Once Upon a Tiger by Sarah Massini, S&S, £14.99Tiger is irate to find three cheeky human cubs climbing on his back – but when they refuse to be scared off, he becomes increasingly attached to them. A sweet, classic-feeling picture book fable, heightened by tender, expressive illustrations. Mama’s Wedding by Circle Yuen, Lantana, £12.99Mama is getting married, but Ruby has mixed emotions – how will Daddy Albert feel on the day?
A gorgeous, nuanced picture book about blended families and new milestones. I Am a Squirrel by Scott Rothman, illustrated by Tom Tinn-Dinsbury, Happy Yak, £7.99Big brother won’t believe that little brother’s a squirrel, even though he loves gathering nuts and leaping from tree to tree. But wait – is it time for a hawk to join the game?
A funny, acutely observed picture book about sibling dynamics and imaginary play. The Mole Construction Company by Shingo Nagasaki, translated by Lisa Wilcut, Do Re Mi, £12.99Oh no, the Squirrels’ treehouse is tipping over! Enter the Moles with cranes and diggers to rebuild in this hugely engaging 4+ read-aloud story, translated from Japanese and perfect for vehicle-loving preschoolers.
Three Brides for the Devil by Sally Nicholls, illustrated by John Broadley, Andersen, £12.99Charismatic and wealthy, the Devil rides into town in search of an obedient wife. Will one of the widow’s three daughters fit the bill? This elegant, subversive revisiting of Bluebeard, fascinatingly illustrated in intricate pen and ink, will grip 7+ readers as well as older children.
Ghost and Toast by Phil Corbett, Piccadilly, £8.99Trying to remember how he arrived in a haunted mansion, Ghost is surprised to find a cheery companion in Toast, a perfectly ordinary sentient slice of browned bread. Surreal jokes abound as the unlikely duo attempt to thwart the nefarious Croissant in this daft, delicious 7+ graphic novel. Henry Tudor: The Incredible Diaries of Me! by Danny Wallace, illustrated by Tor Freeman, Simon & Schuster, £7.99Eight-year-old Henry Tudor is the best at everything - especially making rude and obnoxious demands.
When he’s challenged by a mysterious opponent, however, he’s forced to acknowledge that he might not be completely infallible in this highly illustrated, laugh-a-minute, subversively “historical” 7+ diary. How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail and Other West African and Caribbean Myths by Jessica Wilson, illustrated by Sophie Bass, words & pictures, £12.99Weaving together the storytelling traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean, this lush, joyful 8+ collection offers tales ranging from the trickster Anansi to the Jamaican rivermaid of the title, describing the origins of each story with enticing details of food, culture and landscape. Wilson’s ornate text is enhanced by Bass’s boldly coloured, swirling illustrations.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
