The Bear-Shaped Hole by John Dougherty, illustrated by Thomas Docherty, Frances Lincoln, £7.99
This sensitive, gentle, straightforward story of friends who must part will help small readers weather the painful emotions that come before a loved one dies.
Wild by Katya Balen, illustrated by Gill Smith, Walker, £12.99
A little girl who loves the woods’ wildness is bereft when she moves to the city. When the rolling, twisting river shows her “the secrets hidden under its tongue”, she realises her wildness never left her. A lush, poetic picture book, with words by a Carnegie-winning author.
Liliana the Strong by Quentin Blake, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark, Two Hoots, £12.99
Though she’s weak in bed with a bad cold, Liliana’s parents remind her that she is strong enough to bend girders, carry pianos and save beached whales in this exuberant picture book, full of uplifted arms and extraordinary feats.
Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem by Serena Patel, illustrated by Emma McCann, Usborne, £6.99
When her parents say “no” to the pet Pia desperately wants, surely helping her friend Hari train his naughty pup will prove her dedication? But when Luna becomes too great a challenge, it’s time for Pia to team up with more animal-loving friends in this funny, engaging first instalment in a new 6+ series.
Get Dressed! by Katy Canales, illustrated by Erin Vanessa, Phaidon, £16.95
This lovely, thoughtful work of fashion history for 6+ investigates the characteristic clothing of 10 historical eras, from ancient Greece to the Tang Dynasty, the French Revolution to the Roaring 20s.
A Mermaid’s Diary by Chris Riddell, Macmillan, £12.99
Young mermaid Atalanta Scrimshaw enjoys her quiet existence in Sleepy Cove, entertaining her sea-dwelling friends. Can they save their beloved home from plans to build a seaside golf resort? Allusive, humorous and fabulously illustrated, this 7+ diary adventure is stuffed to the gills with charm.
Donut Squad: Take Over the World! by Neill Cameron, David Fickling, £9.99
Fresh from the pages of the Phoenix comic, the anarchic Donut Squad – including leader Sprinkles, eccentric Spronky, Chalky the ghost of a murdered Victorian doughnut, and Jammyboi (“Scuse me ooze!”) are out for world domination in their first book for 7+ – unless the boring bready bagels defeat them first. Inexplicably, addictively hilarious, it’ll appeal to fans of Bunny v Monkey.
The House at the Edge of the World by Nadine Aisha Jassat, illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino, Orion, £8.99
When Amal’s family have to leave their beloved home, they’re amazed to discover they’ve inherited mysterious, magical clifftop Hope House – but no sooner have they arrived than their claim is challenged, and they have only 30 days to save their new home from destruction. A charismatic, enchanting verse novel for readers of 8+.
Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto, Pushkin, £16.99
Walking her dog Pepper, Poppy stumbles on a hidden patch of woodland – and a new friend, whose way of seeing the world may help her heal her bereaved mother’s sadness. This understatedly gorgeous sepia-tinted 8+ graphic novel is a hymn of love to nature, full of glorious leaf-shadow and birdsong.
Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson, Usborne, £7.99
In second world war London, tough, cheeky Ronnie and his friends balance fear and excitement – competing with each other to find shrapnel pieces, terrified of the nightly bombs. But Ronnie’s little brother Mickey is being drawn in by a dangerous influence – and if Ronnie unmasks the offender, it could change the whole direction of the war. Pearson’s first foray into historical fiction is an enthralling, explosive read for 9+.
Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, Orion, £16.99
In the long-awaited fourth Nevermoor instalment, teen Wundersmith Morrigan Crow discovers a family connection to the affluent Silver District. When a glamorous wedding leads to murder, however, she’s drawn into the investigation despite her guardian Jupiter’s prohibitions. Richly imagined and full of deft emotional observation, Silverborn (best for 9+ readers) is well worth the wait.
Aphrodite by Bryony Pearce, UCLan, £8.99
Born from sea-foam and instantly inspiring worship, new deity Aphrodite is drawn inexorably to Olympus, home of the gods – only to find it filled with cruelty and double-dealing, ruled by a king who seeks to control her. Zeus and the others have fatally underestimated the goddess of love and beauty in this gutsy, grisly, enthralling retelling for readers of 14+.
Traumaland by Josh Silver, Rock the Boat, £8.99
A year ago, Eli was in a car crash – now he’s emotionally numb, the memories of the accident missing. Trying to find his lost feelings, he visits an underground club, Traumaland, where punters plunge into horrific virtual-reality scenarios. When Eli recognises a boy called Jack in one story, however, he finds himself on the scent of the truth – and what really happened on the day of the crash … A mind-bending, dark and compulsive YA thriller from the author of Happy Head.
I Can’t Even Think Straight by Dean Atta, Hodder, £9.99
Kai and his best friend, Matt, have promised each other to stay in the closet at school, but Kai wants to be his true self. When he comes out and starts dating preppy, posh Obi, though, he begins to suspect love might be closer to home in this eloquent, layered coming-of-age verse novel for 14+.
Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi, Faber, £8.99
Somadina and Jayaike are twins, growing up in a village where many have magical gifts. When their powers arrive, Somadina’s new abilities leave her feared and reviled – and when Jayaike is stolen by a terrible enemy, she must fight to save the one person she trusts, despite the desperate dangers that face her along the way. Bestselling author Emezi weaves Igbo culture and folklore in a searching, memorable YA fantasy, filled with complex ideas of identity, community and truth.