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Once Upon a Tiger by Sarah Massini, S&S, £14.99
Tiger is irate to find three cheeky human cubs climbing on his back – but when they refuse to be scared off, he becomes increasingly attached to them. A sweet, classic-feeling picture book fable, heightened by tender, expressive illustrations.
Mama’s Wedding by Circle Yuen, Lantana, £12.99
Mama is getting married, but Ruby has mixed emotions – how will Daddy Albert feel on the day? A gorgeous, nuanced picture book about blended families and new milestones.
I Am a Squirrel by Scott Rothman, illustrated by Tom Tinn-Dinsbury, Happy Yak, £7.99
Big brother won’t believe that little brother’s a squirrel, even though he loves gathering nuts and leaping from tree to tree. But wait – is it time for a hawk to join the game? A funny, acutely observed picture book about sibling dynamics and imaginary play.
The Mole Construction Company by Shingo Nagasaki, translated by Lisa Wilcut, Do Re Mi, £12.99
Oh no, the Squirrels’ treehouse is tipping over! Enter the Moles with cranes and diggers to rebuild in this hugely engaging 4+ read-aloud story, translated from Japanese and perfect for vehicle-loving preschoolers.
Three Brides for the Devil by Sally Nicholls, illustrated by John Broadley, Andersen, £12.99
Charismatic and wealthy, the Devil rides into town in search of an obedient wife. Will one of the widow’s three daughters fit the bill? This elegant, subversive revisiting of Bluebeard, fascinatingly illustrated in intricate pen and ink, will grip 7+ readers as well as older children.
Ghost and Toast by Phil Corbett, Piccadilly, £8.99
Trying to remember how he arrived in a haunted mansion, Ghost is surprised to find a cheery companion in Toast, a perfectly ordinary sentient slice of browned bread. Surreal jokes abound as the unlikely duo attempt to thwart the nefarious Croissant in this daft, delicious 7+ graphic novel.
Henry Tudor: The Incredible Diaries of Me! by Danny Wallace, illustrated by Tor Freeman, Simon & Schuster, £7.99
Eight-year-old Henry Tudor is the best at everything - especially making rude and obnoxious demands. When he’s challenged by a mysterious opponent, however, he’s forced to acknowledge that he might not be completely infallible in this highly illustrated, laugh-a-minute, subversively “historical” 7+ diary.
How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail and Other West African and Caribbean Myths by Jessica Wilson, illustrated by Sophie Bass, words & pictures, £12.99
Weaving together the storytelling traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean, this lush, joyful 8+ collection offers tales ranging from the trickster Anansi to the Jamaican rivermaid of the title, describing the origins of each story with enticing details of food, culture and landscape. Wilson’s ornate text is enhanced by Bass’s boldly coloured, swirling illustrations.
The Haunting of Old Splinter by Jack Mackay, Rock the Boat, £8.99
When he makes a grisly discovery in his uncle’s sinister mansion, Peter wonders if the old stories are true. Can Old Splinter’s mysterious Wishing Claw actually grant wishes - and if so, at what cost? A superlatively creepy revisiting of The Monkey’s Paw for 8+, from a brilliant new horror writer.
Tackling Racism Together by AM Dassu, illustrated by Mia Saine, words & pictures, £10.99
Informative and timely, this straightforward little book, produced in partnership with Show Racism the Red Card, provides a broad understanding of racism and its impacts, looking at systemic inequality, how our views are formed and how we can challenge racism in all its forms. A classroom must for 8+ readers.
Impossible Creatures: The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell, Bloomsbury, £16.99
When a dear friend is kidnapped from the Glimt Midsummer Feast, Christopher and Anya must undertake a desperate series of tasks to win her release. Funny, bloody, and richly underpinned with classical mythology, Rundell’s return to the world of Glimourie is layered with powerful themes of conservation, love, sacrifice and hope for readers of 9+.
And Then We Screamed by Holly Bourne, Usborne, £9.99
In the small town of Maple Lakes, everything is perfect – until cheerleader Abigail starts screaming in the middle of an exam. As more girls follow suit, student journalists Clover and Brody investigate the cause, only to discover the sad, terrible secrets beneath the town’s tranquil exterior. A fiercely feminist, gripping and emotionally resonant thriller from a much-loved YA author.
Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick, Simon & Schuster, £12.99
When five teenage girls are found murdered in Clossdale, suspicion falls on 17-year-old Ash, daughter of notorious serial killer “Evil Evelyn”. Determined to clear herself, Ash devises a plan to stop the killings, teaming up with her foster sister and best friend. But the girls aren’t expecting to discover a dark conspiracy dating back through generations of power. This blackly comic, splendidly camp graphic novel is a must for YA slasher-film fans.
Then We’ll Be Happy by Alan Carrigan, Chicken House, £8.99
Seventeen-year-old Sam, who has cerebral palsy, just wants some control over his life. When an inaccessible bus bars him from a school trip, he decides to campaign for change – but soon finds himself well out of his comfort zone, confronting his own internalised ableism as he investigates what happiness might look like for him now, rather than in a remote future. Carrigan’s YA debut is a humorous, sometimes painful, deeply engaging account of coming of age as a disabled teenager.
Between Ghosts and Gods by Ann Sei Lin, Walker, £16.99
As a mortal, Kasu sold her soul to a demon; now she works in a lower-world gambling den, exchanging ghosts’ treasures for gambling tiles, and living virtuously in the hope of reincarnation. When Arun, a mortal prince, arrives in the underworld looking for his mother, Kasu wants nothing to do with him - but as she and Arun are drawn closer, she may risk all her hopes to help his quest. A lush, delectable dark YA fantasy, rooted in Chinese mythology.
