Books to Brighten Blue Monday - Nosy Crow Skip to content

Books to Brighten Blue Monday

We know that January can be a challenging month, and that Blue Monday can be, well blue! But we also know that books provide real comfort when those clouds form, so we’ve put together this curated collection of Nosy Crow delights to lift a child’s spirits whenever the need arises!

Happy Reading!

All of our paperback picture books come with a free Stories Aloud audio reading.

Find out more about Stories Aloud

Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike

Written by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
2-5
The hilarious fox and bear double act from bestseller Chris Naylor-Ballesteros is back for a second adventure. Bert is CERTAIN he can ride his bike as well as Frank, but he is very wobbly! And even when they BOTH try riding Frank's bike . . . it still goes very…
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A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy

Written by David Solomons
9-12
A brilliantly funny story of what happens when a galactic princess moves in next door and almost brings about the end of the world. Exciting new fiction from the bestselling, award-winning author of My Brother is a Superhero. Gavin's got a new neighbour and she's really annoying. Niki follows him…
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You’re Not the Boss of Me!

Written by Catherine Wilkins
9-12
A laugh-out-loud story about fighting for your right to steal the show, from the much-loved author of the My Best Friend and Other Enemies series. Amy Miller is a very positive person and she is fully prepared to be the star of the school Comedy Show. But when Harry is…
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This is NOT a Unicorn

Written by Barry Timms Illustrated by Ged Adamson
2-5
Get ready for a magical and hilarious adventure about the most fantastic unicorn EVER! This book is NOT about a unicorn! Well . . . OK, maybe it is! But THIS unicorn has a horn that can turn into the most incredible things - a magic wand, a helicopter, even…
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And Everything Will Be Glad to See You

Written by Ella Risbridger Illustrated by Anna Shepeta
5-7
A forceful, passionate and uplifting collection of poems by women and girls that is guaranteed to inspire, delight and empower. From well-loved poets, including Maya Angelou, Wendy Cope, Lucille Clifton and Christina Rossetti, to newer voices such as Amanda Gorman, Yrsa Daley-Ward and Ada Limón, this outstanding collection from talented…
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British Museum: So You Think You’ve Got it Bad? A Kid’s Life in the Aztec Age

Written by Chae Strathie Illustrated by Marisa Morea
5-7
Shortlisted for the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2023! Part of Nosy Crow's list of publishing in collaboration with the British Museum and developed in consultation with one of the world's leading experts on the Aztecs. A kid's life in the Aztec Age might sound like fun, what with all…
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Always, Clementine

Written by Carlie Sorosiak
9-12
A funny, wise and heartwarming story, with a truly one-of-a-kind hero, from the author of the highly-acclaimed I, Cosmo and My Life as a Cat. <i>I am an optimist. A very difficult thing to be, sometimes, at three inches tall.</i> Clementine is a genius. She can calculate pi to 69,689…
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A Monster Ate My Packed Lunch!

Written by Pamela Butchart Illustrated by Thomas Flintham
7-9
Hilarious, illustrated school-based antics where everything that happens leads to DRAMA and RUNNING AROUND and even some FAINTING! Winner of the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2023! Izzy and her friends are on a school trip to a big lake. Gary Petrie is excited because the lodges where they're staying…
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Octopus Shocktopus!

Written by Peter Bently Illustrated by Steven Lenton
2-5
A brilliantly bonkers story about an octopus who lives on the roof, by two award-winning and bestselling picture book creators. When a giant octopus arrives, the children LOVE their new friend; it makes the perfect slide and is fantastic at football! But some of the grown-ups aren't so pleased. Will…
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