The Boy Who Sailed the World by Julia Green and Alex Latimer(David Fickling, £6. 99)
A little boy loves the sea so much that he builds a boat and sets sail in it, weathering sea current and storms, making friends and finally sailing home before a new voyage beckons. Words and images are rich with wonder in this lovely picture book for 7+ readers, based on the adventures of the author's brave son.
What a Shell Can Tell by Helen Scales, illustrated by Sonia Pulido(Phaidon,£16. 95)
Young shell-hunters of 12+ will adore this jewel-bright, fascinating work of nonfiction by a marine biologist. Learn what a shell's colour and shape might mean; discover the cone snail's poisonous teeth or the clusterwink snail's green light; and find out what shells can tell us about the past and the future.
The Boy Who Grew a Tree by Polly Ho-Yen, illustr-ated by Sojung Kim-McCarthv(Knights of, £5. 99)
Timi's Mum is having a baby and Timi is unsettled by the change. When he discovers a tiny sapling growing in a closed-down library, he begins to tend it. But the tree grows so fast that Timi won't be able to keep the secret for long. Simply and sweetly told, this little tale for 5+ packs a punch beyond its page count.
Future Hero: Race to Fire Mountain by Remi Blackwood, illustrated by Alicia Robinson(Scholastic, £6. 99)
Jarell loves to draw a complex fantasy world. But when he discovers his imaginings are real and that Ulfrika, the world of his ancestors, is in trouble, he is drawn into danger. Can he accept his destiny and work with clever young warrior Kimisi to defeat the evil wizard Ikala? Fast-paced and accessible, this thrilling new series is perfect for 8+ readers with a taste for magical adventure.
