Like lots of people over the past few months I have found books to be a godsend in so many ways. Not least when it comes to entertaining and connecting with my children – and, you know, keeping them quiet for a few minutes. We have discovered some absolutely brilliant new books and series that have kept us going throughout…
Jeremy Strong has been a stalwart of wacky, funny kids’ books for years but his new series is something a little different. Armadillo and Hare: Small Tales From The Big Forest is just the sweetest tale of two unlikely friends who share a home in the trees. Structured as a collection of connected short stories, we follow the pals as they negotiate floods, predatory leopards and mastering the perfect cheese sandwich. Adorable and fun and full of wonderful illustrations by Bath artist Rebecca Bagley (The eagle-eyed among you may also have spotted Rebecca’s illustrations adorning our shop window last summer), it is perfect for fans of Winnie The Pooh and the Dick King Smith stories. Age 5-8
Super Happy Magic Forest, written and illustrated by Matty Long, is a fantasy picture book that really assaults the senses. There is so much to see on every page – butterfly horses, slugs of doom, penguin cannon fodder, evil trees, lollipop ponds, candyfloss caves – it really has it all. In the first in this series, the utopian forest has been infiltrated by the forces of evil – it’s up to our irreverent band of heroes to save it! Bonkers, exciting, full of uniquely brilliant characters – and with plenty of jokes for kids and adults alike. It’s a madcap adventure like no other. Age 2+
For those parents desperately seeking something to quench the thirst of little David Walliams fans, look no further than Charlie Changes into a Chicken by Sam Copeland. Nine-year-old Charlie is in his bedroom one day when electricity starts pulsing through his body. Next thing he knows, he’s turned into a spider and is desperately fleeing his pet cat Chairman Meow. When he changes back, his mum just won’t believe what happened – and his friends at school are sceptical too. But when it happens again, they have to take notice. Can the friends use science to unlock the mysteries of Charlie’s body before he takes up his role as Sad Potato Number 1 in the school play? This is so much fun to read and reminded us a lot of Flat Stanley, Mr Gum and Roald Dahl. Age 6-10
The star of Simone Lia’s wickedly funny adventure They Didn’t Teach THIS in Worm School stars a beatboxing worm called Marcus. One day, Marcus saves himself from the jaws (well, beak) of death as he convinces a pigeon that he’s a great navigator. The pigeon (who believes himself to be a flamingo) spares his life – so long as he helps him achieve his lifelong dream of travelling to Africa. Thus begins an epic adventure and an unlikely friendship. Heart-warming, sweet and funny. Age 4 – 8