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Puffin, Age 10+ When their parents are washed overboard in a fierce storm, Maya, Simon and their baby sister Penny are left to fend for themselves on the family’s boat, the ‘Pamela Jane’. Mysterious currents lead them to Tamarind, an island not found on any map, where instead of the help they are looking for they find themselves in increasing danger. The children discover that the island is entrenched in a civil war, its lush jungles infested with soldiers and the seas controlled by villainous pirates. They encounter giants, fluorescent marine creatures, mermaids and a Jaguar-riding child stealer but will they ever find their parents or a way home? This evocative, engrossing tale is written for young adults but will appeal to all age groups as it sweeps the reader along on a swashbuckling, fantastic adventure!
Price: EUR 8.90
HarperCollins Age 8-12 Since the Browns found Paddington, the beloved bear from darkest Peru, on a railway platform and took him home, there has never been a dull moment at number 32 Windsor Gardens. In 2008, Michael Bond’s first novel featuring the adventures of our accident-prone ursine friend will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. In this, the first new Paddington book for almost thirty years, he has a difficult encounter with a policeman, finds himself in deep water with a newspaper reporter and locks the Brown’s grouchy old neighbour, Mr Curry, out of his house on Halloween night. However, everyone in the Brown family agrees that a surprise visit from one of Paddington’s long lost relatives could be the start of his most exciting adventure ever. Is it time for Paddington to decide where ‘home’ really is? This thoroughly entertaining read retains all the charm the books are known for and the final chapter reminds us how important it is to feel wanted and part of a family.
(Age 10-12) Anna is nine years old in 1933 and living in Berlin when her father disappears, a day before he was due to be arrested by the Nazis. Pink Rabbit is the beloved toy that she leaves behind when her family is suddenly forced to flee to Switzerland for reasons she cannot understand. She never realises how great the danger facing Jewish people in Germany actually is; it is her parents who suffer. Anna is a lively, irrepressible child in whatever circumstances, so that readers can enjoy the story of her journey via Paris to Britain, despite the appalling dangers the family had to face. This powerful and moving story prompts the question: how could such a loving and amiable family ever have been seen to pose a threat to the Nazis? There is no sane answer, yet if present-day children are ever going to make sense of this dark period in European history, it is one that has to be asked.
Price: EUR 9.90
(Age 8-10) One rainy day princess Irene escapes the clutches of her nanny and ventures up a rickety staircase which she has never found before. To her amazement and delight she meets an ancient, very beautiful woman sitting at a spinning wheel. The woman explains that she is Irene's great great grandmother, that she lives here, unseen by the rest of the royal household and that she is making Irene a present. She is spinning a magical, gossamer thread from spider webs whose trail Irene will follow despite the often tortuous, dangerous routes it will take her. Meanwhile, the goblins who live in the mountains surrounding the castle are plotting to capture the princess and take over the kingdom. Curdie, a miner's son who works in the mountain caves, overhears them but is not close enough to the goblins' hall to discover the details of their plan. It will take all Irene and Curdie's wit and courage to make sense of their seperate knowledge and foil the goblins' fiendish schemes. A captivating, classic fairy story.
(Age 8-10) Milo, a young boy who is bored with life, cannot see the point of going to school to learn many strange things that seem to have no importance. Then, mysteriously, a large package appears in his bedroom, containing a toy car and tollbooth and instructions on how to travel to the 'Lands Beyond'. Without much thought, not Milo's strongpoint, he hops into the car and is suddenly transported to the 'Land of Wisdom'. However, all is not right in this 'Land Beyond'. Two rival kings, Azaz, the Unabridged King of Dictionopolis and the Mathemagician, ruler of Digitolopolis have had a terrible quarrel and banished the princesses Rhyme and Reason to the 'Castle in the Air'. How will the indifferent Milo ever get beyond 'Expectations' or out of 'The Doldrums', let alone rescue the princesses? This surprising, playful story engages the imagination as well as tickling the funnybone and makes seeking knowledge seem both essential and fun.
(Age 7-9) The Bucket family, consisting of four grandparents, two parents and little Charlie Bucket, live in a small, wooden house on the edge of town. They are very poor. The only foods they can afford are bread, margarine, cabbage and potatoes. Charlie desperately longs for something more satisfying than cabbage soup - CHOCOLATE! There is an enormous chocolate factory in town, run by the extraordinary Willy Wonka, but no one knows who works there or how he produces his magical sweets. One day, Wonka decides to allow five children to visit the factory. Five golden tickets have been hidden in the wrappers of ordinary bars of chocolate, the five lucky finders will receive not only a personal tour from Willy Wonka, but also sweets to last a lifetime. But when Charlie, against the odds, finds a golden ticket, he could never have dreamed what surprises lie ahead! A particular favourite from the ever popular Roald Dahl.
(Age 7-9) 'Where's Papa going with that Axe?' Fern's dramatic challenge to her father begins a story of love and survival based in the reality of farm life. Fern stops her father from doing away with Wilbur, the runt of a litter of piglets. She feeds him and takes care of him until he goes to live in her uncle's ramshackle barn, where she can visit him and a menagerie of other animals. Wilbur makes friends with Charlotte, a large, grey spider who turns out to be his most loyal friend. It is the clever plan that she weaves which will literally save his bacon! This story brings into focus some of the fundamental issues of morality in a thoroughly unalarming way. One of the best-loved stories for children.
(Age 3-6) Plop is a baby barn owl who is afraid of the dark. His parents explain that he is a night bird and that since he has yet to stick his beak out of the nest-hole after dusk, he is afraid because he does not know about it. Somewhat reluctantly he sets out to find out more about dark and makes some surprising discoveries. He interviews a variety of humans and animals who adore the darkness and their answers capture all the excitement and mystery of a landscape under moonlight. This charming book can help young readers to gain confidence in conquering their fears with its simple text and gentle humour.
Price: EUR 8.50
(Age 3-5) Little Beaver lives on his own surrounded by a range of mountains. He is lonely, mistaking his own echo on the other side of the lake for a possible companion. Setting out in a canoe to trace the echo, he picks up a duck, an otter and a turtle on the way, so making the friends he was looking for all the time. This pleasing if simple story is made truly memorable by the quality of the illustrations by Sarah Fox-Davies. Although its animal characters talk like humans, they look exactly like the wildlife they represent, down to the last detail. The breathtaking scenes of huge water-lilies, towering fir trees and a lake shimmering with reflections establish a magical yet realistic natural world, unlikely to be forgotten by any of its readers.
(Age 2-4) One of Jill Murphy's most popular series of books for young children features the Larges, a family of elephants. In this story, like many human mothers, Mrs Large just wants a few minutes' peace from her three children. Abandoning the unpleasant sight of their breakfast chaos, she tries to sneak off to the bathroom. It doesn't take long, of course, until first one and then finally all of her children join her in the bath, much to her annoyance! A warm, funny story whose illustrations, full of the domestic clutter known in every family, cleverly enhance the simple words of the text.
Pavillion A collection of favourite tales from master-storytellers Terry Jones and Nanette Newman, illustrated throughout in the magically vivid watercolours of Michael Foreman. Snuggle up with these irresistible stories and rediscover the delight of sharing a book at bedtime.
Price: EUR 19.00
Puffin (Age 7-10) Most hamsters are gentle, timid creatures, easily tamed and happy to be left alone. But some hamsters are different and Frank is one of them. Frank is a hamster with a mission and a motto-"Courage!"- and in this story he certainly needs to use his motto. An original, exciting and very funny story for young readers.
Alexander Cold's mother is dying of cancer and her illness is tearing the family apart. Unable to cope, Alex's father sends him to New York to stay with his grandmother, Kate. She is a fiercely independent travel writer and takes Alex on assignment to the jungles of South America in search of a legendary nine-foot "beast". In the company of Nadia, the daughter of their guide, he embarks on a voyage up a dangerous stretch of river which soon becomes the journey of a lifetime. He learns a lot along the way about nature, tribal life, shamanic rituals, magic and, of course, himself. Through his eyes we see the magic of the jungle, the bleakness of the modern city, and the difficult journey that all young people must make to retain equilibrium in a dangerous world. Part adventure story, part ecological allegory, this wonderful book is both gripping and amusing.
Dorling Kindersley, Age 8-12 Neil Buchanan is the creator of the successful 'Art Attack' television series, which has won major international awards. Collected here for the first time, are over eighty ideas for children to make, from fantastic 3-D pictures to collages to models. This book is packed with projects and techniques, encouraging the reader to be imaginative with everyday materials - a real inspiration to 'try this at home!'
Price: EUR 29.00
Cassell, Age 12+ The inventiveness of the human race is a key factor in our continued survival and evolution. We take thousands of inventions for granted, using them daily and enjoying their benefits, but we usually know little about how or when they were invented. ‘1001 Inventions that changed the World’ is an endless source of intriguing discoveries from the wheel to the MP3 player, exploring the stories behind the innovations and tracing the development of each invention from concept to completion. Did you know, for example, that toothpaste was invented about 7,000 years ago or that the first pair of scissors was used in 1500 B.C.? This comprehensive study is perfect to dip into as well as being a useful reference book.
Age 3-6 This colourful and imaginative picture book features the irresistible comic duo of Charlie and his little sister Lola. Charlie suspects that Lola has broken his very special rocket, but Lola says ‘You absolutely told me not ever never to touch it ever!’ How will Charlie persuade Lola and her imaginary friend Soren Lorensen to tell the truth? Lauren Child has won awards for her quirky and clever children’s books which are always beautiful to look at as well as refreshingly funny.
Price: EUR 12.90
Puffin, Age 3-6 Lola really loves books, but 'Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies' is Lola's absolute favourite and the best book ever in the whole wide world. So when someone else borrows it from the library she is inconsolable. Can her older brother Charlie convince her that they might find another book she likes just as much, if not more? Lauren Child's unique illustrations are as amusing as ever in this latest picture book in the 'Charlie and Lola' series.
Usborne - Age 6+ This colourful collection features five of Dickens’s best loved books; ‘Oliver Twist’. ‘Bleak House’, ‘Great Expectations’, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ and ‘David Copperfield’. Each story is retold by Mary Sebag-Montefiore so it can easily be understood by the young reader. Sebag-Montefiore not only introduces readers to Dickens’s exciting tales but also to the social injustices of Victorian times as well as the reality of daily life for children in Victorian London. An accessible book which also features a short biography of Dickens and is atmospherically illustrated by Barry Ablett, this compilation is a perfect introduction to one of Britain’s greatest novelists.
Price: EUR 17.50
Bodley Head, Age 8-12 This beautiful book brings to life the history of ordinary people living through an era of unprecedented social change. Each decade is illuminated by a combination of information and images, from the momentously political to the decoratively trivial, forming a kind of mosaic which captures the atmosphere of the time. Award-winning author-illustrator Shirley Hughes' richly detailed narrative paintings represent everyday life in an intimate way, bringing the past to life in a both charming and realistic way.
Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Puffin, Age 10+ Percy Jackson has always attracted trouble but when he somehow vaporizes his maths teacher he begins to suspect that he is not an ordinary twelve-year-old. When monsters begin to attack him from all sides, it is decided that he is no longer safe in the 'normal' world and he manages to reach camp 'Half-Blood'. There he discovers that the gods of Olympus are indeed immortal and that they currently live in downtown New York. They still fall in love with mortals and have children who become great (if reluctant) heroes. Percy (aka Perseus) Jackson is one of those children. Before he can receive training at 'Camp Half-Blood' he is sent on a quest: he must recover Zeus' stolen lightning bolt and thus prevent a war of the gods which could have dire consequences for humans, gods and half-bloods. 2000 B.C. meets 2000 A.D. in this clever, exciting adventure- don't myth it!
Age 3-6 A collection of best-loved nursery rhymes, imaginatively illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Price: EUR 16.90
Age 6+ Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy - until he is rescued by an owl, taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The Reason: HARRY POTTER IS A WIZARD! Read the bit where Harry finds out he's a wizard!
Price: EUR 11.90
Age 6+ The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike. And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone # or something # starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself!
Age 6+ For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts." Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.
Britannia, 100 Great Stories from British History by Geraldine McCaughrean & Richard Brassey, Orion Ages 8-12 Originating from all over Britain, the stories that have been chosen for this vividly illustrated book are exciting adventures that are fun to read and offer fascinating glimpses of the past.
Price: EUR 19.95
In common with the ubiquitos J.K. Rowling, Philip Pullman's books transcend his genre. Adults and children have been bowled over by the first two volumes of the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. Lyra and Will, who were left in such extraordinary danger at the end of book two, find themselves facing even greater peril in a world populated by shaggy, blue bison, foxes which can only understand the present tense and angels with a taste for Kendal mint Cake!
Jilly MacLeod, How Nearly Everything Was Invented by the Brainwaves, Dorling Kindersley, € 25,00 Age 7-10 The brainwaves are tiny cartoon figures who take you on an amazing journey to discover nearly everything about important inventions that changed the way people live. The emphasis, in this light-hearted, but informative book, is on the consequences of invention, and how one idea leads to another. A key feature is six double page fold-outs, each of which focuses on a major invention- the lens, steam engine, light bulb, internal combustion engine, transistor and gun-powder. Find out when the first wheel was used, who the bright sparks were who thought of the light bulb and what connects a teapot to a speeding train!
Price: EUR 25.00
Madonna has written a series of books for children. This second of five titles was inspired by a nearly 300-year-old story from the Kabbalah. It is about the power of words and how we must sometimes choose them carefully to avoid causing harm to others. Beautifully illustrated by Loren Long, this picture book is a joy to look at, as well as imparting an important lesson.
Age 12+ Captain Oates, hero of the Antarctic, has been dead for nearly a century, but not in Sym’s head. In her thoughts he is her constant companion, her soul-mate and adviser. She feels as if he has walked out of a Polar blizzard and into her mind, in fact, if it were not for him, life might be as bleak as the Antarctic wilderness. When a short family expedition spirals out of control, Sym is forced to ask herself a question that becomes a matter of life or death: is it madness to stake one’s happiness on someone who isn’t really there? You will be intrigued, frightened and utterly enthralled by this gripping read in which the ground shifts like ice floes, constantly confounding expectations.
Price: EUR 10.90
This stunning collection retells ten of the most loved stories from the ballet. Geraldine McCaughrean has won numerous awards for children's books and has a wonderful talent for drawing the reader into a story. Angella Barrett's exquisite illustrations add a visual magic which makes this book a must for all budding ballerinas.
Roar Publishing, Age 8-11 Robert Nicholls is a respected natural history artist who uses his knowledge of anatomy to conjure up scientifically accurate and stunningly life-like illustrations of the 'terrible lizards' in this well researched gift book. Containing an absorbing range of facts to keep readers interested for hours, 'Dinosaur' explains everything from the earliest discoveries of dinosaur fossils in the nineteenth century to the most up-to-date theories of their extinction. Using maps, ingenious fold-out panels, informative charts and scale diagrams, Nicholls provides us with a vivid impression of what dinosaur life was like on land, in the sea and in the air. This impressive book will appeal to any monster-loving child as well as serious young palaeontologists.
Warne, Age 3+ Peter Rabbit is getting ready to celebrate Easter. He fetches some groceries for his mother, cheekily helps himself to some vegetables in Mr McGregor's garden and joins his friends for an exciting Easter egg hunt. Help him search for the colourful eggs hidden throughout this charming book by lifting the flaps and pulling the tabs to discover yet more hidden surprises! This simple, seasonal novelty book for young children is based on the original tales by Beatrix Potter.
This latest Asterix collection contains fourteen new stories about everyone's favourite Gaul. Find out how Asterix and Obelisk were born, how Asterix is adopted as a Roman mascot, enjoy Obelix's adventures under the mistletoe and much, much more!
Following on from the unlikely success of "Bored of the Rings", comes a new book from an entirely different author that parodies Tolkien's other masterpiece, "The Hobbit". Bingo Grabbins is a soddit who enjoys a comfortable life until his contentment is disturbed by the Wizard Gandelf and a company of Welsh dwarves who arrive one day to drag him away on an adventure.
When Eragon finds a beautiful, blue polished stone in the forest, he thinks that his fortunate discovery will mean more food for his family during the winter. But the stone is a dragon's egg and an integral part of a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. When a fledgling dragon hatches from the stone, Eragon is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, old scores, magic and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old story teller as guidance, Eragon and his dragon friend navigate the dangerous terrain of an empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up mantle of the legendary Dragon riders and restore the empire? This "must read" atmospheric fantasy story will appeal to children and adults alike.
John Farndon - Do Not Open: Everything They Don’t want you to Know Dorling Kindersley (Age 8+) This is a phenomenal collection of unusual information for curious kids, allowing them to explore lost worlds, unravel secret codes and generally inform themselves about mysterious events, people and places through the ages. Discover the secrets of everything from Air Force One to the Vatican via cryptic clues and secret pathways for extra puzzle-solving fun. Everything baffling or bizarre, peculiar or puzzling, wacky or weird is contained in this tantalising encyclopaedia.
(Age- Under 5) 'The Story House' is made up of fifty-two original stories to share, one for every week of the year. Vivian French knows what under fives enjoy and her tales are full of fun, guaranteed to hold a young audience spellbound. With exuberant illustrations by Selina Young of the memorable inhabitants of the house and their adventures, this book is one to treasure.
Price: EUR 35.00
Chicken House, Age 10+ ‘Inkdeath’ is the final part of the internationally bestselling trilogy which began with ‘Inkheart’. In ‘Inkheart’, twelve year old Meggie discovers an extraordinary secret. When her father, Mo, reads aloud from books, they literally come alive. Characters jump out from between the pages and people from the real world are charmed inside. In ‘Inkdeath’, we find Inkworld still under the rule of the ruthless Adderhead, now made immortal by the special book bound for him, a book that allows him to live until three words have been written in its pages. But the book has been poisoned by Mo, infected with a mould that makes its pages rot, a condition which is reflected in Adderhead's ailing but still immortal body. Mo has taken on the role of the mythical Bluejay, a sort of Robin Hood character who battles the forces of Adderhead and his minions to protect the defenceless peasants. ‘Inkdeath’ draws the reader with its unrelenting grip into a world of fantastic battles against seemingly insurmountable injustice, tyranny and mythological entities. Reading has never been so exciting or dangerous!
Dorling Kindersley (Age 3-5 Years) This simple, sturdy book is made up of bright photographs of farm scenes and comes complete with sixteen colourful play magnets. ‘My First Farm’ will provide hours of magnetic fun for children and parents as they make up stories and enjoy learning all about what goes on down on the farm. Drive the tractor, put the baby animals in the right places and make all the animal noises - moo!
(Age 12+) Twelve year old Emily Iris’s family are living a seemingly idyllic life in the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg, but underneath it all are quarrels, unhappiness and uncertainty. One day, a family of wanderers, an Australian couple and their two sons, come to stay with the Irises. For a while, as long as the visitors are there, Emily’s parents can put their differences aside and be like a real family. But as Spring goes on, the gypsies cast shadows of different shapes over Emily’s family, shadows which may darken all of their futures. This haunting and heartbreaking novel beautifully evokes South Africa in the 1960’s and the loss of more than one kind of innocence.
Illustrated by Andrew Grey - Wonderful Words with Winnie the Pooh Egmont, Age 3-6 All of A.A. Milne's favourite characters, including Pooh, Rabbit, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger, feature in this charming new board book which introduces young children to many wonderful words. From things you can eat to animals you might meet, each delightful scene provides simple words to learn, flaps to lift and flashcards to find and match. 'Piglet Gets Washed', for example, highlights simple bathroom vocabulary from bubbles to sponge to identify as well as a search for Piglet's duck. This appealing word book is an ideal gift for any child starting to learn English.
Price: EUR 12.95
This magical book tells the story of Maddy Smith, a young girl born with a mysterious rusty coloured rune shaped mark on her hand. Maddy has always been ‘peculiar’ and an outsider in her village because the inhabitants believe the runemark to be a symbol of the old gods and their forbidden ways. By chance, Maddy meets a stranger called ‘One Eye’ who teaches her to channel her powers and learn more about runes and her special gifts. But ‘One Eye’ has his own agenda and a dangerous mission in mind for Maddy. She must open Red Horse Hill and recover the Whisperer, an ancient relic buried under the hill, which can foresee the future. Ms Harris’ richly inventive and imaginative style lures us, the reader, ever deeper as we accompany Maddy into an underground world of goblins and tricksters, infinite dangers and unforeseen treasures. This fantastic ‘runic romp’ into the heart of Norse and Celtic mythology is a ‘must read’ for both older children and adults alike.
Price: EUR 17.00
Penguin (Age 12+) Fifteen year old Sam Jones had dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder like his hero, Tony Hawk. He even talks to ‘TH’s’ poster on his bedroom wall, and more surprisingly TH seems to talk back. When he meets Alicia, however, he falls deeply in love and spends every spare moment with her. Since Sam’s mum (only seventeen years older than him) has spent most of his life stressing the stupidity of having a baby as a teenager, he and Alicia should have been more careful – might she be pregnant? Suddenly the possibilities in his future may have been drastically limited. Hornby has convincingly captured the inner life of a teenage boy while still displaying his trademark witty, observational humour in this thoroughly entertaining, cautionary tale.
(Age 3-6) Award winning author/illustrator of books for young children, Harry Horse, treats us here to the latest adventure of Little Rabbit. In this charming story, Little Rabbit is excited because Mama Rabbit is expecting a baby. Imagine his surprise when he becomes a big brother to three baby rabbits! Disillusion sets in when he discovers that most of the time they are either sleeping, crying or ruining his toys. Horse’s spot-on observation and gentle humour will keep children engaged for many readings.
(Age 10+) John and Philippa Gaunt are non-identical twins who think in similar ways. When they have their wisdom teeth removed they share a dream under anasthesia, a dream in which they meet their estranged Uncle Nimrod. They travel to London to meet him where he tells them that they are half djinn (or fire-spirit) and takes them to Egypt so that he can train them in the ways of the lamp. So begins a fantastic adventure which takes them around the world as well as inside a vase in search of seventy djinn who have been imprisoned inside a long lost container. This is the first volume of an exciting new trilogy, literally a magical read.
(Age 7-10) This quirky book for beginner readers features Paul Mouse and his friends Sandra, the Christmas tree decoration, Rowley Barker Hobbs, a sheepdog, and the Tinby, a kind of monster. When Paul Mouse decides to treat himself to a restaurant meal he is shocked to overhear a couple placing the following order: ‘I will have the colourful parrot soup with extra beaky bits’. ‘And I’, said her husband, ‘will have mouse noses on toast’. So begins an adventure involving mouse activists, the prime minister and a wildly insane Tinby- charming and ridiculous!
Dorling Kindersley ( Age 7-11) Great cities of the world do not become great overnight. In this superb picture book the reader can follow their development from earliest times up to the present day. With close-ups, captions and cross-sections on every page, 'A City Through Time' shows you how people lived through the ages in incredible panoramic detail. Every picture is packed with intriguing activity, illuminating the lives of citizens,slaves, lords, peasants, factory workers and tourists, making history both immediate and fun.
Price: EUR 26.00
Corgi, Age 12+ In order to become a man, Mau, a South Sea Islander, is taken to a ‘haunted’ island and left there to find his own way home. When Mau returns, however, a tidal wave has washed away his whole society and he finds a wrecked survey ship and a young British girl, Daphne. Daphne is a well brought up adolescent from a vaguely Victorian period of British history. Mau finds it difficult to cease believing in his tribe's fiercely patriarchal gods, whose gloomy injunctions make themselves heard in his unconscious. Daphne has to dismiss everything her poisonous grandmother has taught her about class or race. Together they learn to communicate, each cautiously giving up their preconceived ideas. They are then faced with crowds of refugees making their way to their island, in flight from a group of marauding cannibals. This wise and witty, also topical, fantasy adventure shows how individuals with intellectual courage can help bring about a just society capable of defeating its worst enemies.
Price: EUR 8.80
Scholastic Age 11+ In this irreverent retelling of the Arthur legend we meet Gwyna, a young girl forced to flee when her village is attacked and burnt to the ground. She is discovered hiding in the woods by Myrddin the bard, a traveller and spinner of tales. He agrees to protect Gwyna if she will agree to be bound in service to him. She is frightened but intrigued and eventually agrees as Myrddin serves the young, rough and powerful Arthur. The Arthur striding through Myrddin’s tales is a noble, high-minded warrior dedicated in uniting war-torn Britain against the Saxons. But servant-girl, Gwyna, rescued by Myrddin and woven into his stories, knows another Arthur driven by greed, power and desire. Whether serving in Arthur’s warband disguised as a boy or at his court as a girl, Gwyna’s life is inextricably linked with Arthur’s in an age of random violence and superstition. Gwyna’s shifting gender allows Philip Reeve to create a unique, strikingly vivid glimpse into dark-age Britain while encouraging the reader to look at history with a critical eye and see that all may not be as it seems.
(Age 10+) In this latest instalment in the saga of Percy Jackson, half boy, half Greek god, he and his friends Annabeth and Thalia are heading to Maine to bring two new demigods to Camp Half-Blood. When they arrive, however, they discover that the ‘Great Stirring of the Monsters’ has begun and that their deadliest enemy yet, The General, is plotting the fall of Olympus. Camp Half-Blood’s Oracle predicts that only five demigods can fight the legions of monsters and not all of the chosen five will survive the dangerous quest. Percy knows what he must do, yet hundreds of bloodthirsty monsters are watching and awaiting his every move!
This is award-winning Meg Rosoff’s third novel and it is even better than the previous two. The year is 1962. Our narrator has been expelled from his two previous schools and is not looking forward to his third, ‘St. Oswald’s’, a boarding school on the East Anglian coast. Its draughty, unheated buildings, grey school dinners and uninspiring teachers are depressingly familiar. But one day, on one of the school’s ‘conditioning’ long runs across the muddy countryside, he discovers a fisherman’s hut. In the hut, with its roaring fire, striped blankets and sea-monster stew, lives a boy with no past - Finn. He falls in love, not necessarily with Finn, but with his life, and things will never look the same again. ‘What I Was’ submerges the reader deeply in the intensity of teenage longing, spiced with a tang of the sea.
The day David Case saves his younger brother’s life, his whole world changes. Suddenly every moment is fizzing with what if’s, and it’s up to David to outwit fate, or try to. He changes his name and his appearance, he leaves home and finds himself caught in a series of strange and extraordinary adventures. But is he really in control of his life? And if he isn’t, who is? This is Meg Rosoff’s second novel for young adults and it is even more engrossing than her critically acclaimed ‘How I Live Now’. ‘Just in Case’ is an assured, powerful and haunting story written with warmth but also with an edgy, unpredictable intelligence.
Catherine Webb, The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle, Atom, € 10,90, Age 9-12 Horatio Lyle is a former Special Constable with a passion for science and invention and also an occasional sleuth. Together with Tess, a reformed pickpocket, and Thomas, a rebellious young gentleman, Lyle and his faithful hound Tate find themselves on the trail of a conspiracy involving a Chinese plate that reaches to the highest levels of polite society and which pits them against a dangerous enemy who may not even be human. Welcome to the world of Horatio Lyle; when mystery beckons he gathers his courage, sharpens his wits and fills his pockets with things that explode…
Puffin Age 3-6 Two sisters say they are going to play at a friend’s house, but instead they go fishing by themselves. They discover a pond in Bluebell Wood where they find a magical small, blue creature complete with tiny dragon wings. It is a bog baby and they decide to keep it and keep it secret. They try to take care of it as best they can, feeding it on cake crumbs and making it a beautiful home in a bucket with gravel, shells and clean water. But when the bog baby becomes ill they realise they will have to tell their mum. This is a whimsical and lovely picture book which teaches children how to let ‘things’ go when they are better off in the wild where they belong.
Egmont (Age 10-14) Melkin Womper is a weaver’s son with a vivid imagination and a talent for drawing. When he is taken on as an apprentice to master painter, Ambrosius Blenk, he is suddenly thrust into a richly coloured, exciting and dangerous world. In the Seven Kingdoms, to have colour in your life, you must buy the ‘Pleasure’, owned by the sinister scarlet-robed ‘Fifth Mystery’. Soon Mel and his new friends Ludo and Wren find themselves caught in a power struggle between the ‘Mystery’ and their master. They discover how to enter the ‘Mirrorscape’ by stepping through paintings into an amazing world where imaginary monsters, pyramid mazes and talking houses are commonplace and all logic is irrelevant. They must use all their creative powers in order to stop the ‘Mystery’ and save their own lives. Truly fantastic!
Price: EUR 11.95
Doubleday, Age 8-11 London, 1876, Hetty Feather is just a tiny baby when her mother leaves her at the Foundling Hospital. The hospital cares for abandoned children, but Hetty must first live with a foster family until she is old enough to go to school. Life in the countryside is hard but with her 'brothers' Jem and Gideon, she helps in the fields and plays imaginary games. Together they sneak off to visit the travelling circus and Hetty is mesmerised by the show, especially Madame Adeline and her performing horses. But Hetty's happiness is threatened once more when she is returned to the Foundling Hospital. The new life of awful uniforms and terrible food is a struggle for her, but now she has the chance to find her real mother. Could she really be the wonderful Madame Adeline? Or will Hetty find the truth is even more surprising? Jacqueline Wilson will surprise and delight old fans and new with this gripping, moving and funny historical novel, the ideal gift for girls of eight and older.
Price: EUR 15.00
Egmont, Age 3+ This novelty bedtime counting book for young children is based on the Winnie the Pooh stories by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard. Jane Riordan’s simple, rhyming story describes how five tired animal friends find their way home to bed one winter’s evening. Children can press a button to light up the stars in the sky, counting them until they are (hopefully!) lulled to sleep. This is a good first introduction to numbers as well as a charming, calming bedtime story.
Price: EUR 13.50
( Age 9-12) Join Robert Winston on a unique journey exploring the mind as well as the body to reveal the astonishing reasons why every single one of us is different. Packed with interesting information presented in a lively way, you will find answers to questions such as 'What are fingerprints for?', 'How did I learn to speak?' and 'What am I made of?' Perfect for inquiring minds!
