This compelling and important history of the British Empire, told from the perspective of 20 people who lived through it, tells the story of one of the largest and most powerful empires in human history. At one time, the British Empire ruled over almost a quarter of the world’s population. Men, women and children from all walks of life and from across the globe were affected in big and small ways, from the clothes they wore, the food they ate and the languages they spoke to the work they did and the rights they held. This legacy and impact is still evident all over the world today. This book shines a light on the human aspects of the ‘Empire where the sun never sets’, introducing readers to a host of figures, both powerful and modest, who lived through, challenged, and influenced the course of the British Empire. But how did this empire come to be? And what happened to the people whose lands were colonised? The people whose lives were touched? This book tells their stories and reclaims this chapter in history by giving voice to 20 real figures whose perspectives have often been ignored, overlooked or sidelined. Their stories are told in a first-person narrative style, allowing readers to see through the eyes of these inspiring history-keepers. From leaders and activists to poets and freedom fighters, the book features a range of figures from across five continents, shining a light on the human aspect of the British Empire. Meet Queen Nanny, the escaped slave who led a fight for freedom against the British in Jamaica.  Hear the story of Rani of Jhansi, a key figure in the Indian resistance movement against British colonial rule.  Learn about Tejonihokarawa, the Mohawk leader who travelled to London on a diplomatic mission.  These engaging true stories of resistance, community, struggle and hope will spark conversations, foster a broader, decolonized understanding of the reaches and impacts of colonialism and ultimately leave readers inspired. After all, understanding our past and its echoes in our lives today is a step towards a better future.

Have you ever wondered if trees can communicate with each other? Well they can. Recently, scientists have discovered that forests communicate via underground networks of fungal threads knows as 'the wood wide web'.  In this picture book for young children, we meet a little fir tree sapling who is stretching her first leaves into a dark ancient forest full of huge trees. She feels very lonely and she can't reach any light or water. Her worried feeling sinks down to the tips of her roots, which little does she know, are connected to the wood wide web. The fungal network sends her message all over the forest! "little tree needs help!" The message reaches mother trees who can't spare the energy from their own little ones, others who are sick and can't help but ultimately, one friendly paper birch tree helps her in her time of need. When the winter comes and birch tree needs help in return, the strong, not so little fir tree withe her evergreen leaves can come to the rescue. Our little tree learns that she is part of a loving, caring community, filled with family and kind strangers of entirely different species.  She learns all the ways that there are to care and be cared for, and most importantly that she is not alone. After all, the forest is only as strong as its smallest tree.  Trees can communicate using up to '50 words' and can send messages of distress, warn each other about incoming danger in the form of disease or pests, learn which trees are their parents and which are their offspring. If a tree is in danger, others can send spare sugars and water via the network and even sabotage trees they see as a threat. And they do it all via the wood wide web.  This is a powerful book, that teaches children about a hugely important discovery in contemporary science, about a secret world beneath our feet and most importantly, about the strength that comes with asking for help, and discovering that you are not alone. 

A powerful coming-of-age story about chance encounters, injustice and how the choices that we make can completely change our future. The second YA novel from the critically acclaimed Danielle Jawando, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Gayle Foreman, Jennifer Niven and Nikesh Shukla. 'Jawando's writing is incredibly raw and real; I felt completely immersed' Alice Oseman When fourteen-year-old Shaq is stabbed outside of a busy shopping centre in Manchester, three teenagers from very different walks of life are unexpectedly brought together. What follows flips their worlds upside down and makes Chantelle, Jackson, and Marc question the deep-rooted prejudice and racism that exists within the police, the media, and the rest of society. Praise for When Our Worlds Collided: 'A raw, unflinching and powerful story that will stay with me for a long time' Manjeet Mann, author of The Crossing 'A beautiful ode to found family, and a compassionate look at the power of connection borne from the ashes of tragedy and apathy' Christina Hammonds Reed, author of The Black Kids 'Hard-hitting yet still hopeful, this is an emotional powerhouse of a book' Alexandra Sheppard, author of Oh My Gods Praise for And the Stars Were Burning Brightly: 'An outstanding and compassionate debut' Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy 'An utter page turner from a storming new talent. Passionate, committed and shines a ray of light into the darkest places - the YA novel of 2020!' Melvin Burgess, author of Junk 'One of the brightest up and coming stars of the YA world' Alex Wheatle, author of Crongton Knights

You're thirteen. All you want is a normal life. But most normal kids don't need heart transplants.

So there's this doctor. He says there's a chance for you. But he also says it's experimental, controversial and risky. And it's never been done before.

Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, this is a powerful, thought-provoking story from the award-winning Malorie Blackman.

The brilliant follow-up to the bestselling The World’s Worst Children! Ten more stories about hilariously horrible kids! Do you dare to meet the worst children in the world? Be warned! Inside are five ghastly girls and five badder-than-bad boys! Like Humbert the hungry baby, who literally eats his parents out of house and home. And Gruesome Griselda who likes to play tricks on everyone with her vast collection of creepy-crawlies. From number one bestselling author David Walliams come ten more wonderfully wicked tales, illustrated throughout by artistic genius Tony Ross.

From an award-winning poet comes a gripping mystery. "Grandma Farida has Alzheimer's - but I'm going to help her remember a huge secret..." Twelve-year-old Nyla's dad died when she was four, or that's what she's been told. So when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in the local supermarket, Nyla wonders if Grandma is simply "time travelling" again - the phrase she uses when Grandma forgets. But Grandma is Nyla's best friend and when she asks Nyla to find her dad and bring him home, Nyla decides to make a brand new promise to her Grandma: to find him. As Nyla turns detective and sets out on a journey through her family's past to try and find the truth, she also hopes that uncovering important stories will help her understand who she is, and where she fits in the world ... A page-turning verse novel about the power of memory and story-telling, and an unbreakable bond between a grandmother and granddaughter.

The next action-packed FIREBORN adventure ‘The best kind of children’s fantasy story: thrilling and imaginative’ B. B. Alston, author of Amari and the Night Brothers ‘The perfect balance of high adventure, breathless action and eerie wonder’ Jonathan Stroud, author of the Bartimaeus trilogy HOPE GROWS FROM THE ASHES . . . Twelve has chosen a Hunter name to reflect her new elemental powers: Phoenix. When she and her friends learn that the witch-palace of Icegaard is in grave danger, they must battle frightening new monsters and find a way to defeat the evil force. But as Phoenix learns to control her new powers, the faceless Croke begins to haunt her dreams and she will have to fight with everything she’s got to save Icegaard and all of Ember.

Black History for Every Day of the Year by award-winning historian and broadcaster David Olusoga and his siblings, Yinka Olusoga and Kemi Olusoga, tells the story of Black history, sweeping across the world and through the ages.

Discover stories of hope and connection, originality and creativity, alongside tales of racism and oppression, resistance and celebration. From the nineteenth century anti-slavery movement to Beyoncé and Stormzy; from the Black contribution in both World Wars to the Harlem Renaissance in New York, this book is about well known figures and unsung heroes. Read about key cultural moments and forgotten stories, from ancient times to the modern day.

With a piece of history for every day of the year, this is the perfect book to dip into time and time again. Full of quotes, poems, illustrations and pictures, Black History for Every Day of the Year is for all ages, revealing a rich history that is relevant to us all.

What will you discover today?

How I Live Now meets Exodus – a startling YA dystopia that imagines London as the epicentre of the refugee crisis, from critically acclaimed author Clare Furniss.   In the near future, in a world that could be, but is not quite, ours, sixteen-year-old Clem is happy. Celebrating her birthday surrounded by friends, family and a warm summer evening, there’s nothing that could ruin this day. But by morning, everything has changed . . . After years of a growing totalitarian regime, civil unrest in London has reached an all-time high, and it’s no longer safe to stay in the city. Fleeing with nothing but her half-sister Billie, a notebook filled with stories and memories of home, Clem must make the treacherous journey to Edinburgh, first by road and then by boat. What waits for the sisters on the other side – the start of a new life, or a mirror held up to the past? PRAISE FOR CLARE FURNISS: ‘Lingers in the mind long after the final word has been read’ Malorie Blackman, author of Noughts & Crosses    ‘Absolutely gorgeous, heartfelt and incredibly enjoyable’ Robin Stevens, author of the Murder Most Unladylike series  ‘Funny, sharply observed, shocking and wonderful’ Sunday Times  ‘A beautifully executed story . . . gloriously funny, deeply emotional and a triumph’ Daily Mail   ‘Beautifully written’ Stylist

Citronella is a little girl who cannot hear, and for whom no-one can find a cure. Her family decides to send her to Grandpa Tambala, who takes her far, far away to a place where you don't only hear with your ears.

Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it's not such a big worry, and that's all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad. How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again?

A perceptive and poignant story that is a must-have for all children's bookshelves.

This beautifully illustrated book seeks to tell children the true, diverse and decolonised story of art around the world. Even before they could write, people were telling stories with pictures. And though art is universal, the story we know about it is not.   A Whole World of Art opens your eyes to a global view of art by taking you on a whirlwind tour around the world and through time. With two companions – a boy and a girl – travel through 25 destinations from the history of art, circling the globe.   As they travel, they explore the rich visual canon from each culture they visit through looking at different key works and examine the lives of the artists who created them. Each spread shows a stunning, edge-to-edge illustrated scene from art history portraying an artist or artists making important artwork within a detailed background. A paragraph of introductory text and small captions around the page give fascinating details about the artists and the time and place in which they lived. Art project ideas provide inspiration throughout. Visit: Athens, Greece (450 BCE), where you will marvel at the gleaming gold statues and marble architecture;  The Ming Dynasty, China (1368–1644), where you will discover intricate designs, drawings and calligraphy on paper and porcelain;  Benin City, Africa (1550), where you will meet the brass-casters who create elaborately detailed plaques and ornaments only for the Oba (or king);  Coyoacan, Mexico (1907–1954), where you will get to know the painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera;  Written by art history teacher Dr Sarah Phillips, who rewrote and decolonised the A Level syllabus in the UK, and illustrated by talented artist Dion Mehaga Bangun Djayasaputra, this gorgeous book offers a fresh, inclusive view of the history of art.

Meet Sunshine Simpson - a brand-new best friend for 9+ readers! Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson. Sunshine Simpson's larger-than-life Grandad is always telling her to get out and find her own adventures, but unfortunately BAD LUCK has a habit of coming her way. Her new friend Evie is fast becoming a FRENEMY, her home haircut is a DISASTER, and the school showcase is so STRESSFUL! Everything seems to be going wrong! Especially with Grandad getting older every week. Sunshine needs to find her voice, but can she break through the clouds to stand tall, stand proud, and show the world she can shine? PRAISE FOR MY NAME IS SUNSHINE SIMPSON "An utterly briliant book that had me laughing and crying in equal measure. G.M. Linton has created a truly radiant heroine. It is officially a new favourite." Tolá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun "A book as warm and radiant as sunshine itself! I loved it." Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy "A beautiful, heartwarming hug of a book about the power of self-acceptance. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Sunshine!" Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear "I loved this book, Sunshine entirely lives up to her name in this delightful story that manages to be both sincerely heartfelt and sparklingly funny in equal measure." L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency "A huge, uplifting hug with a message that says: be yourself; be proud of who you are." Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G "The story is filled with heart, humour, joy and sadness. I couldn't stop reading." Serena Patel, author of the Anisha, Accidental Detective series "Sunshine lives up to her name - she's charming and hilarious" Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocketful of Stars "This book made me LAUGH and how it made me CRY" Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How to Change the World

Welcome to the Puppy Place This Little Apple series stars a lovable new puppy in every book. And it's Charles and Lizzie Peterson's job to find every puppy the perfect home.
Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They have a puppy of their own named Buddy, but they also foster dogs that need help finding new homes.
Charles and Lizzie are visiting their cousins in the country when a young border collie is abandoned at their feet. Flash loves to run and chase, so Charles and Lizzie know not just any home will work for this puppy. Can they find a forever home that's just right for Flash?

A magical new series from best-selling author and illustrator, Laura Ellen Anderson!

Ten-year-old Ray Grey lives in the magical Weatherlands, high in the sky. Ray is surrounded by Weatherlings with astounding weather power at their fingertips . . . but she doesn't have ANY magic!

Then, after a trip to Earth, Ray's life changes forever. She is transformed from Ray Grey into RAINBOW GREY! With the help of her best friends (and exploding cloud cat, Nim) now all Ray has to do is master her powers AND save the world from a mysterious, powerful enemy . . .

Empower children to stand up for what is right with this picture book inspired by the real-life events around the statue of a slave trader, its toppling and heroic replacement.   They call him ‘HERO’, but he’s no HERO – not to me.   A Hero Like Me is inspired by the events of 7 June 2020, when a statue of seventeenth-century slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into Bristol Harbour during an anti-racism protest. Co-author Jen Reid was one of the protesters that day, and despite being afraid of heights, she spontaneously climbed onto the empty plinth and raised her fist high above her head – a moment that was captured on camera and shared around the world.   On the morning of 15 July, a statue of Jen by Marc Quinn was added to the empty plinth. It was called A Surge of Power and it gained national attention for the 24 hours it was in place, and beyond.    This inspiring picture book tells the story of these events through the eyes of a little girl who, every day, on her way to school, sees a towering statue. A statue of a man who sold freedom for cotton and tea. The world around her says this man is a hero. But she knows he’s not a hero – not a real one.   Heroes are hard to find. She looks for them around corners, under rocks, and on TV, but there are none that she can see. And so, the little girl marches and shouts for them instead. And that statue – he doesn’t belong. He doesn’t stand for Kindness. He doesn’t stand for Peace.   Maybe he shouldn’t stand at all.   A Hero Like Me empowers children to have courage to stand up for what is right and be their own hero. It shows every child that they have a voice in their community and a say in who is on their streets. That they too have power, just like Jen.

From the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Olive Morris, the social justice activist and campaigner.   Olive was a child when she moved from the countryside in Jamaica to the busy streets of London in Britain. She soon realised just how tough and hard life was growing up in Britain during the 1970s.   Her life changed forever when she witnessed police brutality towards a Black man and was arrested when she came to his aid. Olive became a leader within the Black British community, fighting against any kind of abuse and speaking up about racism. She never let the injustices she faced as a Black woman during that time stop her. Olive was involved in the first Black bookshops in Britain and spent much of her life fighting for the rights of those in her community. Olive’s fearless determination inspired the building blocks for change within the Black British community.     This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the iconic social justice activist’s life. ​Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!  

I am a CURIOUS brown boy.
I explore the world around me ...
I am an ACCEPTING brown boy.
I respect people who are different from me.

Remarkable me is an empowering book of positive affirmations for brown boys. This book teaches boys to embrace and celebrate their unique talents and interests, while encouraging them to dream big and to be creative.

Build confidence and resilience from a young age with easy-to-follow rhyming text and bright inclusive illustrations that reflect proudly South African children.

Also available in Sesotho, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Afrikaans

With all of my heart, I believe it is true that there is a heaven for animals, too. The heaven of animals is a magical place. Angels know every dog's favorite game; cats bask in their own rays of sunshine; horses thunder across the sky. The loss of a pet is heartbreaking. But in The Heaven of Animals, the love you have for your animal friends lives on. National-bestselling author Nancy Tillman's offers a message of comfort in this board book, which is sure to help readers of all ages through the process of grieving and healing.

The enchanting second novel from the author of The Last Bear: the bestselling debut hardback of 2021 and The Times Children’s Book of the Week, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award ‘An irresistible ocean-loving yarn’ The Times Winner of the Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year 2023 THEIR BOND COULD SET THEM FREE . . . Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea. Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help. Can Rio draw on their special connection to somehow find and save his whale . . . ? Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold

A commercial coming-of-age story for tweens exploring identity, family and self-acceptance, from award-winning author Sarah Hagger-Holt. Thirteen-year-old Aidan can't breathe in his crowded family home. Running is his only respite from four loud sisters and involved, touchy-feely parents. Then his mum makes an announcement: she's having another baby. Only, this time it's not for her; she will be a surrogate for gay couple Justin and Atif. Aidan is incensed. As if his family wasn't embarrassing - or big - enough already. But he's also scared. Aidan thinks he might be gay, and he's really struggling to accept this possibility. What if being around Justin and Atif means that he has to come out before he's ready? If only he were just like everyone else. Praise for Sarah Hagger-Holt: Winner of the Little Rebels Award Twice-nominated for the Carnegie Medal "Gentle and compassionate" The Times Literary Supplement "A fantastic book - I absolutely loved it!" L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency "Warm, funny and believable" The Guardian