Hot Dog by Doug Salati, Pushkin, £12.99
When the summer city is just too hot, a frazzled dachshund is whisked away for a restorative adventure in this witty, gorgeous picture book effortlessly evoking heat, noise and overwhelm, sparkling seaside coolness and human-dog affection.
Changing Tides by Júlia Moscardó, Little Tiger, £12.99
Lula’s not sure about sharing her summer holiday with her new big brother Theo – until she discovers that together they can build the biggest and best of sandcastles. But what will happen when the tide comes in? A radiant, captivating picture book gently exploring the shifting dynamics of blended families.
Until You Find the Sun by Maryam Hassan and Anna Wilson, Hodder, £12.99
When Aminah leaves Da, her beloved grandfather, to travel to a cold new country, Da promises to light her way until she finds her sun again in this bright, empathic picture book about adapting to change and maintaining connections with loved ones far away.
A Wild Walk to School by Rebecca Cobb, Macmillan, £12.99
The journey to school is crammed with perilous adventure as two imaginative children navigate molten lava (fallen leaves), sleeping giants (speed bumps) and dragons (spread-out coats) to arrive at the gates just in time. An adorably chaotic picture book with a charming final twist.
The Seal on the Beach by Mara Bergman and Brita Granström, Walker, £14.99
Finding a seal pup abandoned on the beach, Maggie worries about its survival – just as she worries about her baby brother in hospital. This lyrical, poignant picture book for 5+ readers vividly captures the dreamy-sharp textures of a child’s anxiety.
100 Things to Know About Sport by Alice James and others, Usborne, £9.99
This fascinating book of facts delves into the nitty gritty of sporting science, history and achievement, ranging from training techniques and famous trophies to the sneakiest ways of cheating and golf balls made of compressed feathers. A goldmine for 7+ sports and trivia fans.
Up Close & Incredible: Human Body by Isabel Thomas and Damien Weighill, Wide Eyed, £16.99
Press out the attached magnifying glass for an enthralling tour of the systems of the human body, with 10 search-and-find things to spot in each spread. Punchy writing (skin is “your body’s bubble wrap”, with a top layer that’s “dead AND alive at the same time!”) and intricate, humorous illustrations add up to a brilliant 6+ introduction to anatomy.
The Boy to Beat the Gods by Ashley Thorpe, Usborne, £7.99
Rebellious goatherd Kayode is determined to taste the fruit of the Orishas, desperate to gain divine powers and put an end to the gods’ repression. When he finally succeeds, he and his unlikely allies, trickster god Eko and avenging princess Tiwa, must fight off a succession of enraged spirits. A sparky debut for 8+ with a riotous sense of rule-breaking adventure.
Fallout by Lesley Parr, Bloomsbury, £7.99
Everyone in Pentre believes Marcus Pritchard is a bad lot. One brother’s in borstal, the other’s already working with their criminal parent, so when a mysterious accident hospitalises an old man, Marcus automatically gets the blame. But peace protester Emma thinks better of him and Marcus wants more for himself – if he can only stand up to his family. Understatedly compelling, with assured characterisation and a 1980s Welsh setting, this story of breaking free from small-town expectations is another banger for 9+ from the award-winning Parr.
The Voyage of Sam Singh by Gita Ralleigh, Zephyr, £8.99
Young land-pirate Sam Singh is searching for his missing brother Moon, said to be imprisoned on the notorious Isle of Lost Voices. But Sam keeps meeting trouble – from his rapacious employer the Collector to the secrets and spirits of the Isle itself. He’ll need the help of his dauntless new friend Lola – and Suka, his loquacious parrot – to find his way to Moon and onwards to the truth. A rich, bold historical fantasy for 9+ set in the same parallel colonial India as The Destiny of Minou Moonshine.
The Houdini Inheritance by Emma Carroll, Faber, £7.99
When Glory accidentally outsmarts the great escapologist Harry Houdini, she and her best friend Dennis are swept off on an unexpected transatlantic trip. Glory and Dennis must get Houdini’s trunk to Coney Island in time for the annual vaudeville show, but Houdini’s rivals are desperate to steal his secrets in this thrilling, atmospheric new adventure for 9+.
I Will Never Leave You by Kara A Kennedy, Ink Road, £8.99
Maya and Alana have been inseparable since they bonded as children, but their friendship – and later romance – isn’t as idyllic as it seems. Four years into their fraught relationship, Maya finally breaks up with Alana, only for her girlfriend to be found dead. Now Alana’s angry ghost offers Maya a choice: help Alana possess a new host or take the fall for her murder. A compulsive supernatural thriller for 14+ driven by a toxic, manipulative dynamic even death can’t end.
The Thread That Connects Us by Ayaan Mohamud, Usborne, £8.99
Caring for her depressed mum and furious with the father who deserted them, Safiya has shut herself off from love. Halima, meanwhile, is resentful of her mother’s new husband, Safiya’s father, who’s moved the family to England from her beloved Somalia. When the two girls encounter each other at school, their first response is hatred – but as secrets come to light, a gradual sense of sisterhood grows between them. Featuring an intricate dual narrative, Mohamud’s thoughtful second YA novel addresses complex family ties, poverty, bullying and recovery from betrayal.
The Virtue Season by LM Nathan, Scholastic, £8.99
In a dystopian world where matches are made by the Council – and any hint of unfitness, mental or physical, results in decommissioning – Manon Pawlak is about to begin her Virtue Season, the process that will pair her with a suitable genetic mate. But when her mother attempts suicide, Manon’s fitness to marry is called into question. An intensely readable YA debut with undertones of Atwood and a vivid, immersive setting.
• To order any of these books for a special price, click on the titles or go to guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
