Summer Round-up: new children's and YA books you might have missed

Meet our children's book specialists

From library audits to bespoke selections, our team of qualified teachers, school librarians and book experts are on hand to help all schools find the best books for their students. You can read their regular advice about reading for pleasure and literacy on our News and blog.

They are also well known for their group dressing-up on charity days!

meeT OUR team

What's that noise?
by Charlie Higson and Nadia Shireen (illustrator)

ISBN 9781398535367 (hardback)   |   ISBN 9781398535350 (paperback)
Simon & Schuster

This picture book about the riotous joy of making as much noise as you possibly can just BEGS to be read aloud at story time!

From the team: "Utterly nonsensical, very funny tale, with vivid illustrations and a rolling pace that would read aloud brilliantly. Terrific fun, ideal to add to leisure and story time collections."

Voted Book of the Week 26 May 2025

I see a cloud
by Saskia Gwinn and Daniela Sosa (illustrator)

ISBN 9781805133254
Nosy Crow

This delightfully engaging first look at the water cycle is perfect faction for young readers.

Llama Library
by Holly Ryan and Ella Bailey (illustrator)

ISBN 9781526615817
HarperCollins Children's Books

Borrow a (naughty) llama and discover the joy of all sorts of subjects, from cookery to music!

Voted Book of the Week 2 July 2025

Look what I found by the river
by Moira Butterfield and Jesus Verona (illustrator)

ISBN 9781839940781
Nosy Crow

Engage children's natural curiosity and learn fun facts on a riverside adventure.

Wild
by Katya Balen and Gill Smith (illustrator) 

ISBN 9781529518634
Walker Books

A fascinating, bright and vivid guide all about colour. This browser explores the uses of, meaning behind, and the science of colour and is ideal for topic support and leisure reading.

From Zeena, Children's Book Specialist: “A lovely lyrical story combined with stunning atmospheric illustrations which explores themes of discovering nature in all environments even built up city areas. Rich descriptive language including similes, alliteration and personification offer good examples to be used in literacy lessons. Great to use in KS1 nature lessons."

Voted Book of the Week 9 May 2025

Wonders of the Mind
by Dr Francesca Fotheringham and Jan Bielecki (illustrator)

ISBN 9780241631355
Wayland

Discover the universe inside our heads in this factual celebration of brain power and neurodiversity. This information book explores a wide range of brainy topics, from chemical messaging, emotions and memories, to growing changes and mental health.

From the team: "Full of fascinating facts about the mind and the brain, this is great for a dip-in read, or to pore over for hours. It's ideal for schools and libraries alike."

Shrapnel Boys
by Jenny Pearson

ISBN 9781805312963
Usborne

Page-turning novel about the courage of a group of friends living through the Second World War.

Voted Book of the Week 6 June 2025

How to train your dragon school: Doom of the Darkwing
by Cressida Cowell 

ISBN 9781444981926
Hodder

A great start to a new must-have series, which newcomers and fans of the original will enjoy.

Can you get music on the moon?
by Dr Sheila Kanani and Liz Kay (illustrator)

ISBN 9780241522165
Puffin

Discover the fascinating world of sound and space science in this core all-in-one guide.

The line they drew through us
by Hiba Noor Khan

ISBN 9781839134722
Andersen Press

Three best friends are born on the same day under miraculous circumstances. But when The British announce Indian independence and draw lines of Partition, it tears apart the country, and the friends. One of them flees, one of them disappears, and one is left wondering - could a miracle bring the friends back together again?

From the team: “A beautifully written exploration of how Partition affected the lives of three friends of different religions. Characters are vivid and the descriptions of landscape and family life wonderful. A great read that explores this key period of history."

Dragonborn
by Struan Murray

ISBN 9780241741061
Puffin

When the frustrations inside her become too much to bear, Alex's feelings rush to the surface - and spill out as fire from her mouth. She is a dragon, one of the many who live among us, unknown and unknowing, unless something awakens their true nature. Alex must now train with other fierce dragon children if she is to unlock the power of her birth right. But the greatest dragon of all is preparing a war against the human world, and Alex has to be good enough to fight, before they all burn...

From the team: "A fabulous story with unexpected twists and turns that leave the reader shocked! The characters are not who they seem to be and the tension builds to a fiery finale. The writing is succinct, serving the plot well. It's a great read and set for more."

A Flash of Neon
by Sophie Cameron

ISBN 9781788957366
Pan Macmillan Children's

When Laurie tells her friends about a boy who is coming to visit her, she is as surprised as they are when he arrives. Because Neon is the boy she made-up and he's exactly as she created him, even down to his ability to play any instrument he picks up. Stepping off the train into her Scottish town and flipping her life upside down, Neon teaches Laurie what it means to be real.

AI for beginners
by Rose Hall, Rachel Firth and Hylton Warbuton (illustrator)

ISBN 9781805074366
Usborne

How do you actually define the term 'artificial intelligence'? What exactly can machines with AI already do, and what might they be able to do in the future? AI For Beginners answers all the questions - where answers exist - and raises debating points at every turn about what it all means.

Don't miss this autumn's best new books for children and teens

Our team add new Recommended Reads every week so you don't miss the best new releases for young readers.

Check the Recommended Reads page regularly, or sign up to our monthly newsletter to get book recommendations and advice straight to your inbox.

Spring 2025 round-up:
our favourite new titles