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If you’ve got a little bookworm at home then you will probably always be on the lookout for new books. Walker Books has a great selection, released in August.
Picture books
A Totally Big Umbrella by Sarah Crossan
A tender picture and insightful read-aloud picture book about anxiety: showing children aged 3-7 years old they do not have to carry their worries alone – there’s always room under your umbrella for someone else.
The debut picture book from the award-winning Sarah Crossan, stunningly illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, illustrator of The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson.
Tallulah doesn’t like the rain. It spoils her new dress. It makes her favourite biscuits soggy. It ruins EVERYTHING. So, she gets an umbrella from Grandma. For a while, she feels better… But is one umbrella enough? Talullah worries about rain thundering down, and washing her away. She decides that she needs complete protection. So she gets another TOTALLY BIG umbrella and under her umbrella house, Talullah feels safe.
But … is Talullah missing out on all the fun happening around her? How can she manage her fears and still BE in the world?
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A First Book of Dinosaurs by Simon Mole
Smile and stomp along with this celebration of all things DINOSAUR, with exuberant poems by a National Poetry Day ambassador and joyful artwork.
Welcome to a world where it’s eat or be eaten – depending on how ferocious you are. From T-Rex to Triceratops, Stegosaurus to Velociraptor, meet the most awe-inspiring creatures ever to walk the Earth!
Author Simon Mole turns fascinating facts into over 30 poems and fragments, full of humour and heart; Matt Hunt’s magnificent illustrations bring these prehistoric beasts thundering off the page.
Here are the dinosaurs in all their larger-than-life glory – and here is a book that children will want to read over and over again.
“With lively performative text in free verse and colourful, expressive graphic illustrations, this is a book for anyone who is keen to enjoy the facts and the drama of dinosaurs without pretending you could have one as a pet.” The Sunday Times
“An essential collection for children, stimulating awe and wonder about these much-loved creatures and the time in which they lived. The rich and evocative language and carefully undertaken research contained in Simon’s dynamic and engaging poems, paired with Matt Hunt’s striking illustrations, makes this a collection that is destined to inspire and delight young readers.” CLPE learning and programmes director, Charlotte Hacking
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Old MacDonald on the Move by Philip Ardagh
Old MacDonald’s farm is falling apart! The piggies’ sty is sinking in the mud and it’s raining on the cows…
What will Old MacDonald do? Surely he won’t move the animals to a nearby fancy hotel?
The cows would order grass in the restaurant, the pigs would splash in the pool and the sheep would have a pillow-fight. It could all just be … TOO MUCH FUN!
From the author of Bunnies on the Bus comes an unexpected, action-packed and utterly silly twist on children’s all-time favourite nursery rhyme that will have little ones rolling around in laughter, hollering “E-I-E-I-O!”
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The Moon Rabbit: A Celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival by Eva Wong Nava
A stunning, silver-foiled keepsake retelling of the Chinese myth behind the Mid-Autumn Festival: of Chang’e the Moon Goddess, the Moon Rabbit, and an immortal destiny.
The ultimate picture book for young fans of fantasy, romance and magic.
Eva Wong Nava’s evocative and lyrical version of this legend in Chinese mythology has been brought to life on the picture book page with breathtaking beauty by Jason Chuang, the artist behind the covers of Sue Lynn Tan’s Celestial Kingdom series including the instant Sunday Times Top 5 bestseller: Daughter of the Moon Goddess.
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Middle grade
Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery
From the award-winning, bestselling author of I Am Rebel, this brand-new adventure is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Michael Morpurgo and Wild Robot.
Family secrets, a kingdom in danger, the adventure of a lifetime for two brothers and their horse . . .
‘Small Wonder’: that was what Tick’s grandfather always called him. He taught Tick a lot of things: how to take care of himself; how to take care of his little brother, Leaf; how to take care of their horse, Pebble. But Grandfather is no longer around . . .
So when the family home is under suddenly threat, it’s on Tick to put everything he’s learned into practice and protect his family, by taking them on a quest filled with danger. Because it’s not just their home at risk; enemies are invading the whole land. He has only six moons to get to Kings’ Keep and warn their ruler . . .
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The Fairy Tale Fan Club by Richard Ayoade
FAIRY-LAND EXCLUSIVE! Discover THE TRUTH about your favourite fairy-tale characters in Richard Ayoade’s second children’s book.
“A wonderful, funny book of fairy tales with a twist, with equally fabulous illustrations by the brilliant David Roberts.” Liz Pichon, author of Tom Gates
Read about the real lives of fairy-tale characters in this exclusive collection of letters between curious kids and their fairy-tale idols.
What are they doing now? Was it really Happily Ever After? Is the Big Bad Wolf actually that bad? When will Sleeping Beauty get out of bed? And what makes frogs so kissable?
Only one man has the answers, direct from the ACTUAL LEGENDS themselves: meet C.C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club.
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Lockett & Wilde’s Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries: The Ghosts of the Manor by Lucy Strange
Thrilling spooky mysteries, starring supernatural sleuths Lockett & Wilde – for fans of Lemony Snicket and Murder Most Unladylike.
“More shadowy mysteries than twelve graveyards. All hail Lockett & Wilde!” Lemony Snicket
“Wildly funny.” Ben Miller
Matilda Lockett is used to playing the role of Poor Dead Edna with her spirit-medium aunt, Signora Valentina, and theatrical uncle Barnabus – but when they all decamp to Beauchamp Manor to deal with a most dreadful haunting, she discovers she really can see ghosts! There she meets ghost boy, Edgar Wilde, who shares her love of supernatural snooping, and together they set about unravelling the case of The Ghosts of the Manor.
Classic spooky mystery for fans of cosy crime, by the Waterstones Prize and Carnegie-shortlisted creators, Lucy Strange and Pam Smy.
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