Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for January! We read some fantastic books over the past month, with adventure, information, and a lot of fun. What a great way to start the new year!
Fiction
Maisie vs Antarctica – Jack Jackman (pub. Nosy Crow)
This is Jack Jackman’s debut book for children and what a cracking start to the series!
Maisie is an only child and lives with her ‘boring’ dad, who writes ‘How to…’ books, but Maisie is convinced he’s never away long enough to gain the expertise in any of the things he writes about.
For his latest book ‘How To Survive in Antarctica’ he reluctantly has to take Maisie along for what turns out to be a life or death adventure. Suffice it to say, Maisie’s dad has a secret (a big one!) that will change Maisie’s life completely.
Full of danger and surprises, we can’t wait to join Maisie and dad on their next expedition.
Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs – Victoria Williamson and James Brown (pub. Tiny Tree)
Ever since a meteor sunk their pioneer ship as it landed and released radiation from its crater, the New World colony has faced continuous attacks from mutated insects.
Amberley Jain, paralysed from the waist down since her parents’ deadly crash, and Ricardo Lopaz, who can only see with a special device, are orphans in the Skyfleet base. Amberley’s parents’ now-wrecked Firehawk is the only plane capable of stopping the increased attacks, so the children devise a secret plan of repair. But the clock is ticking, as the colony’s end hovers on the horizon.
A breathtakingly tense space adventure with two determined and resilient heroes, this daring dystopian story shows the importance of friendship and determination, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.
Non-fiction
12 Ways to Get a Ticket to Space – Kate Peridot and Terri Po (pub. Wide Eyed Editions)
The possibility of today’s children having the chance to travel into space is now very real, and this book looks at 12 ways that could happen: from working for a space agency to building your own spaceship, or simply winning a flight.
It’s packed full of information about the whys and wherefores for each way and what you would see and be required to do. Together with a section on astronaut training and the future exploration and development of space transportation, this is a treasure trove for any would-be space traveller.
Start Small, Think Big: Fluffy, Flying Seed – Mary Auld and Dawn Cooper (pub. Mama Makes Books)
This is the latest title in the wonderful Start Small, Think Big series aimed at KS1 and lower KS2.
Each title looks at different life cycles in nature from their small beginnings, through to adulthood and their impact in the natural world.
This time we follow a dandelion seed from its dispersal, to plant development and how it nourishes other wildlife. At the back is a fold out map showing where dandelions flourish in the world, as well as a meadow ‘I-Spy’.
All the books are great for discovering more about nature and science, in a gentle and accessible way – and we look forward to Small, Sparkling Raindrop and Small, Mighty Beetle which are coming soon!
There’s No Such Thing as a Silly Question – Mike Rampton and Guilherme Karsten (pub. Nosy Crow)
This colourful and fascinating book contains ‘213 weird questions, expertly answered’. It covers many different and varied subjects, for example ‘are teeth bone?’ and ‘do fish drink water?’
At the back, all 213 questions are divided into 21 different subjects that allow you to search for questions quickly and easily.
This is a fantastic book to browse and find explanations for questions you didn’t know you had. One of our favourites is ‘why aren’t bananas straight?’ – we’ll leave you to find the answer!
Graphic novels
Evil Duck and the Feather of Fortune – Chris Judge (pub. Gill Books)
Eddie and Flo don’t want to stay with Grandad while their mum’s away. Grandad doesn’t even have a TV and it’s just so boring…that is until they find a secret staircase behind a bookshelf. As the twins investigate, they discover Grandad’s past alter ego, and a frozen duck suspended in a pod with a big red button. Unfortunately, Eddie is unable to keep his wings to himself and releases Grandad’s nemesis – Evil Duck!
Can the twins help Grandad recapture Evil Duck and bring him to justice? Can Fearless Frank Duck take to the skies again? And where are the Beetle brothers?
This is a fast-paced, brilliant new graphic series, full of bright and silly pictures, and plenty of wisecracks and action.
Next up are two graphic novels for upper KS2 and lower KS3.
Save Our Forest! – Nora Dåsnes, translated by Lise Lærdal Bryn (pub. Farshore)
By the creator of Cross My Heart and Never Lie, we rejoin Tuva, Bao and Linnea, as Bao takes on her school and the city council in protecting their forest from development.
Highlighting the problems faced by young people in getting their voices heard when they’re too young to vote, we see the frustrations of Bao and her friends as they try to save the forest they love from a school car park extension.
From doing environmental reports, to occupying and demonstrating in the forest itself, it shows the children organising their protest in a way the adults don’t expect.
With a guide in the back to how you can get your voice heard, this is an inspiring and powerful book full of hope.
Dungeon Club: Time to Party – Molly Knox Ostertag and Xanthe Bouma (pub. Farshore)
School life goes on for Olivia, Jess and Tyler, as they welcome new members to their after-school D&D club.
Olivia loves being Dungeon Master with the chance to develop plotlines, and soon the new members start to become comfortable with their characters…but trouble is brewing.
When Olivia’s big sister comes home from college, she’s changed; she thinks Olivia should stop D&D and grow up. At the same time, Jess seems to relate closer and closer to her in-game character.
As Olivia’s doubts grow and Jess has identity issues, the plotlines in the game seem to escape Olivia, leaving her feeling like nothing will be the same again.
This brilliant series captures the drama of friendships in school and mixes it seamlessly with the wonderful world of a D&D game.
Picture books
Don’t Think of Tigers – Alex Latimer (pub. Andersen Press)
Young children will love the weird and wonderful illustrations of badly drawn tigers by an artist who asks the reader to think of something for them to draw – as long as it’s not tigers!
As the tigers get weirder and weirder, the artist highlights how practice makes perfect in an imaginative and fun way.
An inspiring title for those who might be having trouble with their art, we learn that bad drawings are actually okay – because the more you do the better you’ll get.
That’s it for January’s recommendations, from Antarctica and forests to space and fantasy worlds. Join us on Threads, Bluesky, or Twitter/X and let us know what you’ve been reading!
If any of the books have grabbed your attention, then you can pick up a copy of them via our recommendations list below.
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If you’re looking for more book round-ups, check out our previous reviews here.
