The Experimenters: Luke and Ruby’s Scientific SleepoverDr Shane Bergin, illustrated by Sayani MukherjeeLittle Island Books It’s the half-term holiday and Luke and Ruby are excited to be spending th…

The Experimenters: Luke and Ruby’s Scientific SleepoverDr Shane Bergin, illustrated by Sayani MukherjeeLittle Island Books It’s the half-term holiday and Luke and Ruby are excited to be spending the week at their grandparents’ home, which is full of amazing treasures. Both grandparents had been scientists: Grandad studied animals and Nanny studied outer space, “We did all sorts of experiments along the way,” Grandad tells the siblings.

The Bestest Big Brother, EverBen MantleWalker Books This is told from the viewpoint of Nano, the younger of two brothers. He and Felix are, so he tells readers, best friends who can read one anothe…

The Bestest Big Brother, EverBen MantleWalker Books This is told from the viewpoint of Nano, the younger of two brothers. He and Felix are, so he tells readers, best friends who can read one another’s minds and have some ‘super secret code words’. Sometimes though Felix wants some space of his own, something their Mum agrees with after Nano is so upset at finding himself shut out of the treehouse having spoiled the picture Felix has drawn.

Porridge Please!Laura Mucha and Marc BoutavantWalker Books This is a terrific fairy tale spin off featuring a host of favourite characters that visit a little bear who is trying his very best to re…

Porridge Please!Laura Mucha and Marc BoutavantWalker Books This is a terrific fairy tale spin off featuring a host of favourite characters that visit a little bear who is trying his very best to read the last page of his new book. The poor bear has had a continuous stream of visitors each wanting some of his ‘sumptuous scrumptious porridge’ …

Big ThoughtsLaura Dockrill and Ashling LindsayWalker Books We’re all beset with worries from time to time – ‘Big Thoughts’ as the child narrator of this books calls them. Such thoughts can’t …

Big ThoughtsLaura Dockrill and Ashling LindsayWalker Books We’re all beset with worries from time to time - ‘Big Thoughts’ as the child narrator of this books calls them. Such thoughts can’t be seen by others despite them being loud inside your head. They might be Big Thoughts about the future, the past or perhaps even make-believe (not telling the truth).

To Activate Space Portal Lift HereAntoinette PortisScallywag Press This is an intergalactic romp of the metafictive kind; it’s also interactive. On the first spread readers will find a small orange…

To Activate Space Portal Lift HereAntoinette PortisScallywag Press This is an intergalactic romp of the metafictive kind; it’s also interactive. On the first spread readers will find a small orange rectangle containing a smaller black circle and at the bottom of the right page are two little green dots, one labelled ‘power’, the other ‘auto translate’. A turn of the page shows a larger central rectangle within which is a large eye with a black pupil and orange iris.

These are both recent Gecko Press titles – thanks to the publisher and Nicky Potter for sending them for review The Monster in the LakeLeo Timmers Following one duck’s suggestion, four ducks …

These are both recent Gecko Press titles - thanks to the publisher and Nicky Potter for sending them for review The Monster in the LakeLeo Timmers Following one duck’s suggestion, four ducks contemplate some fun in the lake. Another however, has concerns about the monster said to be in there, but the others insist there’s no need to worry. Off they go into the water, with three ducks urging the fourth, “Trust us!”.

The Bear Who Wanted to DanceStephanie Stansbie and Wendy J WarrenLittle Tiger Follow your dreams no matter whoever or whatever you are, is the message that shines through this story of Rita the bea…

The Bear Who Wanted to DanceStephanie Stansbie and Wendy J WarrenLittle Tiger Follow your dreams no matter whoever or whatever you are, is the message that shines through this story of Rita the bear who was inspired by the very first ballet she saw and knew in her heart that she too wanted to become a dancer. She took lessons with Monsieur le Fox where she met Wanda and the two became firm friends dreaming of their lives in dance.

The Diary of Wiska Wildflower: The New SchoolHarriet MuncasterOxford Children’s Books Oozing with charm from cover to cover is Harriet Muncaster’s first book in her new series. It stars Wiska Wildf…

The Diary of Wiska Wildflower: The New SchoolHarriet MuncasterOxford Children’s Books Oozing with charm from cover to cover is Harriet Muncaster’s first book in her new series. It stars Wiska Wildflower, who has moved with her Mum and Dad from Twitching to Acorn, on the other side of Wiskling Wood. where they’ve bought a new business. Wiska has to start at a new school, Inkcap’s Academy, and she’s very upset to be so far from her best friend, Luna.

I’m Going To Eat A Polar BearKarl Newson and Nicola KinnearHappy Yak Despite being very hungry, a little penguin turns down the offer of fish, declaring it boring and instead demanding ‘something n…

I’m Going To Eat A Polar BearKarl Newson and Nicola KinnearHappy Yak Despite being very hungry, a little penguin turns down the offer of fish, declaring it boring and instead demanding ‘something new. Something soft … and fluffy!’ One of the older penguins recalls hearing of something matching that description called a ‘bolar pear’. Off sets the little penguin, full of bravado, on a mission to find and eat a bolar pear, despite not knowing what such a creature actually looks like.

Squirrel and BirdLaura Baker and Stacey ThomasLittle Tiger Squirrel and Bird are best friends and the external narrator introducing them emphasises their difference: ‘Squirrel is loud! Very LOUD!’ …

Squirrel and BirdLaura Baker and Stacey ThomasLittle Tiger Squirrel and Bird are best friends and the external narrator introducing them emphasises their difference: ‘Squirrel is loud! Very LOUD!’ Bird, on the other hand, ‘hardly makes a sound at all.’ ‘Squirrel is busy. Busy, busy, busy!’ Bird though, ‘prefers to sit and do nothing.’ This way of describing them really annoys Bird as the comments are not the whole picture - far from it.

Gordon in the CityAlex LatimerOxford Children’s Books Gordon the erstwhile ‘meanest Goose on Earth’ is now, thanks to Anthony the Piglet, a reformed character. Indeed it’s been almost twelve months since he started trying to be good.One day as he walks home feeling happy with his new self, he sees a letter pinned to his door. It’s an invitation to present the trophy for the Meanest Goose on Earth to this year’s winner.

Grimogen Darkstar: Bat-Cat-TastropheEmma Finlayson-PalmerTiny Tree Books Young Grimogen Darkstar or Immi as she prefers to be called, desperately wants a pet, even more so when the team from Howler’s Rescue Centre bring animals into her school for a special day. “Maybe I’ll meet my future first pet,” she says. First though she has to prove to her parents that she is sufficiently responsible to care for one.