Young Adult
BBC RADIO 4 WOMAN’S HOUR (listen here 14.40mins)
BBC BREAKFAST TV (watch here)
A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK (read here)
WINNER: National Diverse Book Award • Coventry Inspiration Award • Bristol Teen Book Award
SHORTLISTED: National Indie Book Award • Berkshire Award • BSN Brilliant Award • Cumbria Spellbinding Award • Portsmouth Award • Sheffield Children’s Award
NOMINATED: CILIP Carnegie Medal
AMAZON TEACHERS’ PICK every year since 2019
Middle Grade
Ages: 7+
The first in this laugh-out-loud series follows the adventures of Maddy, who tries to find her true talent but ends up in all kinds of sticky situations without meaning to! Chock-full of hilarious journal entries, cartoons and ‘How to…’ guides, it’s accessible for readers at all levels. A brilliantly diverse and inclusive read. An Indie Book of the Month.
Ages: 7+
This time Maddy is off to the seaside. Her dream is to ride on the brand new, mind-blowing roller coaster, the Mega Beast! One problem: she has to take annoying little brother and bonkers grandad along – dealing with killer seagulls will be bad enough! Will they stop her from getting on the best ride ever? Shortlisted for Lollies Awards 2024.
Ages: 7+
It’s Grandad’s birthday and Maddy has volunteered to organise the party as she is determined to make Agung’s 80th a day to remember. The TO-DO list is never-ending, but with the help of a lucky coin and her bezzie mate Dev, they manage to conjure up a star surprise that has everybody up and dancing!
Ages: 8+
Foreword by Angelina Jolie.
Every child has human rights, from the moment they’re born until they grow up, including the rights to education, a safe home, equality and even the right to play! Packed with illustrations, fun facts, inspiring stories and top tips, this is an essential guide for all kids. All royalties go to Amnesty International.
Picture Books
Ages: 4 to 7
Rob is a burglar and he’s bad. Bob is his dog, and he’s really good. But he remains faithful to his horrible owner, helping him with robberies. One night Rob spot some parcels and can’t resist stealing them. When they turn out to be just a load of kid’s toys Rob is disgusted, but Bob feels sorry for the children, returns them, and gets a pleasant surprise!
Ages: 4 to 7
Angus is a gentle alien who loves his space garden. But his world is turned upside-down by the unwelcome arrival of naughty Alvin. When Alvin’s tricks misfire and turn him into a pin-size creature, Angus helps him recover – if he promises to behave and learn some manners. Maybe the two aliens will end up friends after all?
Ages: 3 to 7
This gold award-winning book introduces mindfulness using a fun to follow exercise. Lil takes Jake to the beach using visualisation and breathing techniques. Your child should enjoy the experience of stillness with your guidance, and be better prepared for a good night’s sleep! A great tool for teaching calmness in any situation. Watch the interview here.
Educational Books
Ages: 5 to 6
Yan loves painting but his little sister, Ling, will not stop marching, thumping and banging. Then disaster happens when Ling trips over. Has Yan’s precious artwork been ruined completely? This relatable story of siblings, is a phonics book that doesn’t read like one at all, due the fun, rich text.
Ages: 6 to 7
Bryan lives in a nice neighbourhood in America and does well in school. Then his mother gets a new job in China and Bryan’s family has to move. School in China is very different. Will Bryan ever get used to it? This book was written as part of a global literacy programme and teaches about cultural diversity and friendship.
Ages: 8 to 9
Great Granny Chan can’t wait for her holiday in England. But instead of the exciting trip she’d hoped for, her family have the most boring things planned. Can Great Granny Chan somehow have the holiday she wants – and keep it a secret from her family? A humorous tale about overcoming some of the hurdles of age and language differences.
Audio Books
Ages: 7+
Read by actress Emma Lau and talented cast, this madcap series is filled with belly-laughs, perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Sam Wu. The first book follows Maddy while she tries to find her true talent but ends up in all kinds of sticky situations, and in the follow-up, she has to contend with killer seagulls and pickled eggs to get a ride on her dream roller coaster! Available at AUDIBLE.CO.UK.
Ages: 3 to 7
Gold award-winning series read by actress and presenter Giovanna Fletcher. These ten fun adventure stories with engaging mindfulness exercises are specially designed to keep children entertained, while also supporting better mental health practices; from breathing techniques that help the body relax, to listening exercises to improve awareness. Each last 8 to 12 minutes to match little ones’ attention spans.