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23 children's books to look out for in 2023: January to June
Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods. How Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his bride. How her mother, Demeter, was so distraught she caused the Earth to start dying. The real story is much more interesting.
This funny, fierce and feminist retelling of the Greek myth from the TikTok superstar will be on every teen's 'must read' list this summer!
The first book in the Nkara Chronicles, a fun fantasy adventure based on African mythology. While on holiday in the The Gambia, Yomi witnesses the Dragon King – Ninki Nanka – being kidnapped from the sky.
Earlier this year, we gave 100 young booklovers an early copy with Caboodle Firsts – and you can still read the first chapter!
From the author of Children of the Quicksands, the July Indie Children's Book of the Month as chosen by booksellers, is full of joy and wonder. Jomi's mum left when he was little to make a new life for them in Lagos, the city of dreams. When he doesn't hear from her, Jomi decides to follow.
Ysolda has lived her life in the shadow of the wolf queen's tyrannical rule but, safe in her forest haven, she has never truly felt its threat. Until one day, when a mysterious earthquake shakes the land, and her older sister Hari vanishes in its wake. From the bestselling author of Julia and the Shark and The Girl of Ink and Stars comes an epic new fantasy series, Geomancer – read the first chapter with Caboodle Firsts!
Daisy's worst ever enemy Chloe is desperate to win back her friends so she announces she's going to have THE BEST SLEEPOVER IN THE WORLD. This sequel to Jacqueline Wilson’s bestselling classic, Sleepovers, is a moving look at friendship, sleepovers and siblings.
A compendium featuring 20 brilliantly illustrated tiny tales. Joseph Coelho brings us stories of underwater worlds, demon hamsters, bears in outer space, and portals to places unknown... all in just ten words!
When Tapper Watson finds himself being chased through worlds by a pair of trigger-happy lobster mobsters in search of the mysterious Nemo Machine, he begins to realise that he might not be so ordinary after all... A joyous, wildly imaginative mash-up of Greek myth and science fiction.
From the author of The Yearbook and The Places I've Cried in Public comes a dystopia for a new generation. In Belle and Joni's world, you must choose to become Pretty, or to become Objectionable.
Readers will take a trip to the misty island of Merlank in this gothic thriller and a coming-of-age tale, where Frances Hardinge and illustrated Emily Gravett unite for the first time to conjure up a thrilling fairy tale of ghosts and magic.
For fans of the hilarious Who Let the Gods Out? series comes another new adventure from Maz Evans! Packed full of edge-of-your-seat adventure, belly laughs, and Maya mythology, featuring a brand new Gods Squad led by Vesper and Aster.
When Tito becomes friends with new girl Neena, she introduces him to the world of Dreamweaving. When their classmates start acting strangely, they realise someone else is using Dreamweaving to cause chaos. Can Tito and Neena stop them before the dream world takes over the waking world?Our current Caboodle Firsts title for children – get an early copy for a young bookworm, plus read the first chapter straight away!
Andy and Terry have added 13 new levels and built their biggest and most astonishing treehouse yet! It has everything they – and you – could wish for including: an electric pony stable, a NOISY level, a weather dome (where you can have whatever weather you want whenever you want it), a 100% edible gingerbread house, and a potato-powered translation transmitter that allows you to talk to everything everywhere all at the same time. An exciting new addition for fans of the bestselling Treehouse series.
The sensational sequel to the Waterstones Children's Book Prize winner, The Last Bear. Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, this is a stunning story of survival and hope that reminds us how change is made from the smallest beginnings, and asks how far we are prepared to go to protect what we love.
For Percy Jackson fans new and old. The original heroes from The Lightning Thief are reunited for their biggest challenge yet: getting Percy to college when the gods are standing in his way.
The first book in a bitingly brilliant and fangtastically feisty new series by bestselling author Kalynn Bayron. Fans of The Breakfast Club Adventures and Goosebumps will love this fun, thrilling and heartfelt vampire adventure.
Jamie Smart is back! The Woods are in uproar! Pig has vanished! Keep an eye out for our hilarious new Bunny vs Monkey National Book Tokens gift card design, available in bookshops everywhere and online from September!
Jump aboard for a journey to strange and spectacular lands. From the author of The Polar Bear Explorers' Club comes a magical and thrilling story starring Bess, who's been handed the keys to her grandfather’s most prized possession – his Odditorium.
From L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, comes a magical Christmas story about a girl who is convinced her new stepdad is actually Father Christmas. Written in an advent calendar structure (a chapter to read each day in December in the lead up to Christmas) this is a heart-warming story to enjoy as a family.
A baked potato of a winter’s night to wrap your hands around or burn your mouth.A blanket knitted by your mother’s cunning fingers. Or your grandmother's. Neil Gaiman's powerful and poignant poem reveals our shared desire to feel safe, welcome and warm in a world that can often feel frightening and lonely. This beautiful book includes illustrations from 13 extraordinary artists, including Chris Riddell, Benji Davies, Oliver Jeffers, Yuliya Gwilym, and many more.
It's April 1941 and Britain is at war. A secret agency called the Ministry of Unladylike Activity is training up children as spies - because grown-ups always underestimate them. Enter May, Eric and Nuala: courageous, smart, and the Ministry's newest recruits. A thrilling and unputdownable mystery from the bestselling author of the Murder Most Unladylike series.
From the author of the fantastic Adventures on Trains series comes a magical fantasy and dazzling future classic with a powerful message at its core. Bianca's quest to rescue her little brother hurls her into a fantastical winter wonderland, full of beauty and danger, where all is not as it seems.
When Oscar and Molly rush outside to investigate a crash in the night, they're not expecting to find a dazed Angel Gabriel wandering around their grandparents' back garden. And they're certainly not expecting to find themselves in a race to save Christmas. Operation Nativity is on. Jenny Pearson's festive story is full of hope, humour and love.
Nick and Charlie are back, and are very much in love. But with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change? Heartstopper is the incredibly popular graphic novel and Netflix series, written and illustrated by Alice Oseman. Plus, teens will love our gorgeous Heartstopper gift card design, available in bookshops everywhere and online.
Browse our book recommendations, author features, games, and competitions over in Caboodlers' Corner.
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