A Festive and Heartwarming Selection of Picture Books
The holiday season brings a delightful array of new picture books, perfect for sharing. Harriet Howe and Julia Christians deliver a festive treat with The Street Where Santa Lives. This charming story, published by Little Tiger for £12.99, centres on a little girl who is convinced her new neighbour with a white beard is Santa Claus. When he falls ill, the community must come together in a joyous celebration of neighbourhood spirit.
Fans of the beloved siblings will be thrilled with Lauren Child's new offering, I Am Wishing Every Minute for Christmas. Marking twenty-five years since their first appearance, this S&S publication (£12.99) perfectly captures Lola's infectious excitement and impatience as she and her big brother Charlie prepare for the big day.
For a more tender tale, Grace Easton's The House With the Little Red Door (Thames & Hudson, £14.99) explores themes of loneliness and friendship. Olivia and Mouse are both lonely until a fallen oak tree brings them together. This beautiful book features intricate lift-the-flap details that will enchant young readers.
Captivating Stories for Middle Grade Readers
For children aged six and over, the choices are wonderfully diverse. Jacques Goldstyn's Sketch (Greystone Kids, £12.99) is a playful and original picture book that celebrates individuality. It follows a creative boy who feels out of place until he discovers other unique souls, delivering a powerful message about the importance of being different.
Budding naturalists will be fascinated by The Tomorrow Tree: How Nature Creates New Life from Old (Phaidon, £16.95). This lyrical and informative non-fiction book by Maciej Michno and Danio Miserocchi, illustrated by Valentina Gottardi, investigates the crucial second lives of fallen trees in the ecosystem.
Harriet Muncaster, author of Isadora Moon, launches a new series with The Diary of Wiska Wildflower: The New School (Oxford, £7.99). This full-colour diary adventure for 6+ readers follows a Wiskling named Wiska as she navigates the tricky waters of new friendships at Inkcap’s Academy.
For a stirring collection of short stories, AM Dassu's Wild Journey (Zephyr, £12), illustrated in striking black and orange by Joe Lillington, connects various 7+ adventures through the symbol of starling migrations.
Thrilling Adventures and Gripping Young Adult Novels
Older children seeking action will devour Martin Seneviratne and Krystal Sutherland's Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop (Bonnier, £7.99). This fast-paced 9+ romp features genius twins who build a time machine, upset history, and must then fix greater chronological wrongs.
Fans of myth and magic will be absorbed by Sophie Kirtley's Swanfall (Bloomsbury, £7.99). An 8+ fantasy that revisits the Children of Lir, it follows Pip as he discovers a strange book and uncovers an ancient curse on the snowy wetlands.
Addressing themes of grief and healing, Holly Surplice's The Horse Dreamer (Chicken House, £12.99) is a tender and hopeful story for 9+ readers. After a great storm, Merryn builds a driftwood horse that helps her family rediscover joy after a loss.
For a high-octane thriller, Simon Fox's Avalanche (Nosy Crow, £7.99) is ideal for fans of Robert Muchamore. When kidnappers trigger an avalanche, it's up to Tom and his friend Emily to stop them from seizing deadly technology.
The YA section is equally strong. Bethany Rutter's Ask Me Anything (Hot Key, £8.99) is a warm, witty romcom about a university agony aunt who can't see her own romantic problems clearly.
Manjeet Mann's powerful verse novel, Roar (Penguin, £9.99), is a rage-filled story for 14+ readers about a girl who joins a vigilante group seeking justice for misogynist violence.
In a sinister Bluebeard retelling, Marissa Meyer's The House Saphir (Faber, £8.99) follows Mallory, a fraudulent witch who gets caught up in a murder investigation with deadly consequences and a developing romance.
Finally, Joelle Wellington's Girls Who Play Dead (HarperCollins, £8.99) is a gripping YA thriller perfect for Holly Jackson fans, delving into small-town dark mysteries following a friend's murder.
