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Once upon a fairytale by Natalia O’Hara, Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara (Macmillan £12.99, 40 pp)

Be wild, little one by Olivia Hope Illustrated by Daniel Egneus (Bloomsbury £6.99)

Hot dog by Mark Sperring, Illustrated by Sophie Corrigan (Bloomsbury £6.99, 32 pp)

Brave Dave by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker Rees (Orchard £12.99, 32 pp)

Wellington's big day out by Steve Small (S&S £12.99 30pp)

The royal leap frog by Peter Bently Illustrated by Claire Powell (Bloomsbury £6.99)

PICTURE BOOKS

ONCE UPON A FAIRYTALE

by Natalia O’Hara, Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara (Macmillan £12.99, 40 pp)

Perfect for summer holidays, this inventive interactive book allows the reader to choose from half a dozen options on almost every page: would you rather be a gentle knight, or a mighty witch living in a gingerbread house or a palace of ice? The story changes with each choice and the main character, in a red-hooded cloak, could be a boy or girl. Pop it in your suitcase for a different story every night.

BE WILD, LITTLE ONE

by Olivia Hope, Illustrated by Daniel Egneus (Bloomsbury £6.99, 32 pp)

After the claustrophobic confines of lockdown, this utterly enchanting book is a clarion call to children to open themselves up to all the possibilities the natural world can offer. From dancing with fireflies to climbing trees and swinging along with chimpanzees, the pull of limitless freedom is hypnotic. ‘Make the world your own playground, fill it with a noisy sound.’ Indeed, we all should do just that!

HOT DOG

by Mark Sperring, Illustrated by Sophie Corrigan (Bloomsbury £6.99, 32 pp)

It’s a baking hot day at the beach with families swimming and playing — apart from a lonely hot dog made of sausage and a bun who wants to be a real dog and join in all the fun. Then along comes the Mustard Fairy to grant his wish . . . This bold, rhyming story about fulfilling your dreams is a riot of silliness from start to sticky finish.

BRAVE DAVE

by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker Rees (Orchard £12.99, 32 pp)

From the ebullient creators of the classic, Giraffes Can’t Dance, comes this life-affirming lesson of little bear Dave, who’s in awe of his stronger, braver, older brother Clarence. Dave prefers gentle, artistic hobbies and, fearing ridicule, he hides away until he finds the courage to show Clarence and his friends how he spends his time. A joyous book for all younger siblings to celebrate their individuality.

WELLINGTON’S BIG DAY OUT

by Steve Small (S&S £12.99, 30 pp)

Wellington the elephant is celebrating his fifth birthday and can’t wait to try on his new jacket that is just like Dad’s. But it’s too big — or is Wellington just too small? Increasingly anxious that he’s not growing fast enough, it takes a hectic day out with Dad and some wise words from Grandad to offer the reassurance that growing up can’t be rushed and that he’s pint-sized perfect as he is. A delight.

THE ROYAL LEAP-FROG

by Peter Bently, Illustrated by Claire Powell (Bloomsbury £6.99, 32 pp)

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale, this madcap rhyming story of a flea, a grasshopper and a frog (main picture) who compete to see who can jump highest and ask the King to adjudicate is a triumph.

The illustrations are packed with detail and there are refreshingly modern updates (the Admiral of the Navy is a woman) as brains outwit brawn and the boasters get their comeuppance.

YOUNG FICTION

SEED 

by Caryl Lewis (Macmillan £7.99, 288 pp)

This gloriously uplifting adventure is an inspiration to believe in dreams despite a difficult world. Marty’s eccentric Grandad and allotment provide sanctuary as he battles bullies and his mum’s mental-health problems. Grandad’s gift of a special pumpkin seed for Marty’s birthday appears bizarre but it grows so vast that Grandad has a life-changing idea that could help Marty believe in himself.

WISHED

by Lissa Evans (David Fickling Books £12.99, 272 pp)

If a wish could come true what would you wish for? It’s just this dilemma that faces wheelchair-bound Ed, his younger sister Roo and new friend Willard as they are forced to spend half-term week with an elderly neighbour, Rosanna, and her disgustingly smelly (talking) cat. The discovery of birthday candles that grant desires when lit leads to magic and mayhem. Fabulous.

THE ROLLERCOASTER BOY

by Lisa Thompson (Scholastic £6.99, 352 pp)

This wildly funny but sensitive adventure sees Todd and sister Laurie booked into a ‘luxury’ (i.e. run-down) seaside hotel by their bipolar dad who is off his meds. When he falls ill, they team up with the owner’s daughter, Scout, to solve the mystery of a famous author who went missing from the hotel years ago — but left clues as to why and where. Oh, and there’s possibly a werewolf staying . . .

ESCAPE TO THE RIVER SEA

by Emma Carroll (Macmillan £12.99, 288 pp)

Eva Ibbotson’s award-winning modern classic, Journey To The River Sea, conjured up the lush, heady power of the Amazon and now this thrilling sequel, set in 1946, returns there with young Rosa, a Kindertransport child, awaiting news of her missing German family. When naturalist Yara takes her on a quest to find the giant sloth, Rosa becomes embroiled in a secretive dangerous mission.

WHILE THE STORM RAGES 

by Phil Earle (Andersen £7.99, 384 pp)

At the start of WWII, Londoners were advised to have their pets put down before bombing started but Noah promised his soldier dad to keep their beloved dog, Winn, safe. So he and his friend Clem ‘borrow’ his dad’s boat — with a python, two kittens and a dachshund — and set sail in search of safety. Another gritty adventure full of heart, humour and historical accuracy from the superb Earle.

THE GIRL WHO LOST A LEOPARD

by Nizrana Farook (Nosy Crow £7.99, 160 pp)

Farook’s wild tales set on Serendib (Sri Lanka) conjure up endangered nature, cruel criminals and engaging child heroes. Here, Selvi has developed a bond with Lokka, a rare mountain leopard — but big cats are valuable to poachers and someone has discovered Selvi’s secret.

Can she protect Lokka — or will someone betray her? Edge-of-your-seat excitement.

THE THIEF WHO SANG STORMS

by Sophie Anderson (Usborne £7.99, 416 pp)

Young Linnet, one of the magical, singing bird people, mourns her mother, drowned in a flood that was blamed on her species. When her father is kidnapped, Linnet, whose magical powers haven’t yet arrived, is forced to join forces with a former friend, now a sworn enemy, to rescue him. This richly imaginative story, based on Russian folklore, is a rewarding read.

THE LOST WHALE

by Hannah Gold, Illustrated by Levi Pinfold (HarperCollins £12.99, 320 pp)

Sent to stay with his estranged grandmother in LA after his mother has a breakdown, Rio is fearful and homesick.

When he discovers a photograph of his mum as a child encountering a grey whale named White Beak, he becomes obsessed with tracking down the missing whale down in a symbolic quest to heal his mother. A powerful and deeply moving story.

SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF

by A.F. Steadman (S&S £12.99, 400 pp)

This first in a fantasy series is perfect for Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans. Teenage Skandar Smith yearns to be one of the elite unicorn riders sent to a secretive island where dangerous wild unicorns can be tamed only when matched with a chosen child. But when he arrives, Skandar discovers a secret about himself that he can tell no one — a secret that could cost him his life . . .

TEEN & YOUNG ADULTS

FAMILY OF LIARS 

by E. Lockhart (Hot Key £12.99, 336 pp)

This standalone prequel to the bestselling We Were Liars is again set on the wealthy American Sinclair family’s private island, where the youngest daughter drowned. Traumatised teenager Carrie, the eldest child, narrates this steamy story of a summer of secrets, sex and an unfolding of terrible events when three young men come to stay. Are confessions always true? Seductive and sensational.

THE DROWNING DAY

by Anne Cassidy (UCLan publishing £7.99, 172 pp)

In this gripping, near-future dystopian thriller the east coast of Britain has suffered devastating floods, leaving the population divided between the grim Wetlands and safe, high towns. Wetlander Jade, whose grandfather entrusted her with a special key before he died, escapes a new flood with Bates, a mysterious boy, and his criminal accomplice. But what is the secret of her key?

NON-FICTION

EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT MINI BEASTS IS WRONG

by Dr Nick Crumpton Illustrated by Gavin Scott (Nosy Crow £12.99, 64 pp)

We all know that bees die after they sting . . . except they don’t. And, as this fascinating and highly illustrated compendium will tell you, there are many other amazing facts about mini-creatures that we have misunderstood (or never knew in the first place). You may be happy not to meet the stick insect the size of a cat but this book will inspire you to turn over stones and rotting logs all summer.

WORDS TO READ BEFORE YOU TURN 13

by Nicolette Jones (Nosy Crow £12.99, 160 pp)

Albert Einstein said: ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge,’ and this inspirational collection of wise and wonderful words is a must for any age. More than 100 poems, speeches, song lyrics and book extracts, from Martin Luther King to Mark Twain, are grouped into eight sections on subjects as diverse as childhood, happiness and sadness, kindness and courage — and every word is to be cherished.