Barrington Stoke are getting 2025 off to a great start with the publication of several new books for young readers and I would like to highlight three titles which I think will encourage potential bookworms.

The Moonlight Mystery Agency : The Birthday Cake Thief by Vashti Hardy Illlustrated by Agnes Saccani

The first in a new series in the Little Gems range for brand new readers brings Vashti Hardy’s popular magical touch to a younger audience. In The Birthday Cake Thief we meet Hana who has always wanted a pet of her own. When a friendly cat turns up at her bedroom window Hana thinks that she has finally got her wish. In fact the cat, Ace, has plans for Hana and she is whisked away to join a special detective agency. The Moonlight Mystery Agency has gained a new member! Hana’s first mission is to solve the mystery of Spark the bionic unicorn’s missing birthday cake.

The Little Gems range is perfect for new readers of about 5+ and incorporates a supportive layout and in this story is accompanied by charming illustrations and puzzles to solve by Agnes Saccani. Vashti Hardy’s Griffin Gate series for this publisher are immensely popular adapting her trademark steampunk fantasy to a shorter length with success. The Moonlight Mystery Agency will, I think, tempt the youngest audience to venture into her imaginary worlds. The author also blends a gentle observation of sibling tension into the storyline portraying the importance of patience and kindness with subtlety. This tempting package is a lovely start to a new series. Suitable for children from 5 upwards.

The Island Vet: Devil Bird Island by Gill Lewis illustrated by Irina Avgustinovich

Devil Bird Island is the third in this enjoyable series featuring Tia, daughter of a vet based on an island written by Gill Lewis, a vet herself Lewis always writes with warmth and understanding in her animal stories and this is evident in The Island Vet stories. In this latest instalment Tia and her friend visit a neighbouring island to count puffins but their trip swiftly turns into an adventure. First they rescue an animal caught in a fishing net then when night falls they hear strange wailing in the dark outside their tent. Their puffin counting has taken a rather scary turn!

Gill Lewis draws on her own experience and knowledge to create a believable and enjoyable story containing some important observations about how we need to work together to look after the wildlife around us.  The charming story is accompanied by lovely illustrations and chapter headings by Irina Avgustinovich bringing the characters to life for young readers. This is a perfect series for young animal lovers and conservationists suitable for children with a reading age of 7.

Bigfoot and the Wild Boys by Jenny Pearson illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff

As a teacher Jenny Pearson knows not only what type of story children like but she also knows what children themselves are like as people. As an author she combines this knowledge and experience in creating books packed with humour but also with an understanding and kindly observation of what matters to her young readers. Her third book for Barrington Stoke, Bigfoot and the Wild Boys is a thoroughly enjoyable story of friendship and adventure. Alexei Bitskoff once again illustrates Pearson’s fiction bringing the characters and events to life with great humour.

Joe is about to secondary school and is determined to shake off his ‘average’ persona and do something to make others notice him. When he sees a story on TV about the sighting of a Bigfoot-like beast in the local woods he decides this is his opportunity to show others that he not forgettable at all but someone who stands out from the crowd. He will capture the beast! With his best friend Tiago he sets off with no real plan or any experience in surviving ‘in the wild’. However he has watched his hero, Wildman Mike, online and feels sure that he can achieve his aim. Unfortunately things do not quite as he planned and the boys’ quest lurches from one disaster to another with sometimes hilarious results.

Bigfoot and the Wild Boys is great fun, as one would expect from this author, but it also conveys a wise message about popularity and the importance of one’s own self-esteem rather than others’ opinions. Another winner from this popular author for children aged 9+ and edited to be accessible for children with a reading age of 8.

Thank you to Poppy McLean and Barrington Stoke for providing my review copies. All three books were published this week.