Recommended Reads for Year 2

Classics

The Worst Witch

School spells trouble for Mildred Hubble!Disaster-prone Mildred is a trainee at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, but she's making an awful mess of it. She keeps getting her spells wrong and crashing her broomstick.

'Riding a broomstick is no easy matter!'She manages to scrape by until she turns Ethel, the teacher's pet, into her worst enemy, and her cauldron begins to bubble with chaos. . .

George’s Marvellous Medicine

George Kranky's grandma is a grouch. She's always mean to George (and not much nicer to his parents either). One day, when George is put in charge of giving Grandma her medicine, he wonders if he can come up with his own remedy to try and help Grandma become less of a grump. Using some rather unusual ingredients, George creates his magic medicine*.

But will it stop his grandma from being so horrible . . . or will it shoot sparks out of the top of her head?! The text in this edition of George's Marvellous Medicine was updated in 2022 for young independent readers.

Paddington

The classic story of everyone’s favourite bear, Paddington. Paddington Bear first met the Brown family at a railway station – Paddington Station, in fact. He had travelled all the way from Darkest Peru with only a jar of marmalade, a suitcase and a label reading ‘Please look after this bear’.

Without further ado, Mr and Mrs Brown welcomed the adventurous bear into their family, and in honour of their meeting place they named him Paddington. The Browns soon discover that Paddington is a most unusual bear, for ordinary things – like having a bath – become quite extraordinary when a bear called Paddington is around!

Dairy of a Killer Cat

Okay, Okay. So hang me. I killed the bird. For pity's sake, I'm a cat. Poor Ellie is horrified when Tuffy drags a dead bird into the house.

Then a mouse. But Tuffy can't understand what all the fuss is about. Who on earth will be the next victim to arrive through the cat-flap? Can soft-hearted Ellie manage to get her beloved pet to change his wild, wild ways before he ends up in even deeper trouble?The hilarious antics of Tuffy and his family as told by the killer cat himself.

The Enchanted Wood

Joe, Beth and Frannie find the Enchanted Wood on the doorstep of their new home, and when they discover the Faraway Tree they fall into all sorts of adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please?

Fantasy

Marv and the Mega Robot

Marvin is an ordinary boy who loves spending time with Grandpa, reading comics, and making science experiments with his best friend Joe. But everything changes when he discovers a mysterious superhero suit hidden in the attic… to his amazement, Marvin learns that he is next in a long line of superheroes. Now the time has come to meet his destiny!When the Science Fair is thrown into chaos by super-villain Mastermind and her giant robot, Marvin is the only one who can stop them.

Will Marvin be brave enough to step into his power-and into his superhero suit-to become the great and marvellous superhero Marv? The first book in a powerful series of one boy's journey to unlock the superhero within.

The Dragonsitter

'Dear Uncle Morton. You'd better get on a plane right now and come back here. Your dragon has eaten Jemima.'It had sounded so easy: Edward was going to look after Uncle Morton's unusual pet for a week while he went on holiday.

But soon the fridge is empty, the curtains are blazing, and the postman is fleeing down the garden path.

Isadora Moon Goes to School

Half vampire, half fairy, totally unique! Isadora Moon is special because she is different. Her mum is a fairy and her dad is a vampire and Isadora is a bit of both. She loves the night, bats, and the colour black, but she also loves the outdoors, using her magic wand, and the colour pink.

When it's time for Isadora to start school she's not sure where she belongs - vampire school or fairy school?With irresistible pink and black artwork throughout by author/illustrator Harriet Muncaster and a totally unique heroine with an out-of-this-world family, this is a beautiful, charming, and funny new series of first chapter books.

The Boy Who Grew Dragons

When Tomas discovers a strange old tree at the bottom of his grandad's garden, he doesn't think much of it. But he takes the funny fruit from the tree back into the house - and gets the shock and delight of his life when a tiny dragon hatches! The tree is a dragonfruit tree, and Tomas has got his very own dragon, Flicker ... Tomas soon finds out that life with Flicker is great fun, but also very ... unpredictable.

Yes, dragons are wonderful, but they also set fire to your toothbruth and leave your pants hanging from the TV aerial. Tomas has to learn how to look after Flicker - and quickly. And then something extraordinary happens - more dragonfruits appear on the tree. Tomas is officially growing dragons ...

The Marvellous Granny Jinks & Me

When Jada Jinks finds a box of magic tricks in her granny’s flat, she uncovers her granny’s SECRET dream of becoming a magician. Jada soon decides that she’s going to help Granny Jinks fulfil her dreams, but one thing stands in her way – her dad, Jonny Jinks, who hates magic! Will Jada be able to help Granny Jinks pass the auditions for Dalton Green Magic Society, and will she learn some tricks of her own along the way?   Inspired by the true story of Jenny Mayers – the first Black woman to be accepted into the Magic Circle.

Adventure

Izzy the Inventor and the Curse of Doom

Meet Izzy the Inventor in a laugh-out-loud series that brings together science, magic and a very lovable unicorn. Packed full of illustrations and easy-to-read text, this series is perfect for beginner readers. Izzy the Inventor is back in Fairytale Land and this time she must rescue a prince from a wicked fairy's curse.

If she fails, he'll vanish! With the help of Henry the unicorn, Izzy needs to work out how to make it snow in summer, create an exploding volcano and a contraption to help Henry fly. But can Izzy's science skills stand up to an enormous dragon?Every book contains ideas for science experiments and a QR code with links for more to try at home.

Dungeon Runners

CALLING ALL DUNGEON RUNNERS - There's space for a new team of heroes. This is your chance to enter the leagues and fight your way to the top!Kit has dreamed of being a Dungeon Runner all his life, although being a gnorf (part gnome, part dwarf) means he's much smaller than the other competitors.

But when a space opens up for a new team in the Dungeon Running League, Kit doesn't want to miss this chance to try out! With his new friends Sandy and Thorn, they're ready to take on anything - mazes, puzzles, monsters, treasure and most of all adventure!Are you ready for the games to begin?Welcome to the Dungeon!

The Hat Full of Secrets

Henry's got a secret… a big one!And he doesn't know what to do with it. Grandpa suggests he should keep it under his hat ­- and he's got just the hat for the job.

But when Henry puts it on he discovers that Grandpa has some secrets of his own!A lyrical and heart-warming story celebrating the magical bond between a child and a grandparent, with full colour illustrations on every page.

Traction Man is Here

With an action outfit for every occasion, Traction Man patrols the house. Whether he is saving toys (in latex space suit and Perspex helmet, teamed with Rocket Boots); searching the sink for the lost wreck of the sieve (in sub-aqua suit, fluorescent flippers and infra-red mask) or rescuing damsels in distress (in jungle pants, camouflage vest and a bandanna), Traction Man is never less than stylishly turned out and expertly accessorised. He is the last word in heroic fashion flair - until, that is, the day that he is presented with an all-in-one knitted green romper suit and matching bonnet by his owner's granny.

Can Traction Man overcome the humiliation of his desperately dowdy new look and rediscover the action hero within or will the burden of the knitted green monstrosity be too great?

Space Detectives

Dog lost in space? Grown an extra head and don't know why? Pocket money stolen by a green blob? You need the Space Detectives!Connor and Ethan are spending their summer holidays aboard the world's first orbiting city, Starville (basically Beverley Hills in space!). The amazing space station is bursting with celebrities and the mega-rich. But Connor and Ethan are too busy selling ice cream to see the sights.

However, neither of our heroes can resist a mystery and when they discover the space station is hurtling on a collision course with the moon (eep!) they know they need to step in. This is a case for the SPACE DETECTIVES!Can Connor and Ethan find the culprit and save Starville from its impending doom?

Empathy

The Truth Pixie

‘Wherever she is, whatever the day,She only has one kind of thing to say. Just as cats go miaow and cows go moo,The Truth Pixie can only say things that are true.'A very funny and lovable tale of how one special pixie learned to love herself. The Truth Pixie is an enchanting, rhyming story that will delight younger readers - with words by the bestselling mastermind Matt Haig and pictures by the inky genius Chris Mould.

The Camel Who Had the Hump

As a shimmering sun lit the desert at dawn,A clumping of camels awoke with a yawn. "GOOD MORRRRNING!" sang one,"YOO-HOO! Rise and shine!""I will!" called another.

"Today is DIVINNNNNNE!"But not everyone has woken up in a good mood: Cuthbert the camel is having a bit of a bad morning. He's hot, he's tired and he certainly WON'T be walking to the oasis today! There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that will get him out of his grump. Or is there?When Cuthbert makes a new friend, he discovers that even if things get off on the wrong hoof, we're all just one smile away from a happy rest-of-day.

A laugh-out-loud tale of how choosing fun can turn a grumpy, humpy start into a happy ending.

Cloud Boy

When Bobby gets distracted, he starts to float. Everyone tries to help him, but there are so many sights and sounds and smells which draw his attention away from everyday things. Bobby would like to concentrate like his friends, but it's very hard, so his family and friends come up with all sorts of clever plans.

But a string tied around Bobby's ankle just makes him feel empty inside. In this uplifting story, Bobby's friends and family might just learn that the best way to understand Bobby to think a bit like him. A positive fable that celebrates the value of neurodivergence.

Listen

This inspiring picture book tells the true story of world-famous deaf percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. This is a story of music. Of obstacles. Of strength and hard work. Of all you can accomplish when you dream. As a child, Evelyn Glennie's ears began to hurt.

Voices became distant whispers. Ringing phones sounded like muffled crunches in her ears. But when she was told that she would need to wear hearing aids for the rest of her life, Evelyn was determined that this this would never stop her from playing music.

Instead of giving up on her dreams, Evelyn found new ways to listen... With stunning illustrations from Devon Holzwarth, and a special note from Evelyn Glennie herself, this is the perfect book to inspire children to never give up on their dreams.

Ruby’s Worry

A reassuring and sensitive book – the perfect springboard for talking to children about sharing their hidden worries. 'If your child has a worry - and all children do have worries - this is the ideal book to encourage them to talk about it' Parents In TouchRuby loves being Ruby.

Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it's not such a big worry, and that's all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad.

How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again?A perceptive and poignant story that is a must-have for all children's bookshelves. From Tom Percival's bestselling Big Bright Feelings series, this is the perfect book for discussing childhood worries and anxieties, no matter how big or small they may be.

Funny Stories

Wigglesbottom Primary

The strangest things happen at Wigglesbottom Primary! A cat decides to join year 2 on a school trip to the seaside and has a brilliant time - chasing seagulls, raiding picnics and sunbathing on the shore. But it's when it goes into the arcade that the trouble REALLY starts...

Perfect for newly-independent readers, these are more funny primary school stories from award-winning Pamela Butchart, brilliantly colour-illustrated by Becka Moor.

Lenny Lemmon and the Invincible Rat

Lenny Lemmon is looking forward to Olden Days Day at school. It's a chance to break the routine and try school as it was years ago. It explains the blackboard in the corner, his teacher's bad temper and why his friend Sam looks like Oliver Twist. And Lenny's pleased with his own contribution, too. It's in a cardboard box at the back of the class at the moment because it's not yet time to shine.

Except it escapes and ends up in the bowl of sick, sorry, gruel, that Amelia Kelly has brought up, sorry, in. Soon there are small, gruelly footprints all over the classroom and also a lot of screaming because the rat that Lenny found by the back of the chip shop is FREE. It takes the arrival of cool new girl, Jessica Conrad, to distract everyone. Jessica has a plan to catch the rat but it'll cost them. Can the three kids round up the rat before more damage is done? Or will they end up in the headmaster's office - again. Maybe, but they're going to need a bigger net...

The Day the Crayons Quit

Poor Duncan just wants to colour in. But when he opens his box of crayons, he only finds letters, all saying the same thing: We quit! Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown, Blue needs a break from colouring in all that water, while Pink just wants to be used.

Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other. The battle lines have been drawn. What is Duncan to do?

Marge in Charge

Marge is the babysitter all children would wish for" David BaddielMeet Marge, the mischievous babysitter with rainbow hair who loves to make a mess and bend the rules . . .

At dinnertime Chef Marge cooks up chocolate soup, and at school Marge the Muscian conducts a chaotic concert in the playground!Jake and Jemima have brilliant fun with their new babysitter, but will they manage to tick off all the jobs on Mummy's list?

Gordon The Meanest Goose on Earth

There are plenty of mean geese in the world. They hiss and honk and chase you down for a handful of crumbs. But Gordon is the meanest of them all. He stomps on sandcastles, knocks ice-creams out of hands, and punches sharks - he's the worst, and he loves it. Until one day, something extraordinary happens… Anthony the Piglet gives him a flower. With this one act of kindness, Gordon's world begins to crumble.

Join Gordon the Goose, Anthony the Piglet, and the citizens of Grover Gardens for a laugh-out-loud journey of empathy, courage, and soggy bread.

Animal Stories

The Zebra’s Great Escape

Mink doesn’t believe in rules. She loves running wild and free. So, when a zebra appears in the square where she lives and she finds out that his parents have been captured by the evil Mr Spit, she knows that it’s up to her to help.

So begins a grand adventure to rescue a whole menagerie of animals – an adventure that will take all of Mink’s courage and determination. Written with generous helpings of warmth and humour, this is a timeless picture book about bravery, friendship and the importance of taking action.

Toto The Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape

Toto the cat and her brother Silver live footloose and fancy-free in a townhouse in London. Toto is almost totally blind, and learned to trust her senses from a ninja cat-master who taught her back in Italy where they were born.

By day, Toto and Silver seem to be ordinary cats, but by night, they love to have adventures! One evening, news reaches Toto that a king cobra has escaped from London Zoo! Together with help from a very posh cat and two hungry tigers, Toto and Silver must investigate. Can they find the giant snake, before it's too late?

The Rainbow Bear

The polar bear is bored of his white environment and his hard life. He dreams of soaking himself in all the luminous colours of the rainbow. But when his wish is granted, he realises to his cost that his arctic camouflage no longer works and he needs the advice of others to escape his prism...

A moving tale of hopes and dreams from an award-winning picture book team. The lyrical text is complemented by beautiful watercolours in which the joy and pain of the Rainbow Bear sing out.

The Bold Kitten

Hana and her family have recently fled Syria to stay with a boy called Oscar and his family in the UK. Hana is confused and lonely when she first arrives - she doesn't speak much English, and while her host family seem kind, she misses her friends back home.Then Oscar introduces her to the litter of cats his family are fostering, and Hana falls in love with the brave tortoiseshell kitten named Amal. The more time Hana spends with Amal, the more confident she begins to feel, until her mum reveals that the kittens are ready to be adopted, including Amal.Hana doesn't want her to go - can she find a way for them to stay together?

Emperor of the Ice

It’s April in Antarctica and, in places so remote that they can only be seen by satellites, lines of Emperor Penguins appear in search of the perfect ice for raising their chicks. A wise old Empress has returned to the ice at Halley Bay year after year; with the help of her mate, she works to protect her newly-laid egg against the bitter winter. But a changing climate is making the Antarctic Ocean warmer – winds are stronger and storms are fiercer...

With luminous illustrations and an introduction by climate scientist Dr Phil Trathan, this is the true story of how the Emperor penguin colony at Halley Bay was disrupted after the sea ice collapsed, and how it’s necessary to protect the environment so that these extraordinary survivors will continue to be found in the Antarctic for generations to come.

Our World

The Emerald Forest

Life in the forest canopy changes drastically for Orangutan and her family when the tree-cutters move in and their home is destroyed. Where can they live? But for this little family – and hopefully, others – on the tropical island of Sumatra, there are human friends working for their survival and safety. 

Dear Earth

When Tessa writes a love letter to the Earth, it's the beginning of a glorious adventure. She blows bubbles with whales, soars with birds and joins in with the noisy rainforest hullabaloo! Tessa wants everyone to know how special our planet is. She believes that there is a chance to save the Earth if enough of us share the message...

Flooded

Flooded is the funny and beautifully illustrated tale of animals who live in a city that is ever so slowly flooding. The flood comes gradually at first. All the animals ignore the obvious and go about their busy lives, disjointed from one another and preoccupied by their own problems. Eventually, the flood water reaches a height that they can no longer ignore and they have to work together to save their city.

All the animals join together in a line and pull out the plug that is drowning the city. This is an exceptionally illustrated story that teaches a message not to let problems fester and with a little team work and community spirit, no problem is insurmountable.

Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web

Have you ever wondered if trees can communicate with each other? Well they can. Recently, scientists have discovered that forests communicate via underground networks of fungal threads knows as 'the wood wide web'.  In this picture book for young children, we meet a little fir tree sapling who is stretching her first leaves into a dark ancient forest full of huge trees. She feels very lonely and she can't reach any light or water.

Her worried feeling sinks down to the tips of her roots, which little does she know, are connected to the wood wide web. The fungal network sends her message all over the forest! "little tree needs help!" The message reaches mother trees who can't spare the energy from their own little ones, others who are sick and can't help but ultimately, one friendly paper birch tree helps her in her time of need. When the winter comes and birch tree needs help in return, the strong, not so little fir tree withe her evergreen leaves can come to the rescue.

Our little tree learns that she is part of a loving, caring community, filled with family and kind strangers of entirely different species. 

If I Were Prime Minister

A young boy gives his perspective on several things the grown-ups running the country could do differently. How much happier would we be if all the adults went to nursery once a month to remind themselves how to play? How much safer would we be if Christmas lights were left up all year round to light everyone's way home? This hilarious picture book treats profound topics with sensitivity and care. This is a book for all those children who dare to dream big and for all those adults who want to look on the world with fresh eyes.

Community

Penguin Huddle

The penguin pack play all day long. And when the sun goes down, and the night grows cold and dark… “PENGUIN HUDDLE!” The penguins squeeze and squish together to stay warm and cosy. But one night, there is a freezing gale. And the next morning … the penguins are stuck! They are frozen together like a giant penguin ice pop.

What a penguin MUDDLE! Nobody in the Antarctic can figure out how to unstick them. But Pipsqueak, the smallest penguin of them all, has a brilliant idea...

The Proudest Blue

Asiya's hijab is like the ocean and the sky, no line between them, saying hello with a loud wave. It’s Faizah’s first day of school, and her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab – made of a beautiful blue fabric. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful.

In the face of hurtful, confusing words, will Faizah find new ways to be strong?This is an uplifting picture book with Islam at its heart, with a universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond shared by siblings and of being proud of who you are, from Olympic medallist and celebrated Muslim author Ibtihaj Muhammad.

The Girl at the Front of the Class

From Onjali Q. Rauf, the bestselling and award-winning author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, and award-winning illustrator Pippa Curnick, comes a moving picture book that helps young children understand and empathise with the refugee crisis, and shows the power that friendship, kindness and generosity can have. There's a new girl in my class.

She has eyes as wide and as golden as a tiger's, skin as pale as a glass of milk, and hair as shiny as a mirror. I'd like to be her friend. But she never plays with me in the playground or makes sandcastles in the sandpit.

She's doesn't even like Story Time. The cleverest people I know say that the new girl is sad because she had to leave her home, her family, her school, her toys, her books and all her friends too. But I've got an idea! There is something I can do to make her feel better when she's missing everything she's left behind ...

The Bridges

Mia feels alone; so alone that it's as if she lives on a small island, far out to sea. But then one day, Mia is given a book - the first she has ever been able to call her own.

As Mia reads the book, bridges appear and her island fills with colour and life. And the more Mia reads, the stronger the bridges become, opening up a world of connection and hope...  Because a book can take you anywhere...  Celebrate the power of books and reading in this moving picture book by Tom Percival

Out of the Blue

ONLY BLUE ALLOWED, by Blue government demand. Anything that isn't blue, by colour law, is banned. In a very blue house on a very blue street, sits a little boy who feels as blue as the world around him.

For this little boy has a BIG secret: he loves the colour yellow. In a world where only one colour is allowed, will he be brave enough to tell his dad? And will they be able to defy the rules and create a world where EVERY colour is welcome? One boy and his dad are about to come OUT OF THE BLUE and into life in technicolour!A stunning celebration of being yourself and living in ALL the colours of the rainbow.

Non Fiction

Counting on Katherine

Meet Katherine Johnson, the mathematical genius who helped make the historic Apollo 11 moon landings possible and made sure that Apollo 13 returned home safely when the mission was in critical danger. Counting on Katherine is a beautiful illustrated biography, sure to inspire young readers.

As a child, Katherine loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about maths, about the universe… Helaine Becker interviewed Katherine and her family for this authorized biography. From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, this is the true story of a groundbreaking African-American woman who went above and beyond what was expected of her in the 1960s, saving lives and making enormous contributions to history.

The River That Flows Beside Me

his richly illustrated concertina book takes the reader from the top of a mountain spring, through varying landscapes, and follows a river's journey from its source to the sea. With a focus on the important role waterways play in human and environmental survival, The River That Flows Beside Me explores the changing landscapes along a river's journey and the habits and ecosystems that call the river their home. This visually stunning book finds the river in the rocky peaks, and tracks it as it winds its way through coniferous forest, gushes through v-shaped valleys, and roars down magnificent waterfalls.

If the World Were 100 People

There are more than 8 billion humans living on Earth, but it's tricky to picture so many people! So instead, let's imagine the whole planet is a village where 100 people live – each person representing around 80 million people in the real world So what does our global village of 100 people look like? Are they all grown-ups? Are there more males or females? How many have black hair or blue eyes? What languages do they speak? Who can read and write? How many have access to the internet or have enough food to eat? Does everyone have access to electricity or clean water? This thought-provoking book answers all of these questions and much, much more! Big ideas are broken into bitesize chunks through clever illustration and graphic design. By focussing on just 100 people, it's easier to see the things we have in common, and the things that make us unique. If the World Were 100 People is a perfect introduction about the world we live in for children and a wonderful way to support them in becoming global citizens.

Time to Move South for Winter

A breathtaking picture book about incredible animal migrations, illustrated by the winner of the 2019 Waterstones Children's Book Prize, Jenny Løvlie.

Over the cold, mirrored waters of the Arctic, a tiny tern sets off on the world's longest animal migration. On her way, she passes humpback whales, caribou, Canada geese, leatherback turtles and monarch butterflies, each on their own incredible journey south for winter.

When the Arctic tern finally arrives, she must find a new home on the Antarctic shore . . . until it's time to return to the northern skies once again. A beautiful, lyrical and reassuring bedtime story, perfect for young animal lovers, with a map and double-page spread of non-fiction facts at the end.

Do You Love Dinosaurs?

Some dinosaurs had a deadly bite and others could run super fast. Some had club-like tails and some could make the smelliest of farts - POO-WEE! But wait, don't run away... Because dinosaurs are actually awesome!From the ferocious hunters like Spinosaurus and T.rex to the gentle giants like Diplodocus and Titanosaurus, the speedy Velociraptor to the armoured Ankylosaurus, discover all the weird and wonderful things that made dinosaurs so AMAZING.

Did you know that some dinosaurs laid eggs the size of footballs? Or that there's a fossilised dinosaur poo as long as your arm? And have you ever heard of a certain dinosaur that could outrun a racehorse? Find out about all this and more - and then decide: do YOU love dinosaurs?

Poetry

A Whale of a Time

A brilliantly illustrated collection of 366 hilarious poems to keep you laughing all year round!

Tthis beautifully produced anthology is rib-ticklingly funny to wryly witty, each poem in this uplifting collection is guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Whether it's a poem about socks or spaniels, eggs or elephants, this bright and brilliant collection will bring you cheer and laughter every day. Perfect for reading aloud, sharing even more side-splitting hilarity with family and friends. The spectacular range of poems for children includes work by John Agard, Maya Angelou, Hilaire Belloc, Brian Bilston, Lucille Clifton, Wendy Cope, Roald Dahl, Edward Lear, Spike Milligan, Ogden Nash, Grace Nichols, Jack Prelutsky, Michael Rosen, Christina Rossetti, Benjamin Zephaniah and many more.

The Beasts Beneath Our Feet

Beneath our feet / way deep and down / are beasts asleep / in the cold, dark ground. Dig down through the layers of the Earth and travel back in time. Meet the trilobites that scuttled and crawled; the munching, crunching dinosaurs; and a herd of roaming woolly mammoths.

This rhyming read will take you on a prehistoric adventure!

The Wild

Once upon a time, somewhere not far away, was the Wild. The Wild was huge and giving, and everything from insects, to birds, to humans made their home in it. At first, people lived lightly and took what they needed, but when they started to take more, the Wild suffered. For the Wild to be healthy, someone must be brave enough to raise their voice . . .

Yuval Zommer's lyrical modern fable has a hopeful and powerful message about how our environment needs us just as much as we need it.

The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry

An utterly brilliant collection of the very best poems, from Puffin Books,A celebratory anthology of the best of Puffin poetry publishing, including poems by Roger McGough, Michael Rosen, Charles Causley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Jackie Kay, Spike Milligan, John Agard, Brian Patten, Allan Ahlberg and Kit Wright

Poems Aloud

In this fantastic collection, Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho shows us that poems are made to read OUT LOUD! In this wittily illustrated anthology of poems, designed to be read aloud, twenty poems arm children with techniques for lifting poetry off the page and performing with confidence. Perfect for confident children and shy readers alike, this book teaches all sorts of clever ways to performing poetry. Children will learn 20 techniques for reading aloud by trying out 20 funny and thoughtful original poems by the much-loved and award-winning performance poet, Joseph Coelho.

There are tongue twisters, poems to project, poems to whisper, poems to make you laugh. There are poems to perform to a whole class and others to whisper in somebody's ear. Richly textured, warm and stylish illustration by Daniel Gray-Barnett bring each page to life.

Graphic Novels

Bumble & Snug

Best friends Bumble and Snug are Bugbops - little monsters filled with BIG feelings! In this full-colour graphic novel, join them on a funny, imaginative adventure with some VERY angry pirates, learning about the world outside and inside along the way. Bumble and Snug are going on a big adventure to ... have a picnic! But when they accidentally get lost, they're both cross - is their adventure ruined?Working together to find their way home, Bumble and Snug come across a pirate treasure horde.

But taking treasure that isn't yours is a good way to get into trouble, and sure enough some VERY angry pirates aren't far behind. Bumble and Snug are certain they can replace the treasure, and fix things to make everybody happy. But there's another monstrous obstacle in store - and this one has TENTACLES. Bumble and Snug and the Angry Pirates is a story about being cross and how to listen, friendship and sandcastles, and one GIANT octopus!

Supa Nova

A brand new, bright and bold full colour graphic novel series - fizzing with fun and invention! Perfect for every graphic novel fan. Meet Nova! She's a scientist. Some people say she's a genius.

Some people even call her Supa Nova - get it? Like a supernova. Basically she's a huge star, exploding right at you with her adventures!When Nova invents a plastic-eating monster, she thinks she's solved the world's pollution problem. But she doesn't expect her monster to start rampaging through the city! Can Nova find a way to save the day? It will take a genius to figure it out!

Reggie Rabbit The Great Carrot Heist

Reggie Rabbit wants to be a big-shot detective in Bearburgh City, just like his hero, Detective Fox. His parents have other ideas: they would rather he stayed at home and worked on their vegetable stall. But when a carrot-snatching crime wave hits the canals, the family stall is in danger of closing.

Even worse, the famous Detective Fox won't take the case. Reggie needs to step in, and his best lead is the new parakeet at school, Pipsquark, who has heard rumours of foul (or should that be fowl) play. Can this tiny, fluffy detective brave the big city to crack the case?

Dog Man

George and Harold are in big trouble again! George and Harold have created a new breed of justice -- one that is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound digs into deception, claws after crooks, rolls over robbers, and scampers after squirrels. Will he be able to resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty? Dav Pilkey's wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of being true to one's self.  Full colour pages throughout.

Investigators

Laugh yourself silly with the InvestiGators! Join Mango and Brash in this full-colour comic book series by John Patrick Green. Mango and Brash are alligators – who investigate! In their first adventure the crime fighting duo need to go undercover… in a bakery?Armed with a moustache and a rolling pin, the Investigators are on a mission to discover who has kidnapped top chef Gustavo, and stop his recipes from getting into the wrong hands! This case isn’t going to be a piece of cake.