Top 10 Children’s fiction April 2016

If you know what it’s like to pick other people’s noses or survive tinned tongue at the dinner table it’s highly likely you’ve read one the David Walliam‘s books in April’s Top 10.

Grandpa’s great escape proves you’re never too old to adventure, take a look at the author reading the book right here.  And when it comes to the trials of Zoe and the safety of her pet Armitage… prepare to be slightly (or maybe a bit more) disgusted by the characters in Ratburger.

Have you ever had to rescue one of your pets from dire circumstances? Let us know your adventures in the comments.

 

Here’s your top 10:

1. Diary of a wimpy kid, by Jeff Kinney

2. Tom Gates. by Liz Pichon

3. Storey-treehouse series, by Andy Griffiths

4. Dirty Bertie series, by Alan MacDonald

5. Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford

6. Big Nate series, by Lincoln Peirce

7. Grandpa’s great escape, by David Walliams

8. Captain Underpants and the sensational saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot, by Dav Pilkey

9. Puppy love, by Rachel Renee Russell

10. Ratburger, by David Walliams

Top 10 Childrens comics March 2016

=^^= The feline world meets the animated in this month’s leader board, featuring Garfield and Chi’s Sweet Home. Garfield is famous for translating our needs for sleep-ins and delicious food, thanks to the talents of Jim Davis.  Davis grew up on a farm in Indiana, USA with 25 cats!. New Writers and other illustrators now help to keep the whole shebang rolling on.  Did you know that Garfield has a world record for being the most syndicated cartoon ever?!

1. Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz
2. Big Nate, by Lincoln Peirce
3. Pokémon, by Hidenori Kusaka
4. Garfield, by Jim Davis and Mark Evanier
5. Asterix, by Goscinny and Udzero
6. Adventure time, by Ryan North
7. Amulet, by Kazu Kibuishi
8. Chi’s sweet home, by Kanata Konmai
9. My little pony, by Ted Anderson
10. Uncle $crooge and Donald Duck, by Don Rosa

New fiction for children – Get your hands on them now!

More new books! It’s like they are just flying in the doors simply so they can fly back out again in your hands. You know what to do… find them in your local library or seek them out on our catalogue.

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsPAX by Sara Pennypacker “After being forced to give up his pet fox Pax, a young boy named Peter decides to leave home and get his best friend back”– Provided by publisher.

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsWaiting for Callback by Perdita and Honor Cargill Geek Girl meets Fame meets New Girl in this brilliantly funny new series! When Elektra is discovered by an acting agent, she imagines Oscar glory can’t be far away, but instead lurches from one cringe-worthy moment to the next! Just how many times can you be rejected for the part of ‘Dead Girl Number Three’ without losing hope? And who knew that actors were actually supposed to be multi-lingual, play seven instruments and be trained in a variety of circus skills? Off-stage things aren’t going well either – she’s fallen out with her best friend, remains firmly in the friend-zone with her crush and her parents are driving her crazy. One way or another, Elektra’s life is now spent waiting for the phone to ring – waiting for callback. Can an average girl-next-door like Elektra really make it in the world of luvvies and starlets?

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe nine lives of Montezuma by Michael Morpurgo This is the story of the nine lives of a very special cat, from impetuous young kitten to the king of the farmyard. Wherever Montezuma goes, adventure and excitement are sure to follow.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsElectrigirl by Jo Cotterill Holly Sparkes was just your average 12-year-old, that was, until she’s hit by a bolt of lightning. Now Holly is EXTRAordinary. Like a human battery Holly can generate a massive amount of electricity in seconds, which could come in handy if she’s ever going to solve the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance. Because when you’re dealing with the likes of Professor McAvity and her mysterious CyberSky corporation, you need all the help you can get!

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsJust my Luck by Cammie McGovern Since entering fourth grade, Benny Barrows worries that he will never be good at anything, that he is responsible for an accident that sent his father to the hospital, and that his attempts at winning a school contest will never be noticed.

Top 10 children’s fiction February 2016

Diary of a Wimpy kid is still numero uno! Is it the allure of cartoon/comic content? Check out Jeff Kinney drawing his characters here!

The popular Liz Pichon with Tom Gates and Rachel Renée Russel with Nikki Maxwell (dork diaries) have great drawings as part of their stories too

1. Diary of a wimpy kid series, by Jeff Kinney

2. Tom Gates series, by Liz Pichon

3. Treehouse series, By Andy Griffiths

4. Harry Potter series, by J.K.Rowling

5. Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford

6. Dirty Bertie, by Alan MacDonald

7. Dork Diaries, by Rachel Renee Russel

8. Ruby Redfort series by Lauren Child

9. Big Nate series, by Lincoln Peirce

10. Awful Auntie by David Walliams

Drawings as part of the story are a great way to connect with characters and situations in a book. Has anyone checked out The Marvels? This beautiful book (the cover is smothered in gold leaf) tells the grand tale of shipwreck and adventure. Told in pictures, the first part of the book has expressive drawings that lead you through the story.  The written half pieces together the mysterious and wonderful story of the performing Marvel family.

Top 10 Children’s e-Books February 2016

Overdrive has some pretty popular children’s titles right now.  It’s not in the Top 10, but Frank Cottrell-Boyce, of Millions fame has The Unforgotten Coat newly added to the overdrive selections, along with Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The 39 Clues series.  Found a favourite of your’s as an eBook? let us know in the comments.

 

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, By J.K. Rowling

2. The Son of Neptune: The Heroes of Olympus Series, Book 2, by Rick Riordan

3. The Crown of Ptolemy: Percy Jackson & The Kane Chronicles Crossover Series, Book 3, by Rick Riordan

4. The Lost Hero: The Heroes of Olympus Series, Book 1, by Rick Riordan

5. The Mark of Athena: The Heroes of Olympus Series, Book 3, by Rick Riordan

6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, By J.K. Rowling

7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, By J.K. Rowling

8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, By J.K. Rowling

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, By J.K. Rowling

10. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, By J.K. Rowling

Top 10 Children’s fiction for January 2016

Summer holiday reading has paid off for Liz Pichon who has the potential to knock Diary of a Wimpy Kid out of the top spot with her amazing Tom Gates book series!

Wondering how authors become people who create stories? Lauren Child has a great website with some encouraging notes for those budding authors out there.  Ruby Redfort fans can pit their wits against code cracker for high security info or take the Spectrum test.  And… paper backs, check out the process for the cover shoots for Look into my eyes, Catch your death, Take your last breath and Feel the fear.

Ever redesigned the book cover for your favourite read? Let us know in the comments.

 

1. Diary of a wimpy kid, by Jeff Kinney

2. Tom Gates, by Liz Pichon

3. Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths

4. Dirty Bertie, by Alan MacDonald

5. Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford

6. Big Nate, by Lincoln Peirce

7. Ruby Redfort, by Lauren Child

8. Captain Underpants and the sensational saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot, by Dav Pilkey

9. Demon dentist, by David Walliams

10. Magnus Chase and the sword of summer by Rick Riordan

Great new kids fiction for the new school year!

Image courtesy of SyndeticsCrowns and Codebreakers by Elen Caldecott (The Marsh Road Mysteries #2)

Minnie’s Gran picks up the wrong suitcase at the airport. Then Minnie’s house is burgled and the only thing taken is the suitcase. The suitcase was full of boy’s clothes. Who was the boy? What has happened to him? Minnie knows there is a mystery to be solved here and reassembles her gang to solve it.

 

Stop Those Monsters! by Steve ColeImage courtesy of Syndetics

The Wizard of Oz meets Monsters Inc in this MONSTROUSLY funny stand-alone story from bestselling author phenomenon, Steve Cole. I’m Bob, a human boy stuck in a land of MONSTERS. I’m trying to get out with the help of three – count them, three – incredible creatures. There’s Verity, who looks like a giant hamster. Alfie, who’s about as scary as a bag of crisps. And Zola, a gorgon who can’t turn people to stone (though she can manage cardboard at a push). We’re on a crazy, death-defying quest to escape with our lives. And all around us, the cry goes up: STOP THOSE MONSTERS!!!

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsA Horse Called Dora ; Knight in Training #2 (by Vivian French and David Melling

Sam J. Butterbiggins’ only ambition is to be a Very Noble Knight, but he has a problem he’s been packed off to the castle next door to stay with his aunt, uncle and annoying cousin Prune while his parents are away. But Sam’s discovered an ancient scroll listing the six quests to be completed in order to become a knight, and he’s already completed the first one! Now he’s found his True Companion (Prune), next on the list is to track down a Snow White Steed. But when Aunt Egg orders Sam and Prune to journey to Weasel’s Hill to deliver Horace the warthog back to his owner, it looks like the young knight-in-training looks will have to put his quest on hold. Or will he?

 

Under Suspicion by R.A. SprattImage courtesy of Syndetics

Since Friday Barnes was arrested after cracking the case of Highcrest academy’s swamp-yeti, she is not so sure boarding school was the smartest choice! And there’s a new boy at school who’s take a shine to her to deal with. Can Friday navigate the school grounds and decipher a decades-old mystery without getting caught in an unexpected love triangle?

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsNancy Drew; The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene

‘Nancy Drew arrives in Phoenix, Arizona, eagerly looking forward to a fun-filled vacation at Shadow Ranch, but abruptly finds herself involved in a baffling mystery.  The ranch is being haunted by a phantom horse and maliciously damaged by an unknown enemy.  Local people believe that the ghostly animal is carrying out the curse of Dirk Valentine, the romantic outlaw who was killed many years ago at Shadow Ranch, where he had gone to fulfill a promise to his sweetheart’…. –taken from inside book cover.

 

 

Top 10 Children’s fiction November 2015

Andy Griffith’s Tree House has reached 65 stories!  So popular! I really recommend reserving this latest edition to get your copy to your favourite branch.  There is a room full of exploding eyeballs, a lollipop shop, a quicksand pit, an ant farm, a time machine… just a few sources of adventure for our intrepid Tree House readers.  

Diary of a Wimpy kid is in at number one.  And the newest title Big Nate blasts off will be in the library soon after the release date: 16 February 2016. Check out the author Lincoln Perice’s post dated 12/15/2015 for more information.  Its’ written in the American format where they order the date by month/day/year. So pop your reserve in and get the jump on your mates

1. Diary of a wimpy kid series by Jeff Kinney
2. Tom Gates series by Liz Pichon
3. Storey treehouse series by Andy Griffiths
4. Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford
5. Dirty Bertie series by Alan MacDonald
6. Gangsta granny by David Walliams
7. Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
8. Ruby Redfort series by Lauren Child
9. Percy Jackson and the Greek heroes by Rick Riordan
10. Ratburger by David Walliams

 

    

4 more awesome new kids fiction

Freddy Tangles, Legend or Loser Image courtesy of Syndeticsby Tom Jellett

‘Noone is scarier than the bully Sid Malone, and now he’s coming to get Freddy.  Luckily Freddy’s got a plan.  LASER BEAM EYES!  If he stares at a white wall for long enough and wants it bad enough, his eyes will start to shoot laser beams…. On second thoughts, he might need a backup plan! – taken from book cover.

 

The Haunted Book Image courtesy of Syndetics (Scream #3) by Jack Heath

Dale lives in Axe Falls – a town of mysterious disappearances, terrifying visions and unusual events.

A family trip turns spooky when Dale finds an old, handwritten book, starting with the words: DO NOT STOP READING; MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.  Soon, strange things begin to happen.  When a ghost appears in the lake and a cursed giant stalks him through the woods, Dale starts to wonder…. –taken from book cover.

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsWitchMyth by Emma Fische

Flo loves her book of Witch myths.  Her favourite story is about the haggfiend, with her dark enchantments, missing witchgirls and evil cackle… But the Flo becomes sure the Haggfiend is real, and that she’s back in Haggspit. What can Flo do?  No one believes her, and no one will help.  This time she’s on her own…-taken from book cover.

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsSecret of the Forbidden City by James Patterson

‘Bick and Beck Kidd are desperately trying to track down the ancient Chinese artefact that will buy their mother’s freedom from vicious pirates.  But when the kidnappers force them to find an even greater treasure – priceless paintings stolen by Nazis – the Kidds must rely on their own cunning to outwit the criminals, all while their mom’s life is on the line.’ – taken from book cover.

 

 

 

 

 

4 great new books for kids

Clare and her Captain by Michael Morpurgo

On holiday in the Devon countryside, Clare is bored by her parents’ squabbling and longs for an adventure of her own. Her summer is transformed by a new friendship with retired horse Captain and his reclusive owner. This is a must-have for every fan of Morpurgo’s classic storytelling and Rayner’s highly sought-after artwork, and a gift to treasure for young and old.

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsMemoirs of a Neurotic Zombie by Jeff Norton

“My name is Adam Meltzer and the last thing I remember was being stung by a bee while swinging at a robot-shaped pinata on my twelfth birthday. I was dead before the candy hit the ground”. ‘Memoirs of a neurotic zombie’ is narrated by the hilarious Adam Meltzer – pre-teen, worrywart, and now zombie. Adam’s family gets the fright of their lives when he turns up at their door … three months after his funeral. Soon Adam’s back at school trying to fit in and not draw extra attention to himself, but when he sees his neighbour Ernesto transform into a chupacubra, and the beautiful Corina (Adam’s number one mega-crush) turns out to be a (vegan) vampire, undead life is never going to be the same again. This is a hilarious adventure caper all about friendship and being yourself … even if you’re undead.”

 

The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon

An eccentric like all Helmsleys, eleven-year-old Archer escapes his overprotective mother and recruits two friends, Oliver and Adelaide, to help him plan a rescue of his long-lost grandparents, world-famous explorers who disappeared atop an iceberg in the Antarctic.

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsUpside Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski

With their magic being unpredictable, Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax are sent to the upside-down magic room at Dunwiddle Magic School.