Macmillan Children's Books

Owl has always felt a little different to her friends – and not just because of her name. Her white blonde hair and pale skin set her apart, as does the mystery of her father, the man she has never met and whom her mother almost never talks about. Then the magic starts – strange frosty patterns on Owl’s skin, distant, dreamlike voices that only she can hear. Owl is convinced that her father holds the answers she needs, and she sets out to find him – even if that means a journey into another world.

In Coming to England Floella Benjamin recounts the emigration of her family from the idyllic island of Trinidad to England. The book chronicles her life in Trinidad where she was born and lived until the age of 11. Benjamin gives a utopian glimpse into the beautiful family house, the wonderfully fragrant markets, the school and churches which were her world in Trinidad. A place where the sun was always shining and where the rain was welcomed. Life in Trinidad is portrayed as being just so beautiful it begs the question as to why anyone would want to leave this paradise.

Another adventure from Rover and the Gigglers, this fast-paced story is guaranteed to provide the reader with numerous chuckles. The Big Fat Baby has gone missing, so Rover and his side-kick Messi, have to find her. In the meantime, Rover’s business, providing the Gigglers with poo, has a big order on and that has to be dealt with too.

Mr Scarrow knows how to ensure a few sleepless nights. This book is not for scaredy-cats like me, but I loved it. The whole idea of an extermination is nothing new in literature but this one is a bit special: a virus is killing all living things with the exception of plants. There is cross species contamination. No-one understands the life-cycle, the origin or who is immune, this caused my sleepless nights. Is this possible?