A lovely new Christmas picture book featuring magic and dragons, an exploration of words that bring us together in kindness and the importance of nature and understanding for young people experiencing difficulties or grief make up this month’s selection of new books for children.

A Christmas Delivery by Andy Shepherd illustrated by Sarah Warburton 

This is a lovely way of introducing the popular chapter book series, The Boy Who Grew Dragons, to a younger audience. Tomas and Lolli are excited about Christmas and their dragons love the festive season too. The arrival of the snow dragon on Christmas Eve brings a snow storm to delight the children. However it also means that the family will not be able to deliver their Christmas presents. Unless of course they can come up with a cunning plan to solve the problem!

This story has all the charm of Andy Shepherd’s previous books and Sarah Warburton’s illustrations are delightful. There is a traditional feel to the storytelling, with family bonds, warmth and humour and of course festive magic and dragons as an added bonus. Each page is full of light and vibrant colours with a cheerful appeal. A Christmas Delivery is a joy of a book and definitely one to add to your Christmas wish list. Published by Templar Books this month.

The Roots We Share: 100 Words That Bring Us Together by Susie Dent illustrated by Harriet Hobday

Despite the current divisions within communities and across the world we are all familiar now with the saying that ‘there is more that unites us than divides us.’ In her latest book for children, popular lexicographer Susie Dent has brought together a selection of words on the theme of connections and togetherness. These words celebrating harmony, peace and love are accompanied by stunning illustrations from Harriet Hobday.

Susie Dent’s research has unearthed words both old and new and some that have been long forgotten. She explores through vocabulary the things that engender kindness and the various ways in which communities are bonded through perhaps food, music, nature or humour. There are examples of words that make us laugh and words that calm us and all of them lift the mood of the reader. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of words that originate in other countries, for example ‘simpatico’ borrowed from Spanish and Italian and ‘hygge’ from Danish. There are many that are new to me and I am going to start using ‘snerdle’ when I want to describe nestling up cosily. I know many people who are guilty, as am I, of tsundoku’ or building up a collection of books that we haven’t yet read or possibly they may be ‘librocubicularists’, people who like to read in bed. The range ensures that children will encounter vocabulary that will stretch them and sometimes amuse them. There is ‘philanthropy’ and ‘flibbertigibbet’, and ‘democracy’ and ‘conjobble’, which means a good chat with someone over some food in case like me you had not heard it before. I really should have known that one!

The Roots We Share is a book to dip into when you want a moment of peace and calm but also a useful book in educational settings for exploring the origin and meaning of words and phrases. I have greatly enjoyed browsing this book and think it has an appeal to a broad age range. It is such a lovely, positive book which will leave both children and adults feeling comforted and hopeful. Published by Penguin Books on 9th October.

Letters From the Upside by Katya Balen

Katya Balen receives much well earned praise from established children’s literature reviewers alongside respected awards so I am well aware that she is now regarded as one of our best authors for young people. Her books are among my favourites of the last few years, therefore when Letters From the Upside landed on my doormat it rather queue jumped my review pile. It definitely deserved to. There is a simplicity about this author’s writing style which ensures its accessibility for children yet the depth of emotion, the level of understanding shown and the tenderness with which the lead character of Con is depicted make this an important read for both children and adults.

Ever since Con’s dad left Con has been angry. The anger is always present but on occasions it builds up to such an extent that the boy explodes, with consequences that make life even harder for him. Con is suspended from school after a fight and his best friend Kyle no longer wants to spend time with him. Although his mum cares deeply and supports him Con is unable to articulate his feelings to her or to change his ways. His forced absence from school results in Con being at home alone in his flat and there he is befriended by an elderly neighbour, Mr Williams who lets him in on his secret. Up on the roof of the block of flats Mr Williams keeps homing pigeons alongside a garden maintained by another neighbour, Gloria. Up on the roof alongside the non-judgemental Mr Williams Con gradually relaxes a little. When Mr Williams goes away on a trip he wants Con to look after his pigeons for him. Con cannot believe this level of trust but slowly he discovers that he is capable of the task. Then Con starts to wonder if the homing pigeons could help him bring his dad back.

Letters From the Upside is an example of Katya Balen’s skill in exploring complex subjects that children may need help in understanding. She never preaches or tells her readers what to do or think, she guides and shows them with kind wisdom. Con is an empathetic narrator and his story provides an insight into why troubled children may behave as they do. Anger can, understandably, alienate others, but anger can be a manifestation of a deep unhappiness, as it is with Con. His guilt and worry are hard to witness and the wonderful Mr Williams is a beautiful portrayal of the impact an understanding adult can have on children who are struggling. The importance of nature in an urban environment is explored sensitively and the underlying message to us all to ‘look up’, both figuratively and in reality is an important one. Letters From the Upside is a beautiful story that lingers long in the mind after one has finished reading. A book full of hope, empathy, community and kindness and highly recommended. Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

The Horse Dreamer by Holly Surplice

Holly Surplice’s debut novel for children published by Chicken House this month is a beautifully presented hardback illustrated throughout by the author. The Horse Dreamer tells the poignant story of Merryn and her family, her two sisters and her mother, who are struggling to cope with the loss of the girls’ father. Surplice explores themes of grief, family, loss and healing in a sensitively told tale that comforts through both the text and the gorgeous blue ink illustrations.

Merryn’s mum’s acute grief has resulted in a long period of depression and inability to care for her daughters as she has before. Mute and still, she sits in her chair while Lowen, the eldest, supervises meals and her mother’s medication. Merryn escapes the oppressive atmosphere at home in her beloved forest savouring the natural world around her. It is there that the horse appears one day in a storm just when Merryn needs a supportive companion the most. Sorrel, the horse, has a dream like appearance, as though conjured from the trees and plants around him. Has Merryn imagined him, wished him into existence perhaps? However he becomes her friend and confidant and as Summer turns to Autumn they ride together on the beach Merryn loves. As Christmas approaches with all its family memories Merryn will need to find the strength to help both mum and her sisters heal and recover.

The illustrations do much to convey the emotion that runs through this moving story. They encourage the reader to slow down and explore the meaning to be found in them and to ponder on the text at the same time. The importance of nature as a balm to soothe is incorporated well and the author’s home in the Hebrides has no doubt inspired the descriptions of Merryn’s surroundings. This is a lovely story which, despite the sadness, does manage ultimately to feel hopeful and encouraging and emphasises how families can find happiness again despite unimaginable loss.

The Horse Dreamer was published on 9th October by Chicken House and is targeted at readers of about 9+.