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Gozzle by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie, Macmillan, £12.99
When a bear finds a goose egg, rather than breakfast, it hatches sweet, tenacious Gozzle, who’s convinced goslings can do everything bears do. But what will happen when she learns to fly? A comically adorable picture book about family, growth and change.
Leave the Trees, Please by Benjamin Zephaniah, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon, Magic Cat, £12.99
Zephaniah’s posthumously published picture book, featuring a dynamic repeated refrain and soaring, swirling illustrations, calls on young listeners to safeguard trees and the riches of the natural world.
Recycling Day by Polly Faber, illustrated by Klas Fahlén, Nosy Crow, £12.99
A lively, absorbing picture-book account of how rubbish is sorted, recycled or turned into energy, and how we can all create less of it.
Brown Bear Wood: It’s Busy Down in the Woods Today by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas, Magic Cat, £14.99
Richard Scarry meets Brambly Hedge in this enticing 5+ picture book, combining intricate search-and-find illustrations with carefully crafted poetry.
Boss of the Underworld: Shirley vs the Green Menace by Tor Freeman, Hachette, £7.99
Surreal, hilarious, and splendidly original, this 6+ graphic novel follows young Shirley as she falls down a maintenance hole cover, befriends a giant cockroach, and encounters increasingly bizarre perils on her quest to find the Underworld’s mysterious ruler.
The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood by Farhana Islam, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh, Farshore, £7.99
Mina, Mobeen and Reema can’t wait for their residential trip to Shiremoor Oaks – until they hear about fearsome Bertie Blackteeth, who preys on the centre’s visitors. Will Mina and her crew make it out of the woods alive? A highly entertaining, acutely observed 7+ comedy adventure, heightened by engaging black and white illustrations.
The Line They Drew Through Us by Hiba Noor Khan, Andersen, £7.99
Born on the same day, miracle babies Lakshmi, Javan and Ravi have always been best friends. When the British draw a dividing line across the map of India, however, terror and violence tear their country and friendship apart; can another miracle bring them back together? From the award-winning author of Safiyyah’s War, this richly woven, moving 9+ novel charts the destructive impact of partition on the lives of three children and their communities.
A Series of Cosmic Accidents by SA Reyhani, Rock the Boat, £7.99
Still grieving for his mum, Arian isn’t thrilled when an unexpected foster sister turns up; Madlock is rude, demanding and (literally) from another planet. But when she summons an intergalactic portal, Arian finds himself swept along on an extraordinary magical adventure – and growing unexpectedly close to his nemesis. A funny, wild, crazily imaginative debut, ideal for 9+ fans of Nevermoor.
The Boy With the Big Decisions by Helen Rutter, Scholastic, £7.99
Fred’s parents make all his decisions, including choosing his new school – but when the chance comes to get on the wrong school bus, he’s faced with a big choice of his own. Inventive and thought-provoking, this clever 9+ take on Choose Your Own Adventure books allows the reader to guide Fred through thorny decisions about school, friendship and self-expression, with eight different possible endings.
My Name Is Samim by Fidan Meikle, Kelpies, £7.99
Thirteen-year-old asylum seeker Samim is stranded in bureaucratic limbo. When his life in Afghanistan was blown apart, he and his best friend Zayn began the dangerous journey to find Samim’s uncle; now, after repeated loss and heartbreak, he yearns only for safety and a home. But will he be allowed to stay in the UK? Meikle’s debut is a powerful 10+ story of resilience, adaptability and hope.
The First Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, Otter-Barry, £9.99
As Nate starts year 7, there’s a lot to contend with: a huge new school, a po-faced teacher, an old nemesis – and an unsettling new arrival. Can Nate control his anger, and will his close bond with his brothers survive so much change? Ideal for readers of 10 or 11+, this enthralling, beautifully crafted verse novel, Goodfellow’s sequel to the award-winning The Final Year, can also be read as a standalone.
What Happens Online by Nathanael Lessore, Hot Key, £8.99
Loser Fred barely registers on the social radar, but his alter ego, the gaming streamer Existor, is phenomenally popular and well known. When Fred’s home life takes a challenging turn, he gives way to temptation, using Existor’s voice to spread online rumours about his schoolmates. As consequences spiral, will Fred ever find someone to like him for who he really is? Hilarious, thoughtful and deeply felt, this is another superb 13+ contemporary novel from the Branford Boase-winning Lessore.
The Girl With the Red Boots by Alex Wheatle, Hodder, £9.99
When her older brother is shot dead, 14-year-old Kadeen identifies the crime lord responsible and is sent from Jamaica to England to stay with her overprotective Aunt Mel. Winning a spot in a girls’ football team gains Kadeen supportive new friends – until Aunt Mel bans her from participating. Can she persuade her aunt to let her play in the league final while somehow staying out of the public eye? This 13+ story demonstrates all the late Alex Wheatle’s gifts for pared-back, gripping, intensely readable prose, eloquently laced with Jamaican Patois.
Odd Girl Out by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, David Fickling, £8.99
After her parents’ marriage ends, Maaryah must swap her luxurious Dubai lifestyle for Essex – a grey, unglamorous new beginning. Being the only hijabi at her new school is a challenge, especially when the kids range from annoying to outright racist – and how is Maaryah supposed to stay true to herself when her besties’ group chat goes silent and her mum refuses to share a seismic family secret? A sharp, funny, heartfelt YA debut with a many-layered, complex heroine.
