HomeDiscoverChildren's articlesThe best new Puffin books of 2023The best new Puffin books of 2023by Imogen Rayfield22 December 2022·min read· From magical adventures to weird and wonderful fact books, we've picked some of our favourite Puffin books you need to look out for in 2023. Books for under 6s I Send You A Hug by Anne Booth & Åsa Gilland (January) Big Bear is heading off on a trip, but Little Bear is very sad about how much she will miss her. So Big Bear shares all the different ways she’ll send Little Bear hugs even when she’s far away. Her hug will be sunshine on Little Bear’s skin; the gentle breeze blowing the clouds across the sky; the scent of grass after rain. This soothing book about how love is always with us will comfort any little readers who are missing someone. The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Touch and Feel Animals by Eric Carle (January) Introduce babies and toddlers to the world of The Very Hungry Caterpillar with this big touch-and-feel board book. Follow the caterpillar as he meets all different types of animals – there are ones from the rainforest, the farmyard, and the seaside. Featuring touch-and-feel elements on every page, this is a wonderful book to share together and encourage interactive play. Peter Rabbit: Peter's Nature Walk by Beatrix Potter (February) Our favourite rabbit and his family are learning about nature, and you can too! From morning to night, Peter and the others discover different types of insects, what kinds of trees you can spot, and why pollination is so important. Plus, this book features a sound button that has 10 different sounds including bees buzzing and birds singing. The Dinosaur that Pooped Easter! by Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter & Garry Parsons (February) Danny and his Dino are back, and this time the pair are on the hunt for Easter eggs in Fairytale Land! They look up beanstalks, inside the three little pigs’ houses, and venture into a magical cave. Unfortunately, this cave is the dwelling of a very grumpy dragon and when Danny and Dino take the egg inside, they end up in big trouble. Can Dino’s rumbly tummy help save the day? Spot's Slide and Seek: Farm by Eric Hill (February) Spot and Dad are working on the farm today and there is so much to do! From feeding the chickens to driving the tractor, they need help getting everything done. This interactive lift-the-flap book is perfect for little hands to push and pull the different tabs as they join Spot and his dad. Not Now, Noor! Farhana Islam & Nabila Adani (March) Noor is surrounded by amazing hijabi women in her family, and she loves them all very much. But why do they wear headscarves? Are they maybe secret spies who need to hide their identity? Or are they just hiding some tasty snacks for later? Follow along with Noor as she sets out to find the answer to this important question. This beautiful and funny tale is perfect to read out loud together. The Artist by Ed Vere (April) Award-winning author and illustrator Ed Vere is back with this gorgeous new story that explores the question: 'what is an artist?' The artist of this story goes on a journey to share her art with the world. She wants everyone to see the world as she sees it; all the colours and joy and beauty. And everyone she meets loves her drawings. But when she makes a mistake the artist begins to doubt herself. Will she be brave enough to try again? How to Grow a Dragon Rachel Morrisroe & Steven Lenton (April) Last time Sarah visited Mr Pottifer’s Parlour of Plants it was for a gift for her grandma and that grew quite out of hand! This time following a delivery of dragodil plants, Sarah offers to help Mr Pottifer grow some helpful dragon pets for his customers. However, these dragons turn out to be not so helpful – will Sarah be able to save Mr Pottifer’s shop? Speak Up! by Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola (May) As well as being an astronaut and eco-warrior, Rocket is also an avid bookworm! She loves visiting her local library every week and reading books all about brave historical figures like Rosa Parks. So, when she discovers that the library is due to close, she’s devastated! Can Rocket draw on the inspiring actions of Rosa and speak up to save her library? Books for 7-9s Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Disappearing Rabbit (January) Lizzie and her hearing dog Lucky are back to solve another mystery. The pair are off to a magic show but during the performance, a famous and very large rabbit disappears – and that wasn’t meant to be part of the show! Will the pair be able to find Rudy the rabbit and uncover who stole him? This third tale in the Lizzie and Lucky series will have fellow young detectives gripped. Secret Beast Club: The Unicorns of Silver Street by Robin Birch & Jobe Anderson (February) Aisha and Jayden are not the biggest fans of the outside world. Aisha likes to play on her tablet and message friends, whereas Jayden loves books and thinks the worlds inside those are much more exciting that the one outside his window. However, after being asked to join the Secret Beast Club – an age-old old group that protects mythological creatures – Aisha and Jayden find real magic is much closer than they think… Wild Family by Ben Lerwill & Harriet Hobday (March) We all know families come in different shapes and sizes, but have you ever thought about the families in the wild? Wildlife fans will love this beautifully illustrated book that looks at family structures in the animal kingdom. You’ll learn why clownfish have hundreds of babies, who is in charge of a herd of elephants, and which birds gather all their babies into groups known as crèches. Can You Get Rainbows in Space? by Dr Sheila Kanani & Liz Kay (March) Have you ever wondered why the sky appears blue? Or why our blood is red? And do you know what ultraviolet light is? Learn all about these colours and more in this compendium of scientific facts by Dr Sheila Kanani. Don’t forget to memorise the facts so you can wow your friends! Ambrose Follows His Nose by Dick King-Smith & Josie Rogers (March) Dick King-Smith left behind an incredible legacy of animal tales, but he also left behind an unfinished story. Ambrose Follows His Nose is about an ordinary rabbit with an extraordinary sense of smell and has been finished by his great-granddaughter Josie Rogers. Released last year, the paperback edition comes out in 2023 and definitely deserves a spot on your bookshelf. Billy and the Giant Adventure by Jamie Oliver & Mónica Armiño (April) Jamie Oliver is best known for cooking up a storm in the kitchen and this year he has cooked up an epic adventure story for kids. Billy and his best friends Anna, Jimmy, and Andy have grown up knowing that Waterfall Woods is out of bounds. Strange things have happened there over the years so no one in their village ever ventures past its walls. But the temptation to explore is too much for the group of friends. After heading into the forbidden woodland, they discover a whole host of magical and unusual creatures, as well as some sprites who need their help! The Fossil Hunter by Kate Winter (April) Mary Anning was a fossil hunter whose discoveries paved the way for modern palaeontology. Scouring the cliffs and seashores of Lyme Regis, the strange rocks and shells she uncovered helped influence our understanding of the creatures that lived millions of years before us. Kate Winter has stunningly captured the life and legacy of Mary in this book. Ace and the Animal Heroes: The Big Farm Rescue J. B. Gill & Becka Moor (April) After receiving a farm from a long-lost relative, Ace and his grandparents leave the city and move to the countryside. Whilst settling into their new home, Ace tries on a pair of magical wellies and finds he can talk to all the farm animals! And he’s going to need their help – unpleasant Councillor Crabbington is determined to shut down the farm. We love this funny and charming animal tale from JLS member and farmer J. B. Gill. Weird Sea by Sophie Burrows (May) Are you ready to dive in and discover all the weird and wonderful things about our seas? And heads up, they are pretty weird. From ghost ships and mega sharks to the hot tub of despair, Sophie Burrows’ mind-blowing compendium delves into the deepest, darkest crevices to reveal all the invisible secrets of our oceans. Books for 9-12s The Detention Detectives by Lis Jardine (January) Jonno has just started at Hanbridge High following his parents’ decision to relocate, and he is not happy. Not only is he missing his friends, his basketball team, and his band, but he’s also just discovered the body of his new PE teacher in the sports equipment shed. But if he plays detective and finds out who is responsible for Mr Baynton’s untimely end, maybe he can convince his parents to reconsider their decision… Fritz and Kurt by Jeremy Dronfield & David Ziggy Greene (January) It’s 1938 and the Nazis have taken control of Vienna. Fritz and Kurt’s family are Jewish and in terrible danger now the Nazis have arrived. Fritz and his father are sent to a prison camp whilst Kurt escapes on a frightening journey alone to find safety on the other side of the world. Will the brothers ever see each other again? This extraordinary true story about the hardships many had to face during the Second World War will grip you. Saving Neverland by Abi Elphinstone & Geraldine Rodriguez (January) Fans of J. M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan will fall in love with this modern follow-up by Abi Elphinstone. We return to Number 14 Darlington Street and the Pennydrop family has just moved in. Martha Pennydrop is 10 years old and desperate to grow up. But when she and her younger brother Scruff discover an old draw filled with mysterious gold dust in the Darling family’s old home, they pair are whisked off to Neverland for an amazing adventure. The Swifts by Beth Lincoln & Claire Powell (February) If you like Robin Stevens and Lemony Snicket, this hilarious new mystery is just for you. Everyone in the Swift family is brought before the sacred Swift dictionary on the day they are born. They are given a name from the dictionary, and it’s believed they will grow up to match the definition of their name. But Shenanigan Swift doesn’t believe she’s destined to turn out as a troublemaker – she’d much rather be a pirate, explorer, or detective. And she’s given the chance to play detective when someone tries to murder her Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude! Will Shenanigan be able to catch the culprit in time and save the Swift family? Rockstar Detectives: Murder at the Movies by Adam Hills & Luna Valentine (February) In this sequel to Rockstar Detectives, Charley and her best friend George are back on road and this time they are in Sydney where Charley is starring in her first film. However, strange things happen every time Charley is on set, and it soon becomes apparent someone is not happy about her big-screen debut. Will the duo be able to solve the mystery before Charley is seriously hurt? The Stickleback Catchers by Lisette Auton (February) Mimi lives with her Gran and Grandad who she both adores. Her Gran in particular is wild, fun, and full of life. But then her Gran starts to forget things, and Mimi begins to see strange cracks throughout their home which only she can see. She enlists the help of her friends Titch and Nusrat, and together the three are the Stickleback Catchers – solvers of puzzles and seekers of adventures. Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sigiura (March) Momo Arashima’s 12th birthday is coming up and all she is going to wish for is to be normal. She currently cares for her ill mother and hates school as she’s bullied by the other kids for mixing up reality and the magical stories her mum used to tell her. But when a death hag comes out of nowhere and attacks Momo, her dreams of normalcy are gone. Turns out, her mother is actually a Shinto goddess who used to protect a passageway to the land of the dead called Yomi. That passageway is now under attack and it’s up to Momo to stop the evil spirits from escaping Yomi and wreaking havoc on the world. The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro (May) From the world of Percy Jackson comes this brand-new story by Rick Riordan. Demigod Nico di Angelo, son of Hades, has been through a lot – from the deaths of his mother and sister, being outed against his will, and losing his best friend Jason. Luckily, he has his boyfriend Will Solace, the son of Apollo, to help him keep going and the pair know they can overcome any obstacle together. But Nico begins to be plagued by a voice from Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. Who is this voice? What does it want? The only way to find out is to journey to the darkest part of the world and Will insists on coming with him…
