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The summer holidays are the perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy a good book.
We have some fantastic recommendations this year, from enchanting middle-grade stories to romance YAs.
These books will keep even the most reluctant reader entertained during the (seemingly never-ending!) summer holidays. Happy Reading!
Mr and Mrs Bold are just like you and me: they live in a nice house (in Teddington), they have jobs (like writing Christmas cracker jokes) and they love to have a bit of a giggle. One slight difference: they're hyenas.
A young Sikh footballer reaches out across the generational divide to help a lonely old man in an uplifting story from acclaimed author Bali Rai.
When he spots a lonely old man watching his football games in the park, and then sees him again eating at the local gurdwara kitchen, Bobby wants to help. At first the man doesn’t seem very friendly and he doesn’t want to take part in the local walking football league for older people that Bobby tells him about.
But when Bobby eventually changes his mind, it turns out that the man is a talented former professional footballer who has recently been widowed, and Bobby’s invitation opens up a rewarding new opportunity for him to make connections in his local community.
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Facing up to fears of bullying, Eva finds the courage to take to the field in this heartwarming tale from acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth.
Eva’s football skills make her stand out while playing at break-time at school, so her friends can’t understand why she’s reluctant to join them in playing for their local team, the Lightmoor Lionesses. Horribly bullied at her last school due to a painful skin condition, Eva is terrified that the same thing will happen again if her new friends find out. Her instinct is to hide away, but can she find the courage to take to the field and play the game she loves?
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Discover the adventures of Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, war and courage in this stunning graphic novel.
It’s time to race across the multiverse and save not just one world, but all of them!
Gaming, adventure and an incredible friendship combine in this one-of-a-kind, heart-pounding, spine-tingling adventure that takes place in the space of a single night. Eerie, exciting, funny and deeply moving, it is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.
Eleven-year-old Lori is home alone for the first time in her life, but quickly, she realises something is wrong. She can hear strange whispers coming from the screen – and soon, they’re in the house with her. Could it be Voxminer’s most terrifying legend: Shade Girl?
Trapped in her home as the doors and windows start to vanish and her phone goes dead, Lori must use all her bravery, wits, gaming skills – and the love and deep bond she shares with her BFF, Shoelace – to survive until Mum gets home…
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Clarice Bean is back with all her trademark humour in this heartwarming story by former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child
The utterly wonderful Clarice Bean is thinking about the endangered things: the big creatures, the little creatures, the plants and the trees. But it’s not just the planet that needs help – there’s her whole family too...
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All Hoof the Unicorn wants to do is be part of a football team but his club never appreciated his talents and kicked him out. Then he spots an advert for BAD UNITED and he feels a tingling in his hooves.
Hoof is thrilled to find his new teammates are more than up for the challenge. Led by enthusiastic mermaid coach Serena Winmer, the team consists of: Bones, their skeleton captain who sometimes struggles to keep her head; Rex, the ROARsome dinosaur defender; cheetah striker Bolt brings the thunder; Tinkerball dazzles with her magic fairy moves and Annette guards the goal with her life (and eight spider legs). BAD UNITED combine strength, skill, speed and stench to show everyone what they’ve got…
The first book in a super and silly graphic novel series, perfect for fans of The Bad Guys and The Nothing to See Here Hotel.
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A brilliant new highly-illustrated chapter book series for 5+ readers. Destiny uses her creativity to overcomes her worries.
Destiny can't wait to go for her first ever sleepover at her best friend's house. But she also can't help feeling a little worried ... they're going to camp outside and when she goes to bed, she hears some noises from the tent and finds a monster inside!
But the monster isn't frightening. After they try midnight snacks, dressing up and telling stories under the stars, Destiny realises there's nothing to be worried about after all!
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Discover a world of wonder on a riverside walk, with this beautiful picture book from the National Trust.
Set off on a riverside adventure to find natural treasure, from a shiny, smooth river pebble to a little cushion of moss, then learn more about the found object with irresistibly illustrated and informative nature notes. Packed full of fascinating facts alongside a gentle rhyming narrative and encouraging children to get outside and explore their surroundings, this is a nature treasure hunt series for the whole family to treasure.
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Meet the tiny dogs in the latest in the series from author-illustrator Rose Lihou, with full-colour illustrations throughout.
The big day has arrived: it's Bea's first day at her new school. She's nervous about starting a new school and making new friends but with the help of her tiny dog friends cheering her on, Bea's confidence blooms ... until Bamboo the class hamster goes missing and Bea was the last person to play with him...
The brand-new feel-good, hilarious and gorgeously swoony enemies-to-lovers romance from two bestselling, award-winning stars of YA: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar.
Said Hossain hates Tiwa Olatunji. And Tiwa would happily never see Said again in her life. Growing up, the two were inseparable, but they have barely spoken since the incident many Eids ago and both of them would like to keep it that way. But when Said comes home for a funeral and the town's Islamic Centre burns down on the same day, they have to face each other again and sparks fly.
In trying to save the Islamic Centre and Eid, could these enemies become something else...?
Bonnie Montgomery (as her case-cracking alter-ego Montgomery Bonbon) has been invited to Adderstone Manor by Fergus Croke, whose prized diamond has gone missing.
Croke is a retired master thief who suspects one of his four protégés of the dirty deed – but when everyone is a crook, how does even the great Bonbon know where to begin? The plot thickens faster than a good roux when the only unsuspicious member of the household, Croke’s loyal butler, is found dead in the grounds – and it’s not long before Bonbon uncovers hidden identities, motives a-many, and a rather surprising hedge maze full of monkeys.
Can Bonbon, Dana and Grampa Banks uncover the missing gem and catch the thief and killer – and are they one and the same?
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The world’s bestselling teenage spy takes on a new and daring mission.
When his best friend Tom is abducted, Alex Rider is given an ultimatum by Nightshade – a sinister cult of assassins with a score to settle. But what twisted evil are they planning, and how is it connected to a revolutionary new gaming system? With no idea who to trust, Alex finds himself dragged into a nightmare world – where nothing is real but the game could kill you.
This much-awaited new book in the bestselling Alex Rider series continues Alex’s fight against the deadly assassins encountered in the last book, Nightshade.
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