The Reading Corner: Jan Feb

New reads for a new year…

Erik the Lone Wolf by Sarah Finan HB £11.99, published by Quarto Kids

Meet Erik, the wolf cub. Being a wolf means sticking with the pack. Everyone knows that – except for Erik, one little wolf cub who dreams of setting off on his own adventure… all by himself! But will life as a lone wolf be all that he hoped for? The beautiful debut picture book follows a scarf-wearing, cross-country skiing wolf cub on a heartwarming journey of discovery. Touching on themes of responsibility, independence and what it really means to belong, this is a fun-filled story with an important message – even the strongest wolves need the pack sometimes.

Emmeline and the Plucky Pup by Megan Rix £5.99, published by Penguin Random House Children’s

Full of adventure, fascinating history and lovely animals, this is the perfect read for young fans of Dick King-Smith and Michael Morpurgo. Alfie can’t believe his luck when he is allowed to keep a tiny puppy he finds abandoned on the street. Rascal is cute as a button, and has lots of attitude, and Emmeline Rankhurst is thrilled that Alfie has a new friend. Alfie and Rascal deliver messages between the Suffragettes as they organise their ‘Votes for Women’ campaign. But it’s sometimes dangerous work, and it’s not long before Alfie and Rascal find out the true cost of the fight.

Young, Gifted and Black by Jamia Wilson HB £14.99, published by Wide Eyed Editions

This book is a love letter to the next generation of black changemakers. Feminist, activist and storyteller Jamia Wilson has carefully curated this range of icons, stylishly brought together by Andrea Pippins’ colourful and celebratory illustrations. Written in the spirit of Nina Simone’s song “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” this book is a perfect introduction to historic and present-day icons. Meet figureheads, leaders and pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and sporting heroes, including Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams.

Radio Boy and the Revenge of Grandad by Christian O’Connell £6.99, published by Harper Collins Children’s Books

Christian O’Connell is back with more hilarious adventures of Spike, super-star radio DJ and trouble-prone ordinary kid. Radio Boy and his team, Artie and Holly are continuing to take
over the town’s airwaves. Then following a shock split from Nan, Granddad Ray comes to stay. Spike decides to cheer him up by inviting him onto the show. He becomes an instant hit with the listeners and Spike keeps him on as a new team member, but things get really awkward when Spike realises Granddad Ray only has three stories and keeps telling them over and over again.

The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide by Gareth Halfacree £20.99, published by Wiley

A pocket-sized electronic development platform built with education in mind. Developed by the BBC in partnership with major tech companies, communities, and educational organisations, this book provides children with a fun, practical and inexpensive way to develop their digital skills, with no pre-existing knowledge of computers, electronics or programming required. With comprehensive coverage and easy-to-follow instructions, budding coders will have everything they need to start building right away.

The 1,000 Year Old Boy by Ross Welford £6.99, published by Harper Collin’s Children’s Books

From the author of the unforgettable bestseller Time Travelling with a Hamster comes an astonishing, beautiful new story. There are stories about people who want to live forever. This is not one of those stories. This is a story about someone who wants to stop. Alfie Monk is like any other nearly teenage boy – except he’s 1,000 years old and can remember the last Viking invasion of England. When everything Alfie knows and loves is destroyed he embarks on a mission to find friendship, acceptance, and a different way to live – which means finding a way to make sure he will eventually die.

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