CHILDRENS BOOKS

Worlds Of Wonder Leave the world behind and join some of the greatest children’s writers on a journey through human imagination in this compendium of the world’s most beloved children’s fiction. Whether you want to rediscover the classics of your childhood or find new stories to delight the children in your life, here is all the inspiration you need. From Narnia to Neverland, Discworld to the Land of Oz, you’ll find an abundance of riches in this treasure trove of literary magic. Focused on books for children from ages five to twelve, catch up with old friends or make plenty of new ones.Over 75 classic children’s books to explore, including:- The Arrival- Walkabout- Under the Mountain- The Whale Rider- The Water Babies- Alice in Wonderland- Little Women- The Owl and the Pussycat- Sans Famille- The Adventures of Pinocchio- Treasure Island- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz- The Tales of Peter Rabbit- Anne of Green Gables- The Secret Garden- Peter and Wendy- The Wind in the Willows- The Adventures of Tintin- Winnie the Pooh- Emil and the Detectives- Mary Poppins- Night on the Galactic Railroad- Little House on the Prairie- The Hobbit- How Do You Live?- The Sword in the Stone- The Faraway Tree- The Little Prince- Pippi Longstocking- The Moomins and the Great Flood- The Chronicles of Narnia- Charlotte’s Web- Mrs Pepperpot Stories- 101 Dalmatians- Paddington- Asterix- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- The Mouse and his Child- My Sweet Orange Tree- The Little Black Fish- Carpet People- A Bag of Marbles- The Westing Game- Under the Mountain- The Neverending Story- The Sheep-Pig- L’Enfant Multiple- His Dark Materials- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone- The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear- Mortal Engines- Noughts and Crosses- The Book Thief- Un Lun Dun- Lampie and the Children of the Sea- The Cat Who Saved Books- IkengaPraise for Worlds of Wonder:‘Dive into the inner workings of your favourite literary world in this beautiful coffee table book.’ — The New York Post‘It is hard to think of any lover of fiction who would not be beguiled by its beauty and frequent shafts of insight.’ — The Guardian‘ ... a beautiful, enchanting book.’ — New York Times Book Review

Skandar And The Spirit War ‘The most popular children’s fantasy hero since Harry Potter’ – TelegraphBLOODTHIRSTY UNICORNS. UNLIKELY HEROES. A MORTAL ENEMY.Don’t miss this epic final adventure in the number 1 bestselling SKANDAR series, for readers ages 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Impossible Creatures. PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO READ!Skandar is in hiding after the Chaos Cup where Rex Manning revealed a game-changing secret. But as Rex prepares to invade the Mainland, the Islanders are not sure who to trust.With one of Skandar’s closest friends now fighting for the enemy, Skandar must build new alliances – including an uneasy truce with Kenna. To defeat Rex, Skandar and his friends will need to look back to the origins of the Island, and harness the full power of their elemental magic.Can Skandar become the leader he needs to be to save the Mainland – and the heart of the Island itself?Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, sky battles, ancient secrets and ferocious unicorns in this highly anticipated adventure that will keep you reading after lights out!Praise for the SKANDAR series:‘Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.’ – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Deft, dazzling and breathlessly exciting – it’s a joy to enter Skandar’s World.’ – Jonathan Stroud, author of Lockwood and Co. series‘Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of Starfell‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Rainbow Grey‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –T?lá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun‘Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.’ – The Sunday TimesSkandar and the Unicorn Thief was WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 and WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023!Skandar and the Phantom Rider was one of THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023.*Skandar and the Chaos Trials was the Number 1 bestseller in the UK Nielsen Bookscan chart, 27 April 2024

G’Day Fun In Australia Activity Pack by Reed is a bright, hands-on kids activity pack that brings Aussie flavour to quiet time, travel days and rainy afternoons. It’s designed to keep children happily absorbed while they practise early learning skills through play. Inside, kids will find colouring pages, puzzles and mazes, plus coloured pencils ready to go. There’s also a postcard to decorate, a set of colourful stickers, and a poster to colour and keep—perfect for extending the fun beyond the page. When everything’s finished, it all seals up neatly in the included envelope for easy storage (and fewer loose bits in the car or kitchen). Ideal for families looking for screen-free activities, teachers stocking classroom resources, or grandparents wanting a thoughtful, practical gift for primary school kids. Pop it in the cart and have an Australia-themed activity bundle ready whenever boredom strikes.

Richard Scarry’s Great Mystery Collection by Richard Scarry is a charming children’s mystery anthology that invites young readers to play detective in the bustling world of Busytown. Packed with Scarry’s signature humour and detail-rich illustrations, this hardcover 3-in-1 is ideal for kids who love spotting clues and revisiting favourite pages. Detectives Sam Cat and Dudley Pig take on three cases: a cherry pie thief targeting Ma Dog, a jewel robbery during a steamboat wedding, and a string of puzzling supermarket disappearances. Each story is self-contained and gently suspenseful, with plenty of everyday Busytown life to pore over—no scary twists, just satisfying solutions. Perfect for preschool and early primary readers, family read-alouds, and fans of classic picture books, animal characters, and bedtime stories. Add it to your shelf for cosy, clever mystery fun that keeps little eyes and minds busy.

In **Lap Cat by Joren Cull**, a mischievous feline sets off on a high-energy **picture book** adventure, determined to find the warmest, softest lap in all of Mellsville. It’s the kind of funny, fast-moving read-aloud that kids will want again and again, with plenty for grown-ups to enjoy too. Lap Cat searches everywhere — parks, diners and busy town spots — trying lap after lap and accidentally causing chaos along the way. As the mess grows and the locals get grumpier, Lap Cat is forced to consider a tricky question: what happens when your comfort comes at someone else’s expense? Perfect for families who love **humorous children’s books**, playful **read-aloud stories**, and gentle themes of **empathy** and **taking responsibility**, especially for ages 3–7. Add **Lap Cat** to your next storytime and see where the quest for the perfect lap leads.

**The Wonder** by Tom Percival is a tender, uplifting picture book about noticing small moments of beauty, even when the day feels completely ruined. Perfect for families who love thoughtful storytelling and expressive illustration, it gently reassures kids that big feelings can shift in surprising ways. Daniel wakes to rain, grey skies and puddles that soak straight through his shoes. Everything seems determined to go wrong, and he’s sure nothing will change his mood. Then, through the steady downpour, he hears a faint thread of music. As he follows that sound, Daniel begins to see the world differently—finding little pockets of joy and wonder tucked into ordinary places. A lovely choice for preschool and primary-aged readers, this children’s book is ideal for sharing at bedtime or in the classroom, especially for fans of books about emotions, mindfulness, and resilience. Discover **The Wonder** today and add a quiet gem to your picture book shelf.

THE SIXTH BOOK IN THE GLOBALLY BESTSELLING CHAPTER-BOOK SERIES ABOUT THE UNICORNIA ACADEMY OF MAGIC – PERFECT FOR FANS OF ISADORA MOON! Welcome to the magical land where you’ll learn spells, potions and everything you need to know about Unicorns!  Â It’s the day of the Magical Unicorn Show and Claudia is super excited to watch Chai and the other unicorns perform. But – oh no! – she and her friends have missed the flying bus! How will they ever get there in time? Find out in this whizzy airborne adventure, filled with unicorn acrobatics, sparkling skies and zooming skates. With colour illustrations, this magical chapter-book series is great for building confidence in newly independent readers.  Â There’s a whole world of Unicornia to read: Â Unicornia: Learning to Fly – perfect for talking to children who are worried about starting school Â Unicornia: A Magical Birthday – perfect for birthdays and celebrations Â Unicornia: The Cupcake Contest – perfect for budding bakers and for talking to children about teamwork Â Unicornia: The Dance Show – perfect for talking to children about stage fright and nerves Â Unicornia: The Frozen Palace – a perfect stocking filler Â Unicornia: Rainbow Roller Skates – perfect for encouraging new skills and active outdoor fun

These wittily illustrated stories of mishaps, hurt feelings, fondness and friendship have a transporting quality.

Paul Jennings meets The Treehouse in this hilarious new series of laugh-out-loud cautionary tales.  Â Sam Crisp lives at 6 Rufus Street. You might be surprised to know that is his name, because most people think his name is Sam Stop-your-frowning. But no matter how many people tell him, or how often, Sam never stops his frowning. Â One morning, just as Sam was leaving for school, his mum called, ‘Sam! Stop your frowning. Something terrible could happen!’  Â This is the story of the something terrible that did.  Â Sally Barton weaves a tale of mayhem, mess and moping in this frowningly funny fourth installment of the terrible things that happen in Rufus Street.

Hot on the heels of the wildly successful Emergency! Emergency!, Ruby’s Perfect Fire Safety Plan provides the perfect companion story to primary school fire safety programs. Young readers will be able to take the ‘get down low and go, go, go’ message into the home as they follow Ruby’s efforts to make sure her family is prepared for any emergency.

A Light on the Rocks by Helen Edwards is a spellbinding Australian historical fiction novel that blends maritime adventure, mystery and a touch of magic along the rugged South Australian coast. In 1859, fourteen-year-old Daisy boards the SS Admella bound for Melbourne—until the steamship strikes a hidden reef near Cape Banks, sparking a disaster that still echoes through history. A century later, Max and Rosemary spend summer at Cape Jaffa Lighthouse, five miles out to sea, where their father is head keeper. When an accident leaves the adults badly injured, the siblings must keep the light burning and piece together the secrets the reef seems determined to hold. With real events threaded through the story—alongside a ghost horse and a singing whale—this is perfect for readers who love dual timelines, sea-soaked settings and stories of survival and self-belief. Let this evocative lighthouse tale draw you in, page by page.

JOURNEY INTO A WORLD OF INCREDIBLE CREATURES... The third thrilling adventure in a spectacular science-packed fantasy series from bestseller Jennifer Bell, bursting with incredible magical creatures, dramatic locations and amazing science. Fans of Pokémon, Skandar and Impossible Creatures won't be able to put this book down!  Â An incredible new invention can duplicate magicores! But when the device is sabotaged, rogue magicores escape across the globe. Bitsy and Kosh embark on a dangerous quest to hunt them down in an adventure that takes them from the Galápagos islands to the rainforest of Borneo. With the help of their Magicalia handbook, the friends must confront their greatest fears … or watch chaos destroy everything.  Â Don't miss the first two adventures in this incredible series - Magicalia: Race of Wonders and Magicalia: Thief of Shadows. PRAISE FOR THE MAGICALIA SERIES:  Â “Pokémon-esque creatures and energy abounds in this sensational science-packed fantasy.” LoveReading4Kids  Â “Full of adventure, magic and incredible creatures.” Swapna Haddow, bestselling author of Dave Pigeon  Â “A super-exciting and unputdownable story.” Thomas Taylor, bestselling author of Malamander  Â “Bursting with magic and adventure.” Mini Travellers  Â “An absolute winner.” School Library Journal  Â “Prepare to be swept across the world and into ones you never knew existed…” Read for Good  Â “Hugely inventive.” The Bookseller  Â "Electrifying.” Armadillo Magazine  Â “Spellbinding.” Red Reading Hub  Â “An amazing world of wonders and adventures.” Books Up North  Â “Wonderful … bursts with technicolour.” Jasbinder Bilan, bestselling author of Asha and the Spirit Bird  Â “Scene-stealing monsters both mega and mini.” Kirkus Reviews  Â “Fun, fast and ferociously readable.” Elle McNicoll, bestselling author of A Kind of Spark

One of the most beautifully illustrated books we’ve read. . . a cherished classic

"The books soft watercolour illustrations give it a timeless quality and the story is one the children can retell by looking at the illustrations."

Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees is a humorous and intriguing middle grade adventure with plenty of quirk and a whole lot of heart. One of the book’s strengths is Freddie’s vivid internal monologue – a constant stream of anxious thoughts, sharp observations and deep empathy. These traits, shaped by his neurodivergence, may feel intense to some readers, but will be recognisable and perhaps affirming to others. This thoughtful portrayal sits alongside a genuinely adventurous plot, making Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees an excellent choice for readers aged 8 and over. With the promise of more books in the series, the further adventures of Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees will be eagerly anticipated.