Books Monthly March 2024


New
Children's Books for 2024




Julian Gough & Jim Field: Bear and Rabbit - This Lake is Fake!

Published 14th March 2024

Gorgeously illustrated and with a classic feel, this is a brilliantly funny story of a rabbit and a bear ... and how friends can manage in a not-quite-perfect world. Ideal for readers moving on from picture books. 'A perfect animal double-act.' The Times, Book of the Week. Rabbit is fed up. Spring has come, but it's not as perfect as he thought it would be. Bear thinks that if they work hard, they can make it better. But Rabbit has a Plan. He sets off across the lake in search of a perfect world. Crossing the water together, Rabbit and Bear learn many things, and discover that their perfect world may be closer at hand than Rabbit had thought. A story of hope, friendship, and an entire island made of bird droppings. 'Rabbit's Bad Habits is a breath of fresh air in children's fiction, a laugh-out-loud story of rabbit and wolf and bear, of avalanches and snowmen. The sort of story that makes you want to send your children to bed early, so you can read it to them.' Neil Gaiman



Jacqueline Wilson: The Girl Who Wasn't There


Published 7th March 2024

'And we're going to live here, happily ever after, just like a fairy tale.'

When Dad tells Luna and her little sister Aurora that they're moving to live in a real tower, it's almost like they've stepped inside a fairytale.

But everything is not as magical as it first seems. The tower needs patching up, Dad still doesn't have a job and they're not even allowed in the room up at the very top.

When it's time to start at their new school, Luna quickly finds a friend, but six-year-old Aurora absolutely hates the children in her class. She prefers to spend her time with her imaginary friend Tansy. Aurora's make-belief life causes problems for them all - and it seems like Aurora really believes Tansy exists...



The Story Orchestra: Peter and the Wolf

Published 2nd May 2024

Introduce little ones to the magic of classical music with this reimagining of one of legendary composer Prokofiev’s most famous suites. Peter and the Wolf is a story about a young boy called Peter who lives with his grandfather. His grandfather warns him about being outside because a wolf roams the woods. However, when the wolf threatens Peter’s animal friends – a duck, a bird and his grandfather's cat – he decides to ignore his grandfather's warning and save them. As you and your child journey through the magical scenes, read the story text in each circle aloud and press the buttons on each page to activate the sounds! This encourages interactive learning via an immersive experience. The soothing natural scenes are illustrated impeccably, with sweeping greenery and orange, summery landscapes spreads across each page. Follow the adventurous Peter as he explores the woods for the first time. And this lovely book tells a sweet story while also introducing kids to the power and beauty of classical music. At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Sergei Prokofiev, with details about his composition of Peter and the Wolf. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms. The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores.




Aisling Fowler: Fireborn - Starling and the Cavern of Light

Published 28th March 2024

THE FINAL BATTLE IGNITES

The Master stepped closer and the pressure around Phoenix grew vicelike. Despair raged through her. How had she thought she could save everyone, when she couldn’t even save herself?

Following the shocking battle at Icegaard, Phoenix and her friends gather with the Hunters, desperate to unite the warring clans before their enemy, the Master, attacks Ember.

The Cavern of Light may offer hope in the form of a legendary weapon, but it lies deep in goblin territory, in the terrifying dark zone of the underground caves. The friends must brave the unknown, facing new and deadly creatures in search of a way to save their world.

As an epic final showdown draws near, Phoenix struggles to protect her friends, determined not to lose anyone else she loves. But the Master is crueller and more powerful than she ever imagined and as Phoenix’s past and present collide, unthinkable sacrifices will have to be made to defeat him.



Louie Stowell: A Midsummer Night's Drama

Published 11th April 2024

Bill the Bear lives with his friends in the woods and writes brilliant plays for The Glade Theatre. His latest play is a huge success, but then the problems start . . .

Parents everywhere will recognise the drama of getting an over-excited little bear off to dreamland.

A bedtime book for little bards!






Tom Wright: My Big Story Bible

Published 21st March 2024

My Big Story Bible takes the adventure of reading a children's Bible to a new level. As you'd expect from Tom Wright, the narrative bursts with lively storytelling and a deep love for the original scriptures, while the vibrant illustrations on every page will delight young readers and help them to imaginatively understand the key events of the Bible.

Perfect for readers aged 7-12 years, My Big Story Bible not only offers a faithful and vibrant retelling of all the major Bible stories of the Old and New Testament, but theologian Tom Wright invites children to discover the many surprising ways in which the stories link to one another, and how together they form the BIG STORY of God's plan to make everything right and bring heaven and earth together when Jesus returns.

Tom Wright highlights both familiar characters and events, but also key passages from other parts of Scripture which often go missing in other Children's Bibles - the Psalms, Proverbs, the Prophets and the letters of Paul - all of which help to explain the BIG STORY that God wants all people to hear.

Whether you're reading My Big Story Bible yourself or reading it aloud with your children, you'll enjoy hearing the echoes and spotting the visual connections that come together into the one BIG STORY of God, and be reminded that it doesn't simply tell of events that happened long ago: it tells a living and enduring story - a story that God invites YOU to join in as well!


Axel Scheffler's Treasury of Fairy Tales

Published 11th March 2024

Classic, much-loved stories masterfully brought to life by Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo and Zog.
A gorgeous gift book of classic fairy tales, beautifully illustrated by bestselling and award-winning illustrator, Axel Scheffler.

Featuring:

Goldiocks and the Three Bears
The Three Little Pigs
The Hare and the Hedgehog
Puss in Boots
Nursery Rhymes
all bound into one must-have collection.

Gorgeous gift book illustrated by mega talent, Axel Scheffler
Includes classic stories and rhymes that children will love!
The perfect first book for any child's library!


Michael Morpurgo: A D-Day Story - Finding Alfie

Published 8th May 2024

On the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Michael Morpurgo tells a new story about this milestone moment in British history.

Aunty Iris always treasured her small painting of a boat, painted by her close friend Alfie many years before. Her nephew, Michael, is inspired to try and find out what actually happened to Alfie in World War II. He embarks on a journey that takes him across the Channel into France, learning a profound lesson along the way about service and the surprising power of memory.

With stunning illustrations by Michael Foreman, this powerful book is perfect for the whole family to share and remember.

A stunning commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion
Created by two legends of British children's books, Michael Morpurgo (War Horse, Private Peaceful) and Michael Foreman (War Boy)
Developed in partnership with the Royal British Legion