Whilst I have every sympathy for those of you are still coming to terms with the fact that Christmas is only THREE DAYS AWAY, we are already looking ahead to next year, and our biggest publishing programme yet. We have some absolutely incredible books out in 2015 – and you can win copies of them all! Our monthly books newsletter competition is back, and January will be one of our busiest publication months ever: we’re kicking off the year with a bang. Here’s what’s out next month – and what you can win!
We’ll be publishing two AMAZING new Bizzy Bear books by Benji Davies – Deepsea Diver and Dinosaur Safari. These are (seriously) my two favourite books in the series so far: the subjects are perfect and the colours and detail on every spread are just brilliant – toddlers will love them.
Continuing our dinosaur theme, we’re also publishing Dinosaur Rocket! by Penny Dale. Regular readers of this blog will know how much I love this book: it is one of my favourite picture books of next year, and my absolute favourite in Penny’s dinosaur series so far. It is a masterpiece, and perfect for 2+ year olds. Here’s a look inside:
January will also see publication of Love Always Everywhere, illustrated by Sarah Massini – a joyful, inspirational book celebrating love in its many forms. Whether quiet, loud, shy or proud, the lyrical text champions love for a faithful pet, a best friend or simply your most favourite person in the WHOLE world. Heart-warming and tender, with charming artwork from Massini, this is a perfect book to share and read aloud. Here’s a look inside:
We’re INCREDIBLY excited to be publishing beautiful, physical editions of the first two of our award-winning fairytale apps next month: The Three Little Pigs and Cinderella, illustrated by the amazing Ed Bryan. Gorgeously designed, and packaged with delightful detail and drama, these are books to treasure and enjoy over and over again. Here’s a look inside the first two books:
And we’ll also be publishing the first paperback edition of Because I Love You, written by David Bedford and illustrated by Rebecca Harry. It’s bedtime for Little Bear, but as his mummy tucks him into bed, he wonders if he’s had enough love that day. So Mummy Bear takes Little Bear on a journey, reminding him of all that they’ve done that day – of the laughter, the discovery, the joy – but most of all of the love they’ve shared. And Little Bear goes to bed happy, warm – and loved. This is an absolutely charming story, beautifully illustrated (and foiled throughout!), about a mother’s love – here’s a look inside:
For newly-independent readers, next month we’re publishing Zoe’s Rescue Zoo: The Pesky Polar Bear, the seventh brilliant story in the phenomenally successful Zoe’s Rescue Zoo series by Amelia Cobb. These are a great introduction to chapter books for 5-7 year olds – brilliantly-written series fiction with a fantastic premise. Zoe loves living at her uncle’s rescue zoo because there’s always something exciting going on. And Zoe also has an amazing secret… She actually TALK to the animals. These books have wonderfully broad appeal – here’s a lovely recent review by a 10-year-old-boy who loves the series. And here’s a look inside the book:
We’ll be publishing My Headteacher is a Vampire Rat by Pamela Butchart – the hilarious third book in the sequence begun with the Red House Children’s Book Award-shortlisted Baby Aliens Got My Teacher and continued with the Blue Peter Book Award-shortlisted The Spy Who Loves School Dinners. This time, Izzy and her friends are SHOCKED when they meet their new head teacher. He has black hair, wears a cape, and has horrible, wormy lips. One time, they even hear him hissing in his office, and sunlight makes him go bright red. But it’s when he bans garlic bread on Italian Day that they KNOW. Their new head teacher is a vampire and his army of vampire rats are going to take over the school. EEEK! These are brilliantly funny books for 6 – 9 year olds – and they capture school life PERFECTLY. Here’s a look inside My Headteacher is a Vampire Rat:
And finally, next month will see the release of Emily’s Dream by Holly Webb – the fourth and final novel in a fantastic sequence of novels about four friends who want to make the world a better place – entertaining, inspirational and ideal for 8+ year olds. Emily loves animals. But she comes from a big family and there’s no room for any pets. So she decides to help at the local animal-rescue centre instead. But the rescue centre is under threat. Can Emily and her friends make sure all the animals don’t end up homeless? Here’s a look inside the book:
To win any of these books, all you have to do is subscribe to our books newsletter (if you’ve already subscribed you’re still eligible for this competition) and send an email to [email protected] with “Newsletter competition” in the subject heading and the title of the book you’d like to win in the body of your email. So have a good think about which book you’d like to win (we can only accept one entry per person), and good luck – we’ll pick the winners at random in January.
And now… back to some frantic last-minute Christmas preparations!
