badly behaved squirrel on national television, Marvin has vowed NEVER to perform magic in public again. But when he acquires a mysterious book that promises to show those with the gift of magic how to use it properly, his best friend Asha persuades him to make a comeback in the school talent show.

Watch Marvellous Marvin take to the stage to demonstrate the magic that can be found in true friendship!

The Piano at the Station by Helen Rutter (illustrated by Elisa Paganelli)

Lacey's smart tongue and quick temper are constantly getting her confined to isolation at school. But there's a lot more to her that most people never see, and when Lacey gets sent to lunch-time music lessons to keep her out of trouble, she discovers a love and talent for the piano that opens up a whole new world for her.

Just as she's really beginning to make progress, her music teacher has to leave, which throws Lacey back into turmoil. Will she go back to her self-destructive ways or will music offer her a way to save her from herself?

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Pablo and Splash by Sheena Dempsey

Join time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash on an unexpected adventure to the time of the dinosaurs in this brilliantly funny full-colour graphic novel. Perfect for fans of Bunny vs Monkey and Bumble and Snug.

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Fantastically Great Women Artists and Their Stories by Kate Pankhurst

Over half of all the visual artists working today are women, but the paintings and sculptures shown in many galleries and museums tell a different story because they're usually the work of men.

In this book Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline Pankhurst, tells the fascinating stories of some of history's most talented female artists.

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The Wondrous Prune by Ellie Clements

Magic comes from within ...

Uprooted by her single mum along with her troublesome older brother, eleven-year-old Prune Robinson is trying to settle in a new town. She figures she can't burden her hard-working mother with the fact she's being bullied. Or the fact that her drawings have started coming to life.

But with her brother soon in danger, Prune comes to realise that she can't hide her power forever; in fact, it might just be the one thing that brings her family back together and saves them all.

Planned as the start of a series about remarkable children from the same neighbourhood, The Wondrous Prune is poignant and surprising with wonderful wish fulfilment and accessible storytelling.

Music and How It Works by Charlie Morland (illustrated by David Humphries)

Take a visual journey through the world of music and learn the science behind it too.

Budding music fans will love discovering musical geniuses of every era, from Mozart and classical music to Bowie and pop, as well as finding out how music is created and what links it all together.

Covering Jamaica's reggae, the USA's country, Korea's K pop, and more, this book will help children discover a love of music.

Red Sky at Night, Poets Delight by Alex Wharton (illustrated by Ian Morris)

Red Sky at Night, Poet's Delight is the second collection of funny and thoughtful poems from Alex, aimed at developing a love of language and self-expression. Readers will be excited by fun new characters like Mr Slime and the return of Hector the Horrible Hedgehog from Daydreams and Jellybeans, as well as being introduced to powerful and moving poems such as 'Young Oak', 'The Long Way Home', and 'For a Quiet Day'.

 Call Me Lion by Camilla Chester

Ten-year-old Leo dreams of performing in the West End. His love of dancing is getting him through the Luton heatwave, but his selective mutism is putting his spot in the end-of-summer dance show on the line.

When chatty Richa moves in next door, Leo finds it easy to bond with her. She talks enough for the both of them ... at least to begin with. But when he learns her secret it's clear that Richa needs Leo's support as much as he needs hers.

With Richa's help, will Leo be able to follow his dreams? Or will Leo's inability to talk cost him their friendship?

A heart-warming story of courage and determination in the face of adversity, perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Lisa Thompson, Stewart Foster and Elle McNicoll.

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Juniper Mae: Knight of Tykotech City by Sarah Soh

Tykotech City is home to the most incredible technology you’ve ever seen, but something is going horribly wrong with all of it and there’s only one tiny inventor that stands between the city and total darkness…

Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

Lina, leaves China to live with her parents and sister in the US, after five years apart. She’s been waiting for this moment but it’s not exactly like the postcards…

As Lina reckons with the big change and feeling left out, she learns about family, friendship, and the power of belonging. And when her teacher starts facing challenges for her latest book selection, a book that deeply resonates with Lina, it will take all of Lina’s courage and resilience to get over her fear in order to choose a future where she’s finally seen.

Starlet Rivals by Puneet Bhandal (illustrated by Jen Khatun)

12-year-old Bela has always dreamed about becoming a famous Bollywood star, and now the opportunity might finally be within her grasp. When a reality TV show gives her the chance to dance in front of the nation, she knows that she is performing for a place at the most prestigious stage school in Mumbai. Can Bela win the Dance Starz competition to bag a place at the Bollywood Academy and move one step closer to her dreams of stardom? And will child star Monica, the most "in" girl at school, see her as a friend or a rival?

Dreamweavers: Roar of the Hungry Beast by Annabelle Sami (illustrated by Forest Burdett)

Meet the ultimate Dream Team!

Tito LOVES spending his nights dreamweaving with Neena! Not only is it fun seeing his dreams come to life but he is also getting stronger. But with Darkweavers on a mission to break down the barrier between the dream and waking worlds, the Dream Team are on high alert!

Then a mysterious creature starts hounding their teacher’s dreams – making them cranky (to say the least) and turning school into an ACTUAL nightmare. Will Tito be ready to put his skills to the test and face the beast?

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This Book Will Make You an Artist by Ruth Millington (illustrated by Ellen Surrey)

This book will make YOU an artist as you explore 25 different art techniques - from cave painting to contemporary performance - inspired by ground-breaking artists from around the world. And discover famous masterpieces with photographs of real works of art!

Pick up your pencils, collect your collage materials and find out more about some of world's best-known creatives in this fact-filled book full of step-by-step activities that are easy to try at home. Including information about tools, materials and basic art theory, this imaginative book is jam-packed with ideas for aspiring artists everywhere.

The Secret Hen House Theatre by Helen Peters

Her father is absorbed by running their dilapidated farm, and the four children are increasingly left to their own devices. These include “farming” each room of the house, looking after an enormous pet sheep called Jasper, and writing and directing plays in a disused hen house. But when the farm is threatened with demolition, Hannah determines to save it and realize her dreams at the same time….

Rani Reports - on The Missing Millions by Gabrielle & Satish Shewhorak (illustrated by Navya Raju)

I’m Rani Ramgoolam – roving reporter. And I think I’ve found the perfect story for the junior journalism competition run by the local paper. An eccentric millionaire has created a treasure hunt with a reward for the first person who figures out the clues.

Luckily, my mischievous Nani is visiting from Mauritius. She’s promised to help me work out what a priceless painting, a minotaur and a glass eye have in common.

“Murder, murder! Call the cops!” Oh, and that’s Cookie, my parrot. I’m not sure he’ll be much use.

But the race is on and I’ll need all the help I can get. Especially when some people are resorting to sneaky tricks to get their hands on the prize…

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger by Olaf Falafel

Trixie loves art and hates bullies - and so decides to become an Art Avenger, righting wrongs at her school through art.

She uses Picasso, Pollock and Ofili to teach bullies a lesson, get out of lessons and help those in need, like an arty Robin Hood.

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Poetry Prompts by Joseph Coelho (illustrated by Georgie Birkett and Amanda Quartey)

Discover 40 ways to write a poem, with Joseph Coelho, Children's Laureate 2022-24. An essential for any budding writer or performer. This is a fabulous resource for creative writing, with an emphasis on reading and performing poems out loud.

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Grimwood by Nadia Shireen

Fox cub siblings Ted and Nancy are on the run from Princess Buttons, the scariest street cat in the Big City. They flee for Grimwood, expecting to find refuge in the peaceful countryside.  Instead, they are met with thieving eagles, dramatic ducks, riotous rabbits and a whole host of unusual characters. Grimwood is . . . weird. But when Princess Buttons tracks them down, Nancy and Ted and the animals of Grimwood must unite in a mind-bending race against time . . .

This memorable, distinctive and warm-hearted comedy series will have kids begging to read more.

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Clementine Florentine by Tasha Harrison (illustrated by Mya Mitchell)

An ingenious 'reverse Parent Trap', this illustrated comedy centres Clementine and her school nemesis Callum, who have to join forces to break their respective parents up - before they fall in lurrrve and Clementine and Callum end up as siblings! It's extra high-pressure because they both have a talent for poetry, and are determined to be the best writer. But then an unlikely friendship with an ageing punk icon - along with her chatty pet parrot Viv - helps Clem to start seeing things differently.

Imagine a female Tom Gates, with a touch of a young Adrian Mole and the warmth of Jacqueline Wilson, and you've got Clementine Florentine!

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The Spectaculars: The Four Curses by Jodie Garnish 

Beyond the gateway, in the Hidden Peaks, live the Spectaculars - magical performers, with special powers gifted from the stars. They can levitate you out of your seat with a song, make a costume that will turn you invisible and create a snowstorm with a dance.

When Harper joins The Spectaculars at their travelling boarding school, she can't wait to learn all kinds of magic. But when the song of the Four Curses comes to life, and a terrifying creature threatens everything, she must use her new powers to save her school...

While dreams come true at the Wondria, nightmares might just be lurking in the wings.

The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade (illustrated by Tor Freeman)

What is it that makes YOU want to read a book? Richard Ayoade’s children’s debut gives you all the answers in a way that’s silly, funny, and thoroughly beguiling.

Have you ever thought about how it feels to be a book? To be left under a whiffy pant pile or shelved, forever collecting dust? To have your pages bent backwards or your spine BROKEN? What if you don’t have a sparkly unicorn or dragon adorning your cover – who will pick you out of the bookshop then? This is the story of the sadly neglected Book That No One Wanted To Read – can its destiny change when it finally meets the right reader?

Spoiler alert: yes.