Are you a book lover wondering what to stock your child's bookshelf with, or perhaps you'd like to find some inspiration before your next family library trip?
This year, it's Puffin's 85th birthday - and so we've rounded up 85 stories to spark imaginations that we'd recommend to every child to read before they're 12. From beautifully-illustrated bedtime picture books, to side-splittingly funny graphic novels, to the classics we all love, there's something for every age and interest!
Ages 0-4
Look Up! by Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola (2019)
Meet hilarious, science-mad chatterbox, Rocket - she's going to be the greatest astronaut, star-catcher, space-traveller that has ever lived!
But... can she convince her big brother to stop looking down at his phone and start LOOKING UP at the stars?
Bursting with energy and passion about science and space, this heart-warming, inspirational picture book will have readers turning off their screens and switching on to the outside world.
You don't have to ROAR to be heard...
Meet Leonard - a lion like no other.
Leonard's best friend is Marianne, a duck. But lions chomp ducks, don't they?
What will the pair do when their way of life is threatened?
Sarah thinks she's discovered the perfect gift for her garden-loving grandma, but before you can say GARDEN FULL OF UNICORNS, things grow wildly out-of-hand!
Live your own hilarious unicorn fantasy in this rip-roaring, rhyming delight from a terrifically talented new picture book author, with illustrations from the brilliant, bestselling illustrator Steven Lenton - illustrator of Shifty McGifty and The Hundred and One Dalmations picture book.
Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a perennial favourite with children and adults alike. Its imaginative illustration and clever cut-out detail charts the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through the week.
A much-loved classic, illustrated by the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar .
Vibrant artwork and favourite animals make this rhythmic story the perfect introduction to learning about colours. Each spread leads seamlessly into the next and young children will delight in Eric's colourful collage animals and simple repetitive language.
Discover the timeless tales of Peter Rabbit, now in an iconic collection.
Celebrate the 120th Anniversary of our favourite furry friend with this brand-new picture book edition of Beatrix Potter's original classic story of Peter Rabbit.
Peter Rabbit loves the yummy vegetables he finds in Mr McGregor's garden, the only problem is: Mr McGregor doesn't want Peter to get his paws on his crops!
One of Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved tales, this special picture-book edition features the original text in full, along with Potter's beautifully engaging illustrations in a new large format.
Based on the much-loved film, fly away on a magical journey to the enchanting land of the Snowman!
After the snow settles on a cold winter's day, a little boy builds a Snowman. Later that night, under the glittering stars, the Snowman comes to life!
Together they fly through the night sky on a breathtaking and magical journey, until the sun comes up and it's time to go home...
This edition of the classic tale from Raymond Briggs features stunningly rendered new artwork based on the 1982 film, alongside beautifully written story narration.
It’s December 24th and, despite his dreams of a summer holiday, Father Christmas is preparing for the longest night of the year.
Join him on a magical journey as he travels the world, delivering gifts to every child - with only a FEW hiccups along the way!
Discover the hilariously irreverent Christmas book, adored by generations of children, from award-winning storyteller and creator of The Snowman, Raymond Briggs.
One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper.
That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins.
But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all.
In Eric Hill's classic Where's Spot? lift the flaps to find Spot!
In Spot's first adventure children can join in the search for the mischievous puppy by lifting the flaps on every page to see where he is hiding. The simple text and colourful pictures will engage a whole new generation of pre-readers as they lift the picture flaps in search of Spot. A No.1 bestseller since it was first published in 1980, this interactive favourite has stayed in the charts ever since.
This is a bigger, brighter paperback edition of Eric Hill's iconic first lift-the-flap book.
You Choose by Pippa Goodheart & Nick Sharratt (2003)
Imagine you could go anywhere, meet anyone and do anything.you choose!
With the help of Nick Sharratt's wonderfully detailed illustrations, Pippa Goodhart explores a whole range of scenarios where choosing is made fun! This is a timeless classic which children will love to return to again and again - and there's something new to find on every read!
Barbara is in a very bad mood. She won't admit it, but she is.
She has a problem with a sock, and at lunchtime there's a strange pea... And even though she's at the park with her friends, it all just gets a bit much. Suddenly Barbara's WOBBLER is out of control!
But what if Barbara and her Wobbler can work together, so she can be cheerful again?
Weirdo by Zadie Smith, Nick Laird & Magenta Fox (2022)
Meet Maud: a guinea pig who inexplicably wears a judo suit - and not everyone understands or approves. When Maud is thrown into a new and confusing situation, it takes brave decisions and serendipitous encounters for her to find her place and embrace her individuality.
The charming characters of Magenta Fox, whose work is evocative of Raymond Briggs and Janet Ahlberg, perfectly offset Zadie and Nick's warm, wry prose.
Weirdo is an endearing story about the quiet power of being different by two veteran writers, and introduces an exciting debut illustrator. Together they have created a picture book that adults and children alike will treasure.
Tiptoe over, under, round and through the book, just . . . don't disturb the DRAGON!
Discover a brand new bedtime story from the bestselling author of the Ten Minutes To Bed series. With immersive and colourful illustrations on every page, join our heroes on their fairytale adventure.
Perfect for toddlers, this rhyming adventure is perfect for banishing bedtime blues.
Introduce first colours with The Very Hungry Caterpillar in this playful lift-the-flap early learning series!
Read along with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and discover bright and colourful animal friends!
Each page of this chunky board book has been thoughtfully designed with a peep-through flap to encourage little ones to join in and guess the colour. Perfect for getting very little ones excited about learning their very first colours!
Publishing in February 2025 and available to pre-order now.
The Dinosaur that Pooped a Planet! by Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter (2019)
But when Danny realises he's forgotten Dino's lunch box, the very hungry dinosaur eats everything in sight, including their only way back home: the rocket! How will Dino get them back down to earth?
Find poop, planets and pandemonium in this supersonic space adventure!
Dogger by Shirley Hughes (1977)
Everywhere Dave goes, his favourite toy, Dogger, is ALWAYS with him.
So, when Dogger goes missing, Dave is devastated. Luckily, Dogger turns up at the school summer fair, but when he ends up at the toy stall, Dave must find a way to buy his best friend back.
With a heart warming message and delightful illustrations, Dogger has delighted children for generations. This gentle bedtime story is perfect for young readers.
"This is how the story begins... On a dark dark hill there was a dark dark town. In the dark dark town there was a dark dark street."
Discover the classic children's story that has delighted generation after generation. A must-read for Halloween, discover the hilarious Funnybones stories. Packed with playful illustrations and easy-to-read text, discover this timeless bedtime story.
Big by Vashti Harrison (2024)
Once there was a girl with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams. She grew and grew and grew. And it was good... until it wasn't.
When the girl grows big, the world begins to make her feel small. She feels out of place and invisible, and soon she isn't herself at all. But with the girl's size comes huge inner strength - and this helps her look past the hurtful words to see how perfect she really is.
With beautiful illustrations and a gatefold flap, this quietly reassuring story explores the experience of being big in a world that celebrates small, promoting body positivity and self-acceptance in young readers.
Hairy Maclary is off for a walk in town, and on the way he's joined by many furry friends of all shops and sizes, from Bottomley Potts (covered in spots) to Schnitzel von Krumm (with a very low tum). But when they suddenly find themselves face-to-face with Scarface Claw - the toughest Tom in town - it's time to run all the way back home!
The brilliantly clever rhyme and vivid, engaging pictures have made this story into a children's classic, beloved for over 40 years - and it's still one of the most popular picture books today.
A beautiful brand new cased board book version of this classic picture book by the iconic Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Each Peach Pear Plum introduces characters from well-known nursery stories, such as the Three Bears, Mother Hubbard and Tom Thumb, and encourages children to participate and to find the characters hidden in the pictures. The text, with its strong rhyme and rhythm, is perfect to read aloud to very young children, while the game of 'I Spy' keeps children enthralled.
A monster has invaded the pages of this original and super-fun bedtime picture book!
Children need to read aloud and follow the interactive instructions to help free the pesky monster by tilting, spinning and shaking their book.
After all that fun, there is a calming wind down end- perfect to send your own little monster off to sleep.
Sun's out, crumbs out - Greg the Sausage Roll is SO EXCITED to be jetting off on his first-ever holiday! He's ready to hop on a plane to paradise for some FUN IN THE SUN! Karaoke, splashing in the pool, ice cream - Greg's ready to try it all and have the BEST HOLIDAY EVER!
But will he miss his sausage-roll sweetheart, Gloria, and all his friends back at the bakery?
What would happen if you showed a T-Rex a book?
A madcap, super silly adventure story rooted in the transformative power of books, created by incredible new picture-book duo Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Diane Ewen.
“All creatures grim and evil, under the tired sun, are settling down - and so must you, my horrible little one…”
It’s time to go to bed, and whether you are a phantom, a vampire, a Dark Lord or a yeti, you still must brush your teeth, put on your pyjamas, and settle down with a cosy story.
Full of warmth and humour (and slime!) this rhyming bedtime book will disgust and delight sleepy little monsters everywhere.
Publishing in March 2025 and available to pre-order now.
Join Shane and friends as they attempt to settle the age-old question of which tastie-tastic rice dish is the best!
Shane’s FAVOURITE meal is a big, delicious, mouth-watering bowl of RICE & PEAS. He believes it is the BEST rice in the whole wide world and can’t wait to bring some in for his lunch at school. But how will he react when he discovers that that his friend, Yinka, has also brought her favourite meal of JOLLOF rice in for lunch?
My Rice is Best is a mesme-ricing, laugh-out-loud celebration of food and friendship!
Publishing in May 2025 and available to pre-order now.
This is the hilarious (and admittedly a tiny bit gross) tale of Amy, a small piece of sweetcorn who is eaten by Noah, a medium-sized boy. The story follows Amy on her funny, gooey and anatomically-accurate adventure through the human body as she discovers lots of facts about digestion. (It's fair to say that parents might learn a little bit too.)
You might think a book with no pictures would be boring and serious.
Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say BLORK. Or BLUURF.
And even if they have to say things like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and MY HEAD IS MADE OF BLUEBERRY PIZZA!
That's the rule. That's the deal.
"Goodnight tractor, time to sleep."
Sending little ones to sleep for generations, this beloved story is packed with delightful illustrations, large easy-to-read text and gentle rhymes.
When Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the very last thing he expects is for the vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his apartment!
As Jeremiah and his brother chase the magical plant up through the floors of their tower block home, they discover an array of curious neighbours who join in the adventure. But what could be waiting for them at the top of the building? And will Jeremiah find his voice to help the neighbours discover the true magic hidden within these sunflower seeds?
Ages 5-8
School spells trouble for Mildred Hubble!
Disaster-prone Mildred is a trainee at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, but she's making an awful mess of it. She keeps getting her spells wrong and crashing her broomstick.
She manages to scrape by until she turns Ethel, the teacher's pet, into her worst enemy, and her cauldron begins to bubble with chaos. . .
Matilda by Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake (1988)
Matilda is a brilliant child with a magical mind.
But her parents have decided she's just a nuisance who wastes too much time on reading and stories.
And her headmistress Miss Trunchbull is a terrible bully, who thinks children are rotten and awful and should be locked up.
Now it's time for Matilda to find the power to change her story, and show them just how extraordinary children can be . . .
Here comes trouble!
Mum is taking Daisy and her best friends Gabby and Dylan to the zoo.
The trouble with zoos is, the animals are TOO CUTE. Especially the penguins...
So when Daisy gets to go into the ACTUAL penguin cage with the ACTUAL zookeeper and feed the ACTUAL penguins, it really isn't her fault that she has to secretly adopt one.
But Daisy soon discovers that the trouble with penguins is, they don't make the easiest pets.
Dino Dad by Andy Day & Steven Lenton (2024)
What if YOUR dad could change into a dinosaur?
Hi, I'm Ruby! And I've got a big secret . . . everyone thinks my dad is an amazing dinosaur expert at our local museum. And he totally is! But he's also . . . a POOPA! And so am I!
What's a POOPA? Well, it means he's a Protector Of Our Prehistoric Allies. When me and Dad touch his special, magic ammonite shell, we travel to an incredible island, full of dinosaurs who live just like us humans do. And when we go there, we turn into dinosaurs too!
We have so many amazing adventures . . . and I can't wait for you to join us!
Sohal worries about a lot of things: the dark, mutant sheep, being alone - you name it, he worries about it! So one night he tries drawing his worries to make himself feel better - and somehow they look a lot less worrying once they're scribbled down.
But then imagine Sohal's surprise when he wakes up the next morning to find a set of funny, furry friends at the end of his bed!
His worries have come to life, and it's not long before Hurt, Fail, Anger, Big and Alone have turned his world upside down. Now it's up to Sohal to work out how to keep his worries under control - and have some serious fun while he's at it!
Bea and her mum are moving in with her grandparents, which will mean a new school, new friends, and big changes for Bea. . .
All Bea can remember about Granny and Grandad's house is their big, beautiful garden with its colourful flowers and secret hide-and-seek spots, but when Bea and her mum arrive, the garden has grown sad and neglected.
The wild garden feels like the perfect place for Bea to hide away from all the changes in her life, but when she hears a strange noise in the long grass, she can't quite believe what she finds. . .
FOUR TINY DOGS, NO BIGGER THAN MICE!
Stuff by Maddie Moate (2022)
Do you ever wonder where your stuff comes from, and what happens to it when you're finished with it? Did you know that you can make paper out of elephant poo? And plastic packaging out of seaweed? And did you know that if you throw away an old T-shirt, it can take 200 years to break down?
Written and researched by Maddie Moate, the star of CBBC's Do You Know? and Let's Go Live with Maddie and Greg, and illustrated by Paul Boston, this book is full of mind-bursting facts and extraordinary stories of the ingenious ways people around the world, and across history, have made, used and re-used the stuff around them.
Here we are at 4.6 billion years ago, and as we raise the curtain . . . the STORY OF LIFE is about to begin! (Yes, that's right - we're telling the story of the ENTIRE history of Planet Earth).
Take your seats for the ENTIRE history of Planet Earth, as we take a whistle-stop tour from the birth of Earth, to the age of bacteria, the era of dinosaurs . . . to the moment of people (blink and you'll miss it).
Narrated by a friendly troop of insects and with mind-blowing, lively illustrations, this illustrated non-fiction book will entertain and educate, as we put on a show, the greatest show, the show of the evolution of life on Earth.
Why is blood red? Why are carrots orange? Who invented the lightbulb? Why is the world 'going green'? Is the sky really blue? And what is ultraviolet light?
You'll discover the answers to these questions - and many more - in this incredible collection of scientific facts about colour. We'll talk about light (the most important thing) and waves (not the kind you see at the beach - though you will learn why the sea looks blue!). You'll find out how some animals are able to glow in the dark and how others change their colours to hide from predators.
Keep reading to discover why leaves change colour in the autumn, why your veins look blue but your blood is red, and how the language we use shapes the colours we see . . .
And you'll even be taught by a real astronomer, Dr Sheila Kanani, exactly how to make a rainbow - in space.
George Kranky's grandma is a grouch. She's always mean to George (and not much nicer to his parents either).
One day, when George is put in charge of giving Grandma her medicine, he wonders if he can come up with his own remedy to try and help Grandma become less of a grump.
Using some rather unusual ingredients, George creates his magic medicine*. But will it stop his grandma from being so horrible . . . or will it shoot sparks out of the top of her head?!
*WARNING: Do NOT try to make George's Marvellous Medicine yourselves at home. It is likely to be extremely dangerous.
Soar into this modern Japanese classic about a young witch and her clever cat with this new translation by Emily Balistrieri which will delight fans of the beloved Studio Ghibli animated movie as well as new readers.
Kiki is a trainee witch. On her thirteenth birthday she must follow tradition and leave home to find a new village. She knows she has to use only her powers to make a living, but Kiki's no good at potions or spells...can she use her flying abilities to make her own way in the world? She sets out with her beloved black cat Jiji on an exciting journey, making new friends along the way.
Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world.
Featuring the true stories of 40 inspirational women creators - from writers to inventors, artists to scientists - this book is as inspirational as it is educational. Readers will meet trailblazing women such as revolutionary architect, Zaha Hadid, actor/inventor Hedy Lamarr, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, modernist painter and animator Mary Blair and physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. Some names will be familiar, some will not - but all these women had a lasting impact on their fields.
While out on a lovely walk in the woods, Billy and her trusty sidekick Fatcat hear a terrible rumble... a terrible rumble coming from a Terrible Beast!
He's making a Terrible Soup out of all of Billy and Fatcat's friends!
Luckily, our brave heroine Billy has a trick or two up her sleeve (or in her hair)... Join quick-thinking Billy on her mission to defeat the Terrible Beast (and save those adorable little bunny rabbits too).
Young readers will adore this hilarious story, packed with playful, energetic and simple to read text.
Ella's family have a big secret . . . her mummy is a fairy! She can do amazing spells with her computawand to make delicious cupcakes, create the perfect birthday party and cause chaos at the supermarket. But sometimes the spells go a bit wrong and that's when Ella comes to the rescue!
The first magical book in this wonderful series for 5-7 year olds, from global bestselling author Sophie Kinsella.
Max is a hedgehog who lives with his family in a nice little home, but it's on the wrong side of the road from the Park where there's a beautiful lily pond and plenty of juicy slugs, worms and snails!
Still determined to fulfil his mission, Max discovers the best way to cross the road - with the help of the lollipop lady and some careful detective work...
The Fairytale Hairdresser and Rapunzel by Lauren Beard & Abie Longstaff (2011) very bad hair day. Will Kittie manage to tame unruly tresses that go on for miles, rescue a princess and create a happily ever after?
Once there was a velveteen rabbit who longed to be Real. He was owned by a boy who loved him more and more every day, even when the rabbit's velveteen coat grew old and shabby and worn. Then one day something magical happened, and the rabbit's wish began to come true...
With messages about the importance of love and inner beauty, The Velveteen Rabbit is an all-time favourite classic which has delighted generations of children.
Meg and Mog are off to a Halloween party with all their friends. But, BANG! One of Meg's spells hasn't worked as planned! Can Meg and Mog fix it?
This is a special 50th anniversary edition of the original Meg and Mog book, which has been casting its spell over readers for generations. With Jan Pienkowski’s award-winning illustrations and Helen Nicoll’s easy-to-read text, the Meg and Mog books have earnt their place as timeless classics, beloved by all.
What does the sea make you think of? Crashing waves, crumbling sandcastles . . . maybe a squawking seagull or two? Well, how about . . .
Ghost ships! Mega sharks! The Bermuda triangle! Zombie starfish! Psychic sea serpents! And don't even get us started on something called the Hot Tub of Despair . . .
You see, the sea is actually weird. Really weird. Not only is it full of amazing creatures and mini monsters, some of the world's most mind-blowing myths and legends revolve around the sea too.
So what are you waiting for? Come with our wonderful narrator, Shrimpy, and dive into some of the incredible secrets of our weird, wonderful and totally wild oceans.
The Twits by Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake (1980)
Mr Twit is a foul and smelly man who always has bits of cornflake and sardine in his beard.
Mrs Twit is scheming and sly and always thinking of the next horrible trick to play on her husband.
The Twits are so ghastly and evil that they even keep Muggle-Wump the monkey and his family captive in their garden.
But not for much longer! The monkeys are planning to trick the terrible Twits so that they can escape and put a stop to the frightful pair once and for all!
A wickedly funny and prank-filled adventure starring one of Roald Dahl’s most hilarious and popular creations, The Twits.
This brand-new and deliciously revolting story is brilliantly written by internationally bestselling authors and children’s literacy advocates Greg James and Chris Smith and illustrated by Emily Jones.
Mr and Mrs Twit are just about as nasty and revolting as two people can get. The only thing that brings the two of them pleasure is playing pranks on one another.
But, when a new family called the Lovelies move in next door, with their lively 10-year-old twins, they teach The Twits to stop being so mean and horrible and they all live happily ever after . . .
Ha! Not really. The Twits HATE the Lovelies.
But how far will The Twits go to rid themselves of their horribly nice new neighbours? And what happens when these new neighbours, who are armed with utter loveliness, start to fight back?
Max is just a regular cat in Kittyopolis, trying to make it big as a podcaster (Followers: 12). That is UNTIL he accidentally takes a bite of an RADIOACTIVE SPACE MEATBALL at his best friend, scientist Mindy's, SECRET LAB. Then before you can say MEOWZA, Max becomes...(drum roll!)...The CAT CRUSADER!
Being a super hero is fun (Super strength? Check! Flying? YES!!!)--but not if you get so cocky, you forget your best friend!
Will Max learn to listen? Will he and Mindy make up? And together, can Max and Mindy save Kittyopolis from the evil Agent M and BIG BOSS?!
Find out in book 1, Max Meow: Cat Crusader-a laugh out loud, furr-ociously funny, action-packed new series filled with so many twists, turns, and terrific jokes it makes bad guys FLEA and kids cheer with glee!
A long-awaited sequel to the hugely popular book Sleepovers !
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. There's going to be a swim in a luxury pool, a special makeover for every guest, and a real live meeting with a social media superstar.
All Chloe's old friends are invited, even Daisy's best friend Emily. But Daisy is left out.
Daisy's sister Lily is non-verbal but she's learned Makaton at her new special school. She signs to Daisy that she wants a sleepover. Will family and friends somehow make Lily's party THE BEST SLEEPOVER IN THE WORLD?
Ages 9-12
Wilbur the pig's life has already been saved by Fern, but when he is sold to her uncle, he realises his life is in even more danger. Enter Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider. Charlotte is determined to keep Wilbur from the chopping block, and comes up with an ingenious way to do just that.Charlotte's Web, the poignant, humorous story of a pig, a spider and a little girl.
The original classic and much-loved tale featuring Jacqueline Wilson's most popular character, the one-and-only Tracy Beaker.
'I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.'
Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children's Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future in this beautifully observed, touching and often very funny tale, all told in Tracy's own words.
Things aren't going well for Greg Heffley.
He's been thrust into a new school where undersize weaklings share the corridors with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving.
Along with his friend Rowley, Greg's desperate to prove his new maturity, which only going up a grade can bring. But when Rowley's star starts to rise, will Greg be able to reach the same heights of popularity as his best friend?
Lottie Brooks is 11 ¾ and her life is ALREADY officially over.
Not only is she about to start secondary school without any friends or glamorous swooshy hair, but she's just discovered she's too flat-chested to even wear A BRA!
She might as well give up now and go into hibernation with her hamsters, Sir Barnaby Squeakington and Fuzzball the Third.
Lottie navigates the perils of growing up in this fantastically funny new illustrated series for pre-teens filled with friendship, embarrassing moments and, of course, KitKat Chunkys.
Cameron is thirteen, and all he wants is a 'normal' life - friends, swimming, school, family.
But his life is far from normal. Not every thirteen-year-old desperately needs a new heart because theirs doesn't work properly.
Finally, one doctor offers hope.
It's risky. And it's never been done before . . .
While Cameron comes to terms with the idea, he finds the world around him is much less accepting.
But surely everyone will understand that it's better to have a pig's heart that works than a human heart that doesn't - won't they . . .?
'My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.'
Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things - eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside. But ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren't stared at wherever they go.
Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?
HALF BOY - HALF GOD - ALL HERO.
Look, I never asked to be the son of a Greek god. I was just a normal kid. . . until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher.
Percy Jackson is having a bad week. His life has gone from totally normal to monsters-from-Greek-mythology-randomly-appearing kind of strange. Worse still, the king of the gods thinks Percy has stolen his all-powerful lightning bolt - and it seems making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.
Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to catch the true lightning thief and stop all-out war from erupting on Mount Olympus. . .
What could possibly go wrong?
Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are expecting a strong boy to arrive any day now to help them plough through the work at Green Gables, but to their surprise, a spindly red-haired girl knocks on their door instead.
'Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it. . .yet.'
Anne charms her way into the Cuthberts' hearts with her big imagination and never ending chatter. But it's not long before Anne has talked herself into BIG trouble...
Barney is a solitary little boy, given to wandering off by himself. One day he is lying on the edge of a disused chalk-pit when it gives way and he lands in a sort of cave. Here he meets a boy wearing a rabbit skin and speaking in grunts. He names him Stig. Nobody believes Barney when he tells his family all about Stig, but they become great friends, learning each others ways and embarking on a series of unforgettable adventures.
Heidi by Johanna Spyri (1880)
At the age of five, little orphan Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather in the Alps. Everyone in the village is afraid of him, but Heidi is fascinated by his long beard and bushy grey eyebrows. She loves her life in the mountains, playing in the sunshine and growing up amongst the goats and birds. But one terrible day, Heidi is collected by her aunt and is made to live with a new family in town. Heidi can't bear to be away from her grandfather; can she find a way back up the mountain, where she belongs?
Fiver is very worried. He senses something terrible is about to happen to the warren, the only home he's ever known. While the other rabbits ignore him, his big brother Hazel knows that Fiver's instincts are always right...
They must leave immediately.
Fiver leads the rabbits on a thrilling quest through the human world to their new home, Watership Down, where they must work together to overcome their biggest challenge yet.
Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science, logic and the power of reason. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious gift in the post - a doll that can transform into a bird - he is led into the impossible (and most definitely magical) world of Wreathenwold, where dark secrets are lost amongst a vast labyrinth of streets.
Benjamiah soon finds himself swept along in a dangerous quest - led by the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, who is determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother.
Will Benjamiah ever find his way home and discover his puzzling connection with this strange, enchanted world?
A Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens (2014)
At Deepdean School for Girls, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong have set up their own detective agency. But they are struggling to find any real crimes to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia's missing tie. Which they don't.)
Then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym. To add to the mystery, when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove one happened in the first place.
Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil are sisters - with a difference. All three were adopted as babies by Great Uncle Matthew, an eccentric and rich explorer who then disappeared, leaving them in the care of his niece Sylvia. When Sylvia starts to run out of money they hit on an inspired idea: Pauline, Petrova and Posy will attend Madame Fidolia's Children's Academy of Dance and Stage Training - and take to the stage. But it's not long before the Fossils learn that being a star isn't as easy as they first thought...
Ballet Shoes is the magical, warm-hearted and much loved classic tale of three very different girls who work hard to master their talents.
The human body is extraordinary and fascinating and, well . . . pretty weird. Yours is weird, mine is weird, your maths teacher's is even weirder.
This book is going to tell you what's actually going on in there, and answer the really important questions, like:
Are bogeys safe to eat? Look, if your nose is going to all that effort of creating a snack, the least we can do is check out its nutritional value. (Yes, they're safe. Chew away!)
And how much of your life will you spend on the toilet? About a year - so bring a good book. (I recommend this one.)
So sit back, relax, put on some rubber gloves, and let a doctor take you on a poo (and puke) filled tour of your insides. Welcome to Kay's Anatomy*.
*a fancy word for your body. See, you're learning already.
Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the countryside as Britain stands on the brink of the Second World War. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley - but his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London.
On the day they are born, each Swift is brought before the sacred Family Dictionary. They are given a name and a definition, and it is assumed they will grow up to match. Unfortunately, Shenanigan Swift has other ideas.
So what if her relatives all think she's destined to turn out as a troublemaker, just because of her name? Shenanigan knows she can be whatever she wants - pirate, explorer or even detective.
Which is lucky, really, because when one of the Family tries to murder Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude, someone has to work out whodunit.
With the help of her sisters and cousin, Shenanigan grudgingly takes on the case, but more murders, a hidden treasure and an awful lot of suspects make thing seriously complicated.
Can Shenanigan catch the killer before the whole household is picked off? And in a Family where definitions are so important, can she learn to define herself?
This cat must learn to fight!
Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue kitten, who lives high up in an old house on a hill.
He's never left home, until he receives a mysterious visit from his grandfather who tells him about The Way - a secret martial art for cats.
Now Varjak must use the Way to survive in a city full of dangerous dogs, cat gangs and, strangest of all, the mysterious Vanishings.
It was clear from an early age that Dexter Procter was different.
He started speaking at four seconds old. By the age of three, he had 87 A-levels, from Afrikaans to Zoology.
And by ten, he was working as a paediatrician at Lilydale General Hospital.
Despite a loving but annoying family and a couple of good friends (Rupi and Otto), Dexter’s always struggled to fit in. Add to this a mortal enemy (Dr Drake) and a major problem at his old school (all the teachers struck down with awful diarrhoea) – will Dexter be able to save his job, save the school and find his place in the world? (Spoiler alert: yes!)
History has always seemed pretty boring to Angus. Who cares about things that happened thousands of years ago? Totally pointless! That’s what Angus thinks until the day he accidentally falls into a shopping trolley and ends up travelling through time with Marge, the lady who runs the cheese counter at the local supermarket, and who is also FROM THE FUTURE.
And so begins the most epic adventure of his life – exploring a market in Roman Britain, hanging out with Shakespeare, making new friends in Ancient Egypt. Oh, and trying to escape the Evil Emperor Kragg from the 99th Century who is determined to destroy the planet.
Can Angus and his new friends make it out of the past unscathed and, more importantly, is camel cheese really as bad as you imagine? Only time will tell!
Franky can't wait to move to his new town - although he wishes he didn't have to leave his best friend Dani behind.
Franky's always wanted to be part of an amazing gang - just like his hero, super-spy Zack Danger! And soon, he realises that there's real danger in store for himself and his new friends.
And so the Danger Gang is born...
Meet Ista Flit. Daughter. Face-changer. Thief . . .
Amongst the cobbled streets and misty alleyways of Shelwich, magic rises and falls with the Tide. When the Tide is out, the magic ebbs to a low murmur. When the Tide is in, the magic is high - and Tide-blessings are at their strongest.
For most people, the Tide-blessing they are born with is nothing more than a simple party trick: eyes that change colour, or the ability to recite a poem backwards. Some, though, are blessed with more powerful gifts. Telepathy. Flight.
Or, in the case of Ista Flit, being able to transform to look like someone else. Anyone else...
Ista has come to Shelwich in search of her missing father, and she'll do anything to find him - even work for Shelwich's most notorious thief. Then she meets Nat and Ruby, both struggling with their own search: Nat for his little brother, Ravi, and Ruby for her sister Saf.
As more strange disappearances send shockwaves through the town, they must form a tentative friendship and draw on all the Tidemagic they can to unravel a mystery that leads to an old, abandoned theatre, and to the ancient caves beneath Shelwich.
But what they find there will be far more than they have bargained for...
Cordelia comes from a long line of magical milliners, who weave alchemy and enchantment into every hat. In Cordelia's world, Making - crafting items such as hats, cloaks, watches, boots and gloves from magical ingredients - is a rare and ancient skill, and only a few special Maker families remain.
When Cordelia's father Prospero and his ship, the Jolly Bonnet , are lost at sea during a mission to collect hat ingredients, Cordelia is determined to find him. But Uncle Tiberius and Aunt Ariadne have no time to help the littlest Hatmaker, for an ancient rivalry between the Maker families is threatening to surface. Worse, someone seems to be using Maker magic to start a war.
It's up to Cordelia to find out who, and why . . .
AT JUST TWELVE YEARS OLD, ARTEMIS FOWL IS A CRIMINAL GENIUS.
No scheme is too dastardly, no plot too devious. And he's just discovered that fairies are real.
But these are not the cuddly creatures of bedtime stories. They are armed. They are dangerous. And when Artemis captures Captain Holly Short for her fairy gold, he messes with the wrong elf.
Holly isn't armed but she's incredibly dangerous, and pretty annoyed with all the kidnapping.
Artemis Fowl is about to find out that fairies fight back . . .
India, 1855. The British rule, and all across the country, Indian magic is being stamped out.
More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumour is that they are being taken across the sea - to England - by the all-powerful, sinister Company.
When Chompa's home is attacked and her mother viciously kidnapped, Chompa - born with powerful and dangerous magic that she has always been forbidden from using - must travel to the smoky, bustling streets of East London in search of her. But Chompa will discover far more treachery in London than she had bargained for - and will learn that every act of her rare magic comes with a price . . .
Life is no fun for Alex Evans. Ever since her dad's death, her overprotective mother has smothered her with unbreakable rules and unspoken fears. When the frustration inside Alex finally gets too big to bear, it rushes to the surface.
And flames spill from her mouth.
Because Alex is a dragon. One of the many who live among us, unless something awakens their true nature. Led by the mighty Oliphos to the legendary island of Skralla, Alex must now train alongside fierce, frightening dragon children, if she is to unlock the power of her birthright.
But other dragons are rising too. Drak Midna, the greatest dragon of all, is preparing a war against the human world, and Alex has to be good enough for this fight, or we all will burn . . .
Publishing in May 2025 and available to pre-order now.
These are the fairy tales that history forgot - or concealed. Tales in which gender is fluid and where queer stories can have a happy ending.
From the humble sailor who finds his handsome prince to the transgender market girl who becomes queen, from Europe to Asia via the African savannah, LGBTQ+ folklore researcher Pete Jordi Wood has combed through generations of history and adapted ten unforgettable stories, each illustrated by an artist who shares heritage with the culture from which the stories were born.
We all have a body. They don't always function the same as other people's. And they certainly don't all look the same. But one thing is certain - every body deserves respect. This is an essential guide to embracing and respecting all bodies.
Sometimes social media can make us feel like we're not good enough if we don't have a 'perfect' body. But the truth is, everyone feels bad about their bodies sometimes – even celebrities with millions of followers.
Author and campaigner Molly Forbes is here to show you that you - and ONLY you - get to decide how you feel about your body. And if we want to change the conversation around body image, we need to advocate for every single body - including those that look or function differently from our own.
It's time to stop criticising the way we look, and celebrate all our glorious differences!
The first book of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin is a tale of wizards, dragons and terrifying shadows.
The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. Of these, some say the greatest - and surely the greatest voyager - is the man called Sparrowhawk. As a reckless, awkward boy, he discovered the great power that was in him - with terrifying consequences. Tempted by pride to try spells beyond his means, Sparrowhawk lets loose an evil shadow-beast in his land. Only he can destroy it, and the quest leads him to the farthest corner of Earthsea.
George, Neila and Bash are the worst band on Earth. George wants them to be brilliant - but Neila has stage fright, and Bash is too distracted by his obsession with stars, aliens and faraway planets. But what they lack in talent and confidence, they make up for in heart.
They're determined to blow their friends away at their school Battle of the Bands contest. But the moment they start to play...
They're beamed up into space!!!
Now the kids face an even bigger challenge: Battle of the Bands, but the intergalactic version. They're competing against alien bands from every galaxy! And if they don't win, they might never make it home again...
Can the worst band on Earth become the best band in the universe?
An intergalactically awesome tale of celebrating difference, believing in yourself, and the power of friendship.
In Hot Mess, book 19 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is in for a particularly awkward summer with his whole family.
The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it’s a recipe for disaster. Speaking of recipes - the secret ingredients behind Gramma’s famous meatballs have been closely guarded for years. Can Greg unpack all of his family’s mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot?
To celebrate our 85th birthday, we're giving away a bundle of Puffin books, badges and a gift bag. Just fill out our audience insights survey here before 31st January 2025!
