I have given each of my recommendations for children an age suggestion. These are of course approximate. Please also have a look at younger or older categories.
Stunning book about whales, combining beautiful illustrations, poetry, memoir and fascinating facts for all ages from four upwards.
Review date: 02.07.24
Age recommendation: 7+
Disgruntled Lily imagines life without her parents, but what is real and what's not in her account of that summer?
Age recommendation: 7+
The first in a new series of very funny stories about the pacifist, vegetarian Mort the Meek who has to survive in a brutal and violent kingdom.
Review date: 02.04.21
Age recommendation: 8+
The marvellous Susie Dent introduces new words to young readers to describe and bring about joy, hope and happiness.
Review date: 24.11.23
Age recommendation: 7+
Ted and Kat are waiting for their cousin, Salim to come off the London Eye. They've seen him get in, and watched his pod on its entire rotation, but when the doors open, he doesn't come out.
Review date: 10.04.11
Age recommendation: 7+
An action-packed, nostalgic adventure with a contemporary feel, set on a steam liner crossing the Atlantic. Wonderful!
Review date: 15.08.22
Age recommendation: 8+
A fun adventure which introduces science - though robots and alien life - to young readers.
Review date: 22.01.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Based on the true stories of heroic animals in the second world war, this is the sequel to The Umbrella Mouse. Beautiful illustrations and a powerful story for readers aged 8+.
Review date: 09.04.20
Age recommendation: 8+
Prompted by news reports of children fleeing war and poverty, this is a powerful story of hope and friendship in terrible, terrifying circumstances.
Review date: 18.05.18
Age recommendation: 8+
A nostalgic, rural setting for a story about myths and legends, and a wyrm. Great central character in Mary-Kate.
Review date: 16.09.23
Age recommendation: 8+
A beautifully illustrated but very sinister ghost story for children set around Salisbury Cathedral, published in October.
Age recommendation: 8+
There aren't meant to be any bears on Bear Island, and the only people living in this remote Arctic Circle landscape are April with her father, a scientist researching climate change. But April discovers that one weak, lonely polar bear has been left behind.
Review date: 27.12.20
Age recommendation: 8+
A touching and compelling story of friendship and separation, and the bond between animals and humans. Wonderful.
Review date: 27.07.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Time travel through the movie screen brings healing to a young girl who has never known her mother.
Review date: 19.05.24
Age recommendation: 8+
A wonderfully warm and hopeful story told in verse, with beautiful illustrations. There are challenges but great characters too. Brilliant!
Review date: 16.09.23
Age recommendation: 8+
In Daisy's latest exploits, we learn all about space in class projects, and also how it's best not to replicate the solar system on your bedroom ceiling.
Review date: 13.01.24
Age recommendation: 5+
The first in a fabulous trilogy, introducing dynamic duo, Lil and Nedly as they seek to root out the sinister shenanigans in Peligan City.
Review date: 03.10.20
Age recommendation: 8+
This glorious and sophisticated picture book is based on a true story about elephants during the war in Myanmar. Loved it!
Review date: 02.09.21
Age recommendation: 6+
A gripping and moving adventure about two brothers, set in the poverty of India.
Review date: 03.04.14
Age recommendation: 7+
