Macmillan Children’s Books is one of the UK’s leading children’s publishers, creating and publishing absorbing and exciting stories for children of all ages for over 150 years from classic heritage titles such as The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland to bestselling books written by prize-winning authors and illustrators such as Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Rod Campbell, Chris Riddell, Emily Gravett, Jill Murphy, Lane Smith and Margaret Wise-Brown. Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite picture books published by Macmillan Children’s Books this summer.

Sammy Striker and the Football Cup by Catherine Emmett & Joe Berger

From Oscars Prize-shortlisted Catherine Emmett and bestselling illustrator Joe Berger, this wonderful children’s book is an empowering story for young footie fans.

Sammy Striker is never found without a football at her feet, and one day at the park, she’s spotted by Melissa McDream who coaches the Under 8s National Team! Sammy is a dribbler-extraordinaire, headed straight for the top. But, as the Football Cup gets closer, Sammy’s shots on goal go a bit wonky. Will Sammy work out that it’s what makes her different that will help them win the final?

Minipreneur enjoyed listening to this story about friendship, football, and having the courage to believe in yourself.

£7.99 published by Macmillan Children’s Books

I am Oliver the Otter by Pam Ayers and Nicola O’Byrne

Written in rhyme by bestselling poet Pam Ayres and beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Nicola O’Byrne, this charming tale about Oliver the Otter brings our wild and wonderful riverbanks to enchanting life.

Oliver the otter is happy enough living alone, swimming or scampering along the twisty-rooted waterways. Until one day, among the green rushes, he meets an otter called Ottilie – and his life changes forever.

The book has facts about the natural world interwoven throughout the story and an information page including tips on how to spot and look after otters.

£12.99 published by Macmillan Children’s Books

The Bowerbird by Julia Donaldson and Cat Rayner

Written by Number One bestselling Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Kate Greenway Medal-winning Catherine Rayner, this delightful book is the irresistible tale of Bert – a small bird with a very big heart.

Bert the bowerbird is looking for love. He has made the most perfect nest with beautiful flowers, and is hoping it will help him to meet the bird of his dreams. But when the demanding Nanette comes along, she is far from impressed. Poor Bert is hurt, and flies off to bring her presents a-plenty. But will it ever be enough, and is Nanette really right for Bert?

This book carries an important message that your little Minipreneurs deserve to learn.

£12.99 published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Luna and the Sky Dragon by Bethan Woollvin

This is a warm and playful story with lots to learn and talk about from Bethan Woollvin, the New York Times-bestselling creator of Little Red, I Can Catch a Monster and Three Little Vikings, and illustrator of Meet the Planets written by Caryl Hart.

Luna loves the sky and finding out about all the wonders she can see above her. But the villagers can’t stop worrying about the mythical Sky Dragon – a fearsome creature who is said to dwell in the sky. Can Luna share her love of the sky and show the villagers that the Sky Dragon is nothing to be afraid of?

Minipreneur thinks this is a great bedtime story and it’s perfect for introducing astronomy to little ones as it features real constellations as well as facts about the Milky Way, eclipses, comets and other astronomical delights.

£12.99 published by Macmillan Children’s Books (15th June 2023)

You Can Do Anything, Tyrone! by Sir Lenny Henry & Salomey Doku

Written by the award-winning comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry, this is a fantastic fun-filled tale of imagination and adventure brought to life with brilliant illustrations by talented  illustrator Salomey Doku.

Tyrone is going to build a brilliant rocket ship out of building blocks and go on an adventure to the moon! There’s just one problem . . . the blocks won’t work, and Tyrone quickly loses his temper. Luckily, Grandad Cleveland is on hand to show him that with self belief, a bit of determination and a lot of imagination, there’s nothing Tyrone can’t do. In fact, why stop at the moon when there’s the rest of the world and a whole universe to explore!

Minipreneur found this rhyming story extremely entertaining with its themes of love, family and the importance of self-belief.

£6.99 published by Macmillan Children’s Books (6th July 2023)

Victor, the Wolf with Worries by Catherine Rayner

Written by the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner Catherine Rayner, this is a beautifully illustrated story with a gentle and encouraging message to help children deal with their worries.

Victor the wolf has lots of worries. He worries that he isn’t brave enough, that he isn’t big enough and that he isn’t fierce enough. In fact, Victor feels anxious about almost everything. But when Victor shares his concerns with his best friend Pablo, he starts to feel a bit better. And with Pablo’s help, Victor learns even more ways to deal with those pesky worrying thoughts. And as the worries grow smaller, Victor feels a bit bigger, a bit braver, and bit fiercer inside

Minipreneur enjoyed this comforting and reassuring story and we think it is the perfect book to read to little ones who have trouble talking about their feelings.

£12.99 published by Macmillan Children’s Books (27th July 2023)

Graffeg publish a wonderful collection of illustrated fiction for children from new additions to their much-loved children’s book series by popular authors to some fantastic new titles from emerging talent. Here are two of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books from Graffeg this summer.

Albert And The Pond by Ian Brown & Eoin Clarke

The fifth instalment of the Albert the Tortoise series sees a new addition to Albert’s garden home, a pond. Whilst exploring the pond, Albert finds a new friend, a tadpole, who vanishes suddenly, leaving Albert upset. After his hibernation, Albert wakes to find his new friend back in the pond, but something about them seems a bit different.

Perfect for use in Key Stage 1 STEM classes, Albert and the Pond presents the lifecycle of a frog through Ian Brown’s humorous and fun-filled writing, whilst also touching on the themes of friendship and patience.

Eoin Clarke’s charming, colourful illustrations accompany Ian Brown’s entertaining story and the book is completed with a range of tortoise and frog facts, making it a brilliant addition to this
popular picture book series.

£7.99 published by Graffeg

Lilly and Myles: The Torch by Jon Roberts & Hannah Rounding

Jon Robert’s new picture book series, Lilly and Myles, follows the adventures of Lilly, a young girl on the autism spectrum, and her assistance dog Myles. The first book, The Torch, sees Lilly and Myles venture out of Granny’s seaside home to explore after Lilly finds a handy torch. Together they discover a range of wildlife living in Granny’s garden and on the coast, but when Lilly wanders off into a cave on her own she is overwhelmed by the loud noises and can’t find her way out of the cave until Myles returns to save the day.

Inspired by the real-life experiences of Jon’s daughter, Kya, who is also on the autistic spectrum, The Torch provides an insight into life with autism and enables teachers to discuss some of the characteristics.

Along with being a useful teaching aid, this book is also great at presenting the role of assistance dogs to children and how they can be used to help someone with autism. The story also helps children understand how to treat assistance dogs and the importance of not distracting dogs like Myles.

Jon’s gentle adventure story is accompanied by brilliant illustrations from Hannah Rounding, who worked with Jon on his previous four picture books focused on autism, disability and celebrating difference. The book is completed with a range of charities and organisations who provide advice and support for people with autism, with a portion of the royalties going towards the work of Dogs for Good and Dogs for Autism.

This book gave Minipreneur a brilliant introduction to the work of assistance dogs for people on the autistic spectrum. The story
also encourages children to be more inclusive and supportive of others who may have disabilities.

£7.99 published by Graffeg

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books about family and friendship published this summer.

Home Is Where My Heart Is by Smriti Halls & Alice Courtley

Award-winning children’s author Smriti Halls presents this heartwarming tale that teaches us that home is always in your heart. What does home mean to you? Home is where you’re known, understood and where you can truly be yourself. But is home a place, or is it a feeling?

As Minipreneurs follow Bear’s journey far from home and back again, they will see that home is not one place, it’s the people who love them. And most importantly, they can hold it with them wherever they go.

£12.99 published by Andersen Press

Flora and Nora Hunt for Treasure by Kim Hillyard

Minipreneur loves this story about the power of friendship. The fourth picture book from the award-winning author/illustrator Kim Hillyard, this positive picture book shows children that even though friends might be apart, they are still important to each other – a key social learning point for children as they wider their social circles. Perfect for fans of Rachel Bright, Rob Biddulph and Jim Field, Flora and Nora’s beautiful friendship and shared sense of adventure will inspire readers young and old.

£7.99 published by Ladybird Books

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books by Molly Potter & Sarah Jennings that have been published by Bloomsbury Education. Molly Potter is a well-known and respected PHSE expert, and author of the bestselling picture book series Let’s Talk with books that help you start meaningful conversations with your child. Covering topics like feelings, relationships, diversity and mental health, these comforting picture books support healthy discussions with your children right from the start. 

How Are You Feeling Today? by Molly Potter & Sarah Jennings

This delightful book gives children the tools they need to deal with lots of different feelings – without it all ending in tears! It explores 12 common emotions, including happy, angry, excited, bored and embarrassed, and offers ideas for what children could do when they feel this way. This edition has also been fully updated with the latest guidance on developing children’s emotional intelligence.

This is a great dip-in book where children can choose a feeling that relates to them and then turn to the page that provides child-friendly strategies for dealing with that feeling. Early Years and PSHE expert Molly Potter also provides notes at the back of the book for parents and carers explaining emotional literacy, and a Feelings Tracker for children to map out their emotions.

Let’s Talk books help you start meaningful conversations with your child. Written by an expert and covering topics like feelings, relationships, diversity and mental health, these comforting picture books support healthy discussion right from the start.

£6.99 published by Bloomsbury Education

How Are You Feeling Now? by Molly Potter & Sarah Jennings

Feelings visit us all the time. They are a normal part of being human! This is the perfect picture book to help children understand and manage their feelings early on. Offering child-friendly strategies for dealing with feelings, this book looks at 12 complex emotions and makes them simple for children.

From feeling proud, brave and grateful to frustrated, anxious and lonely, it shows children just what to do when they’re faced with these everyday emotions. It’s full of beautiful illustrations by Sarah Jennings and child-friendly, humorous language to delight readers.

Notes at the back of the book explain emotional intelligence to parents, carers and practitioners and provide more ideas and strategies to use with children.

Let’s Talk books help you start meaningful conversations with your child. Written by an expert and covering topics like feelings, relationships, diversity and mental health, these comforting picture books support healthy discussion right from the start.

£12.99 published by Bloomsbury Education

The Same but Different by Molly Potter & Sarah Jennings

From the bestselling author of How Are You Feeling Today?, this picture book encourages children to celebrate uniqueness and diversity and helps them to challenge stereotypes.

The Same but Different explores the ways in which we’re all unique as well as the similarities we all share. Using everyday examples, clear explanations and colourful illustrations by Sarah Jennings, this book encourages children to rejoice in their differences. After all, imagine how boring the world would be if everyone was exactly the same!

This book covers lots of ways in which we’re different, including how we look, where we live, the languages we speak, what our families are like and what we believe in. It’s the perfect resource for starting important conversations with children about diversity and inclusion, with topics such as race, disability, gender, sexual orientation and religion. Early Years and PSHE expert Molly Potter also provides a glossary of terms and notes for parents and carers offering advice on tackling prejudice right from the start.

£6.99 published by Bloomsbury Education

These Let’s Talk books have really helped start conversations with Minipreneur about diversity, emotional literacy and emotional intelligence. The books help grown-ups answer children’s questions and help parents & carers challenge society’s stereotypes. We highly recommend the Let’s Talk series of books to all parents, carers and teachers.

Thames & Hudson is one of the world’s leading publishers of illustrated books with an ever-increasing children’s books list. Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite Thames & Hudson children’s books this season.

Morris and the Magic of Stories by Didier Levy & Lorenzo Sangio

Morris is a cat with a clever plan. Instead of chasing mice, he’s going to make them come to him. And how will he do that? By reading them stories. But little does Morris realise that his brilliant scheme won’t work out quite the way he expects. If your children love reading and storytime as much as Minipreneur does, they will love this beautifully illustrated ode to reading, and in particular to reading aloud.

£12.99 published by Thames & Hudson

I Can Open That! by Shinsuke Yoshitake

This is a humorous new picture book from the acclaimed author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake about a little boy who starts wondering what life would be like if he could open anything he wanted after he has trouble opening a chocolate wrapper. The book reinforced what Minipreneur already knew about the power of being able to do things by yourself and the fun of helping other people do them too.

£10.99 published by Thames & Hudson

How To Be Your Dog’s Best Friend by Elena Bulay

This is a beautifully illustrated guide to caring for your dog. It is the true story of how Lena and Jo became best friends, told through Lena’s own beautiful illustrations. It’s also a guidebook, packed with useful tips about caring for a dog of your own. Learn how to choose a dog, how to train them, feed them and groom them, and pick up lots of fascinating facts about why dogs behave the way they do. Whatever the size and shape of your canine companion, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to be a dog’s best friend.

£16.99 published by Thames & Hudson

Usborne is one of the world’s leading independent book publishers that aims to create brilliant books for children of all ages. Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourites this season.

The Unworry Book by Alice James

This inspiring write-in book is an unworry toolkit, full of things to calm the mind and places to put worries – and we all worry! The book is designed to appeal to a wide range of ages with a range of activities and ideas to suit all sorts of people, including young people.

Activities include creating a worry box, making a mood grid and mindfulness activities such as colouring, doodling and mazes. Written with the help of a psychologist to make the book as useful as possible, there are links to websites for tips, advice and support for young people and the grown-ups of worried children.

If you’re in need of relaxing activities to help you and your children let go of worries and calm busy minds, this is the book for you.

£8.99 published by Usborne

Festivals! by Jane Bingham & Mariona Cabassa

Written by Jane Bingham & vibrantly illustrated by Mariona Cabassa, this is a gloriously colourful look at diverse festivals around the world from well-known celebrations such as Christmas, Hannukah, Eid and Diwali, to more surprising events such as the Woolly Worm Caterpillar Race and the Hungry Ghosts’ Feast. Young children can dip in at any page and feel all the fun of the celebration, while learning about different cultures and traditions. A great way to introduce the topic of diversity to Minipreneurs.

£9.99 published by Usborne

100 Children’s Wordsearches: Sports by Phillip Clarke & Sean Longcroft

Perfect for young sports fans, these 100 sporty wordsearches devised by Phillip Clarke are accompanied by bright, appealing cartoon-style illustrations by sports-loving artist Sean Longcroft. The puzzles cover everything from football and cricket to para sports and martial arts – with over 1,400 sporting words to find. The wordsearches grow gradually more challenging throughout the book, and are perfect for quiet times alone or playing with friends and family. All the answers are at the back of the book and the screen-free fun of the wordsearches will help boost spelling and literacy.

£4.99 published by Usborne

Izzy The Inventor and the Unexpected Unicorn by Zanna Davidson & Elissa Elwick

Izzy the Inventor loves science and does not believe in magic. That is until the day her Fairy Godmother appears and sends her to Fairytale Land to rescue Prince Charming from the Mountain of Doom, with an enthusiastic unicorn as her guide. To succeed, Izzy must use her science skills to outwit trolls, goblins and a bottomless lake of despair. But her quest will also teach her about the power of friendship and that we all need a little magic in our lives.

Science meets magic in this STEM-packed, laugh-out-loud story that will spark a love of science. The chapter book is packed full of illustrations with easy-to-read text and fun experiments to try making it perfect for beginner readers. Part of a new fiction series starring the character Izzy the Inventor.

£5.99 published by Usborne

What Can I Do With A Cardboard Box by James Maclaine, Harriet Noble & Erin Wallace

Kids will discover brilliant new uses for all sorts of cardboard boxes with this inspiring collection of things to make and do from building their own mini village, turning tissue boxes into monsters and rolling up chunky beads from bold and bright packaging to putting bridges and ramps to the test, investigating how they can make an empty box strong enough to sit on and seeing what happens when they roll a marble in the lid of a shoebox with some paint. And if they follow the simple step-by-step instructions, any big cereal box can become an amazing 3D model of the Solar System.

This excellent book encourages imagination, creativity and quiet concentration whilst supporting reuse and recycling at home. Best of all, every project has been devised with safe, child-friendly methods so no craft knives are required.

£7.99 published by Usborne

Peep Inside: How A Crane Works by Lara Bryan & Mike Byrne

This extremely hands-on flap book helps children to find out how cranes work on a busy building site from tall tower cranes, to muddy crawler cranes and nifty truck cranes. The engaging book is perfect for pre-schoolers who love construction vehicles, and want to know all about the most spottable, tallest ones.
Children will be amazed by the giant triple-height crane flap and the other action-packed flaps encourage the development of spatial awareness by getting little fingers to lift, build and assemble building blocks of different shapes to help build a super modern train station.

£8.99 published by Usborne

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite inspirational stories written by some amazing people from intrepid explorer Bear Grylls to acclaimed author Amy Sparkes.

Shine Like the Stars by Anna Wilson & Harry Woodgate

Told from the point of view of the natural world, this exquisitely illustrated and thought-provoking story invites us to connect with the world around us and achieve our potential. We are all connected to the natural world, and it is connected to us. This inspiring book is one of Minipreneur’s favourites and shows children that just as the stars shine brightly in the night sky, so can they.

£12.99 published by Andersen Press

You Vs The World: The Bear Grylls Guide to Never Giving Up by Bear Grylls

This book retells Bear Grylls’ most extreme adventures in a kid-friendly way. He shares the life lessons he’s learned along the way, and how the skills needed to survive in the wild can be used in everyday life. From finding confidence to bouncing back from failure, Bear gives children the tools they need to survive and thrive in their own lives. This book gives Minipreneur the mindset they need to thrive so we highly recommend it for any young person in your life too.

£10.99 published by DK

Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer by Jeffrey Boakye

Due to be published in June, this is an inspiring book of how two school friends get together to produce a new fanzine full of song lyrics which changes both their lives in unpredictable ways. From one big lightning bolt of an idea that hit Kofi like electricity and a genius money-making scheme to Kelvin’s photographic memory and a school obsessed with music, this story shows children that no matter what has gone wrong in the past, even someone who ends up in detention all the time can turn their life around to become a real leader.

£7.99 published by Faber

Hugg ‘n’ Bugg: The Comb by Ian Brown & Eoin Clarke

This is a heart-warming inspiring story of a pair of Himalayan misfits who team up and find friendship. The unlikely pairing of Hugg, a messy yeti, and Bugg, a flea that feels the cold, shows the wonder of teamwork. Stunning illustrations of the animals and landscapes of the Himalayas by Eoin Clarke brings the story to life. This is a perfect story to start conversations about helping others or to talk to your little ones about creatures that live in colder climates and their adaptations.

£7.99 published by Graffeg

Harriet the Strongest Girl in the World by Ben Lerwill & Beatrice Blue

This is a powerful, joyful, and affirming story about a little girl with a lot of strength trying to find her place in the world. Written by award-winning journalist and acclaimed author Ben Lerwill, the book celebrates physical strength and difference in an exuberant, heartfelt way. This is an empowering read about finding a place where you truly belong that will speak to children of all genders and backgrounds thanks to the humorous text, stunning illustrations and its brilliant cast of larger-than-life characters.

£7.99 published by Puffin

The Repair Shop Stories: The Toy Bus by Amy Sparkes & Katie Hickey

The Repair Shop is one of the most enduringly popular TV series around, exploring the stories of treasured objects and what they mean to the families who own them. This heart-warming and beautifully written book is based on the true story from the show about how a simple toy bus changed a family’s life for ever. Featuring warm and nostalgic illustrations by best-loved illustrator Katie Hickey, the picture book written by acclaimed children’s author Amy Sparkes includes the much-loved repairers Dom, Brenton, Steve and Lucia in a story that will touch the hearts of children and grown-ups of all ages.

£12.99 published by Walker Books

Speak Up! by Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola

Featuring an unforgettable central character, Rocket, who will take children on a journey towards finding confidence in speaking up for what they believe in. This empowering, heartwarming picture book is a love letter to libraries and the power of reading. And it shows the incredible power we all have when we find our voice and speak up about the things that matter. Minipreneur was inspired by the story of Rocket’s peaceful protest against the closure of her local library.

£7.99 published by Puffin Books

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite animal-inspired picture books, stories and activities this season.

Skunk! Skedaddle! by Peter Bently & Laurie Stansfield

Discover that skunks don’t always stink, with Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author Peter Bently and talented illustrator Laurie Stansfield. In his wonderful new book, Bently tells the story of Sally the Skunk who nobody wants to be friends with because they think that skunk’s are smelly. Sally is desperate to show the townspeople that she would never let off a stink around friends. When she bumps into the town robber, it’s time to show everyone how useful her stink can be! This is the perfect book to introduce your child to the concept of prejudice and that they should judge others. The story will also show them that everyone has something to share with the world that makes them special and unique.

£12.99 published by Andersen Press.

Yes You Can, Cow by Rashmi Sirdeshpande & Rikin Parekh

This is a lovely, heart-warming story about believing in yourself and doing your best based on the ever-popular nursery rhyme ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’. It introduces children to the concepts of stage fright and fear of failure showing them that having self-belief and the support of kind friends can help you overcome life’s obstacles.

£12.99 published by Faber & Faber

Calm Down, Zebra by Lou Kuenzler & Julia Woolf

One of Minipreneur’s favourite authors, Lou Kuenzler has teamed up again with the wonderful Julia Woolf who has produced yet more beautiful illustrations for this celebration of colours and patterns featuring the incorrigible yet loveable zebra from the pair’s best-selling book Not Yet, Zebra. Zebra is eager to get in on the act as Annie tries to teach her little brother Joe about colours. But although things don’t turn out quite the way she imagines, together they make the world a brighter and more beautiful place.

£6.99 published by Faber & Faber

Cleo the Completely Fine Camel by Wendy Meddour & Carmen Saldana

Cleo is a “completely fine” camel. Really, everything is just great. Honestly. A sweltering hot day? Well, Cleo has never felt better! Is she thirsty? No really she’s fine. A desert sandstorm? Not a problem, because Cleo is fine (even while buried under two feet of sand). It’s only when an ostrich who tells it like it is turns up that Cleo has the courage to admit that, just maybe, she’s not fine at all. Written by the talented Wendy Meddour with fantastic illustrations by Carmen Saldana, this book is perfect for showing children not to be afraid of sharing how they really feel and speaking their truth regardless of how they might be seen by those around them.

£7.99 published by Oxford University Press

The Selfish Crab by Anya Glazer

Claude has the most beautiful shell of all the crabs on the beach. It makes him feel special and he’s determined never, ever to part with it. Of course, hermit crabs change their shells as they grow-in fact they often swap with each other. But when it’s time to swap, Claude says ‘NO!’. His decision spins the hermit crab community into chaos and it means that little Alphonso’s shell is much too big. At the seaside this is dangerous. Can Claude give up his selfish ways in time to save his friend? The wonderful author-illustrator Anya Glazer teaches children the downside of selfish behaviour in a fun and relatable way.

£7.99 published by Oxford University Press

Look and Find Puzzles: Dogs and Cats by Kirsteen Robson & Gareth Lucas

Children you love dogs and cats will treasure this entertaining book filled with puzzles that will keep them busy all the way to nap time. The pages of this book are packed with dogs and cats to find, match and count and there’s a little white mouse hiding in every picture. Simple text and picture prompts direct specific searches and there are plenty of other delightful details to discover and talk about with their grown-ups.

£4.99 published by Usborne

Walter The Wonder Snail by Neil Clark

Filled with funny scenarios, rich artwork and a stunning colour palette, this book by talented author-illustrator Neil Clark is a lovable read at bedtime or indeed any time! Walter is a brave, curious snail who meets a whole host of heart-warming animal characters who inspire him to continue on a big adventure even though he’s just a tiny creature. The book will encourage young children to think big and not to be afraid of change.

£7.99 published by Happy Yak

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books about the natural world this season.

Meet the Weather by Caryl Hart & Bethan Woollvin

With words by award-winning bestselling author Caryl Hart and bold, striking artwork by stellar illustrator Bethan Woollvin, this book is the perfect first introduction to weather and will be great for getting your little ones interested in the natural world. As the bold, bright follow-up to the acclaimed picture books Meet the Planets and Meet the Oceans, it is packed with gorgeous illustrations of everything from rainy rainforests to snowy mountains and stormy seas. Combining STEM learning with a gorgeous rhyming twist, it’s perfect for all little meteorologists!

£7.99 published by Bloomsbury

RSPB Nature Guide: Seashore by Catherine Brereton & Kate McLelland

Full of charming and life-like illustrations by Kate McLelland, RSPB Nature Guide: Seashore is the perfect contemporary spotter’s guide for young wildlife watchers. Published in collaboration with the RSPB, the largest wildlife conservation charity in Europe, this is the fourth book in the RSPB Nature Guide series, following Birds, Wildlife and Minibeasts. The guide book is jam­packed with facts – children will learn that seaweed is used to
make ice cream, and that grey seals can eat 10kg of fish a day (that’s about the weight of two bowling balls!). From bright-beaked puffins and sunbathing seals to slippery seaweed and limpets clinging to rocks, there are over 200 different animals, plants and other wildlife to discover in this spotter’s guide.

£9.99 published by Bloomsbury

Does A Monkey Get Grumpy?: Animals have feelings, just like you! by Moira Butterfield & Adam Ming

This bright, fun, read-aloud non-fiction picture book by talented duo Moira Butterfield and Adam Ming is all about animals and their feelings, written in an engaging way to spark the imagination of curious young readers with a thirst for knowledge. With a different emotion per spread, this funny, moving and adorable picture book explores emotions such as sad, happy, grumpy and kind. Children will love making connections between their own feelings and their favourite animals – including elephants, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, monkeys, deer and much more. With rhythmic text, informative facts and adorable animal characters, this book will help children identify basic feelings, while introducing ideas of empathy and animal welfare.

£7.99 published by Bloomsbury

Pets and Their People: The Ultimate Guide to Caring For Animals – Whether You Have One or Not! by Jess French

This heart-warming guide to the many different types of pet will help kids choose the pet that would choose them. With author and vet Dr Jess French, delve deeper into the world of pets than you ever have before! Children will learn lots about the different animals that we might think of as pets, including their history, behaviour, and body language. Importantly, you will discover practical things to do with pets, such as how to treat them kindly, look after their everyday needs, and give them the best life possible. The best thing is, your child doesn’t even need a pet to enjoy them!

This book provides inspiration for kids who can’t own pets, showing them that we can care for animals in lots of other ways, too – from volunteering at animal shelters to leaving food for them out in the wild. From old favourites such as playful puppies and cuddly cats, to more unusual pets such as lizards and snakes, to bugs and hedgehogs in parks and gardens, there are many fascinating animals to meet.

£12.99 published by DK

Frog’s Bog by Marielle Bayliss & Mariela Malova

With timeless illustrations from Mariela Malova, this is a fantastically written rhyming story by the talented Marielle Bayliss about a Frog who is trying to find somewhere to relax but is struggling to succeed in his endeavours thanks to some inconsiderate animals sharing his world. This books is perfect for educating children about the different creatures that live in waterways and is great at explaining the difference between different bodies of water, including a glossary at the back describing what are rivers, streams, brooks and more. The book is the first in a new series of titles aimed at showing children the benefits of living in a caring, sharing world.

£7.99 published by Graffeg

Wild Family by Ben Lerwill & Harriet Hobday

Families come in all shapes and sizes, from spiders who can carry hundreds of their babies, to elephants who babysit each other’s calves. Perfect for every animal and wildlife fan, discover the incredible true stories of our wilder family members. Did you know that clownfish can have hundreds of babies? Or that some families like to be on the move, like monarch butterflies who will travel together for their entire lives! Meet families of all shapes and sizes, in these incredible true stories about wild families. Written by Ben Lerwill, these fascinating stories are fully illustrated with imaginative, colourful artwork by Harriet Hobday. The book is perfect for dipping into and to treasure all year round. It’s filled with facts that curious young minds will never forget.

£14.99 published by Puffin

The Fossil Hunter by Kate Winter

Curious young readers between 7 to 11 years, will love unearthing the mysteries of ancient fossils and discover the life and legacy of fossil hunter Mary Anning in this beautifully illustrated, fact-filled book. Beautifully illustrated by brand-new talent Kate Winter, with stunning panoramic fold-out pages, this is a book to treasure and to read again and again, perfect for all fans of natural history and curious young explorers.

Mary Anning scoured the cliffs and seashores of Lyme Regis for strange rocks and shells. Monstrous marine reptiles and dinosaurs had once reigned the land and seas here millions of years ago, disappearing only to leave mysterious traces for humans to puzzle over. Mary’s fossils paved the way for modern palaeontology and helped to piece together a picture of how the dinosaurs lived and evolved. Little did she know that 200 years later we would still be talking about her amazing discoveries and how she influenced our understanding of the history of the earth.

£14.99 published by Puffin

Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Wild Animals by Sam Smith & Nikki Dyson

With the inspired pairing of a colourful book and jigsaw set, children will love this package created for one of Minipreneur’s favourite publishers by the talented pairing of Sam Smith and Nikki Dyson.  Kids will have endless fun exploring jungles, deserts, oceans and more to discover all kinds of incredible creatures that share our planet. Packed with Dyson’s appealing illustrations, the book is full of fascinating facts about all the wild animals inside.

£9.99 published by Usborne

Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman, Olga Pastuchiv & Susanna Chapman

In this dazzling picture book written by renowned physicist Alan Lightman collaborating with Olga Pastuchiv, photographs taken from the Hubble telescope are seamlessly layered with charming illustrations by the stellar illustrator Susanna Chapman to beautifully bring to life this enchanting story of a curious child and her caring grandfather, who share a love for our incredible night sky and the mysteries it holds. The book also includes ideas for young readers to launch their own investigations inspired by Ada’s discoveries, making this book ideal for budding young scientists and stargazers.

£7.99 published by Walker Books

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books about learning from learning how to cook to social-emotional learning and reading with confidence.

No Pets Allowed! A Bloomsbury Reader by Chitra Soundar & Fay Austin

The Bloomsbury Readers series includes book-banded stories by award-winning authors and features online guided reading notes by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), ideal for independent reading at Key Stage 2. This new book in the series aimed at children aged 6+ years is a funny, uplifting story about family and the healing power of pets from internationally published author Chitra Soundar whose stories have been published internationally and translated into Chinese, German, French, Japanese and Thai. Minipreneur loves the Bloomsbury Readers series as the brilliant books get kids excited about reading and cover a wide range of genres with something for all tastes and interests.

£6.99 published by Bloomsbury Education

Chews Your Own Tasty Adventure by Sai Pathmanathan & Lucia Vinti

This is a fun interactive cookbook which empowers children to choose and experiment with cooking in an easily accessible way as each simple recipe has only six ingredients. The perfect gift for a budding chef, this is a beautiful hardback that celebrates international recipes and Sai is an expert on making science & cooking interesting for kids. From cupcakes to churros and paratha to pide, kids choose each ingredient in an interactive game and then see which recipes they can create. Perfect for beginner cooks to start their cooking adventure, with a maximum of six key ingredients for each recipe and clear and simple instructions, but also challenges young cooks to experiment with new techniques and ingredients. Includes fun facts for each recipe and lots of top tips. The stylish illustrations from Lucia Vinti make this a perfect gift for children who love to experiment.

£14.99 published by Faber

Oaka Books – Topic Packs

With the loss of classroom time over the past two years, being able to help struggling pupils get back up to speed is essential for their progression. Using Oaka topic packs, pupils will understand and remember topics more quickly, giving them valuable time for catching up on life in general, whilst keeping up academically. Teachers have repeatedly said that using Oaka topic packs has changed the way pupils view their learning. Home educators love these products as they help children re-engage with their learning, creating an effective learning structure that is easy to use.

£7.97 per pack (including booklet, workbook and active-learning game) from www.oakabooks.co.uk

Read With Oxford – Stage 4 – Biff, Chip and Kipper: A Mammoth Task and Other Stories by Roderick Hunt & Alex Brychta

This Read With Oxford Stage 4 collection of four funny stories is ideal for children who are gaining more reading confidence with the ability to read lots of everyday words and sometimes read by themselves. Featuring the much-loved Biff, Chip and Kipper characters created by Roderick Hunt MBE and Alex Brychta MBE, this is one of the exciting range of carefully levelled reading books that will help build your child’s reading confidence.

£10.99 published by Oxford University Press

Read With Oxford – Stage 5 – Biff, Chip and Kipper: Turtle Beach and Other Stories by Roderick Hunt & Alex Brychta

This Read With Oxford Stage 5 collection of four funny stories is ideal for children who are beginning to read independently and enjoy reading a whole story by themselves. Featuring the best-loved chracters Biff, Chip and Kipper co-created by Roderick Hunt MBE and Alex Brychta MBE, this is one of the exciting range of carefully levelled reading books that will help improve your child’s reading skills. It also includes tips for parents and activities to get kids to retell the story in their own words and talk about elements of the story they’ve just read.

£10.99 published by Oxford University Press

Going to the Fair and Other Poems by Sue Gordon & Hâf Gardner

The importance of reading poetry to the development of young children’s literacy and language skills cannot be overstated. Which is why Minipreneur was very pleased to discover this charming collection of playful poems by Sue Gordon which has been beautifully illustrated by Hâf Gardner. We’re certain that the book will amuse, delight and excite children whilst inspiring them to enjoy writing and creating their own illustrated poems with space to do just that at the end of the book.

£3.99 published by Purple Mash Publishing

Step Inside Science: Your Body by Lara Bryan & Teresa Bellon

From one of Minipreneur’s favourite publishers of children’s books for kids of all ages, this informative book will help young readers to discover how the body works and if filled with bright illustrations and clever peep-through details. Children will find out what happens to food after you eat it, discover how and why you breathe, and learn how your growing muscles can lift heavy objects.

£9.99 published by Usborne

First Questions and Answers: How Does My Body Work? by Matthew Oldham & Daniel Taylor

Whether it’s walking, talking, breathing, growing, eating or excreting, the human body has a lot going on.  Filled with big questions children ask (and adults might struggle to answer) about how the body works, this engaging lift-the-flap book covers numerous topics to introduce curious young readers aged 4+ years to the amazing workings of the human body.

£9.99 published by Usborne

Find Your Happy by Emily Coxhead

Full of vibrant illustrations and practical ideas, this is an accessible, friendly and uplifting book of feelings written and illustrated by Emily Coxhead, the much-loved creator of The Happy News which is read by over 20,000 subscribers in 33 different countries, and celebrates all that’s good in the world! Exploring feelings common to all young children, this is an uplifting and practical guide for children, helping them to understand their emotions and empowering them with tools to feel better.

£7.99 published by Walker Books

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite bedtime stories. We love reading them at bedtime but they are so good that they can be read at any time of the day!

Oscar’s Story by Margaret Sturton

This heart-warming tale written and beautifully illustrated by Margaret Sturton tells the story of Oscar and his older sister. When she starts reading books with no pictures in them, Oscar worries she’ll never share picture books with him again… Oscar loves story time, but best of all he loves the pictures in his books and the games he plays with his big sister, based on the characters. So when she comes home from school one day with a book that only has words, he doesn’t understand. Why does she like it so much, and how can he ever share it with her? This is the ideal book to read to children at bedtime as the story reinforces the fact that all books are magical with the power of imagination.

£12.99 published by Andersen Press

Squishy McFluff’s Camping Adventure! by Pip Jones and Ella Okstad

The  second Squishy McFluff picture book sees Ava and her invisible cat go camping with things getting interesting when she meets Idris and his puppy Farida who are staying at the same campsite. Pip Jones’s joshing humour and pacy rhyme is full of charm, and beautifully reflects those competitive conversations we all know so well. With a happy ending, and a new friendship gained, this story is sure to win hearts. Minipreneur thinks this is a great story to share with little ones at bedtime but it’s also perfect for any time of the day as it’s sure to inspire camping holidays!

£7.99 published by Faber

I’m Not Scared: A Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Adventure by Britta Teckentrup

Filled with gorgeous, richly textured and softly coloured illustrations, this is a charming and relatable story from award-winning author and illustrator Britta Teckentrup about navigating childhood fears and follows on from the lovely story book Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Take an Evening Stroll. From dark basements to deserted streets, swooping birds to cars’ glaring headlights, menacing foxes to friendly cats, the two creatures spend a day and evening confronting things that are both frightful and harmless. As the two hedgehogs walk through their neighbourhood, they talk casually about their fears and strategies for dealing with them – whistling, holding hands, counting, being still and accepting kindness. Vibrating with warmth and charm, this gentle story offers valuable skills for identifying and dealing with the things that make us scared. This book helped Minipreneur understand that everyone gets scared no matter how big or little you are.

£10.99 published by Prestel

A Treasury of Tales for Five-Year-Olds by Gabby Dawnay & Heidi Griffiths

Snuggle up together with your child at bedtime and enjoy this collection of forty charming and engaging stories written by Gabby Dawnay and selected especially for five-year-olds by literacy experts. This beautiful book contains original and inclusive stories about animals, dragons, nature, vehicles, music and more, as well as reimagined fairytales from around the world. From tales of pirate adventures to heart-warming animal stories, there will be something for every young reader in this rich collection. The stories are arranged in order of increasing complexity so that children can increase their reading confidence as they make their way through the book with their grown-up. This is the perfect present for any children you know who are turning five soon and Heidi Griffiths’ charming and engaging illustrations make this book one children will cherish even as they grow older.

£14.99 published by Frances Lincoln

A Pinch of Love by Barry Timms & Tisha Lee

This is Barry Timms and Tisha Lee’s second book on the subject of love. This story celebrates the love that comes through cooking and sharing food as told from the perspective of a boy and his grandmother. The gentle rhyming verse and beautiful illustrations make this a warm and charming book that’s perfect for bedtime.

£7.99 published by Frances Lincoln

Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

Full of funny mix-ups and comic misunderstandings, as well as genuine warmth and affection, these four stories are the start of an irresistibly charming new chapter book series from award-winning creator Jarvis. Minipreneur thinks these are great bedtime stories to share with kids aged 5+ years with their heart-warming tales about not hurting the feelings of others and the ups and downs of friendship told with witty charm by the talented author-illustrator Jarvis.

£9.99 published by Walker Books