Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels

The Guardian

25-07-2025

Put Your Shoes On by Polly Dunbar, Walker, £12.99Late for a party, Mummy really wants Josh to put his shoes on – but he's too lost in his imagination to hear until she shouts. Featuring a child's inner world vividly evoked by Dunbar's own sons' drawings, this tender, relatable picture book encourages patience and communication.
The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!) by Katie Clapham, illustrated by Nadia Shireen, Walker, £12.99This irrepressibly bouncy tour of all the school essentials (including toilets, emergency meeting tree and library with possibly more than a million books) humorously distils the scariness of starting school and the thrill of making a new friend.
The Summer Puppy by Jackie Morris, illustrated by Cathy Fisher, Otter-Barry, £14.99A beautiful, dreamy picture-book account of a collie puppy's first summer, exploring garden, fields and beach and bonding ever more closely with the child she loves.
Farah's Nose by Humera Malik, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, Hachette, £7.99Farah hates her 'strong' nose, until she visits a photography exhibition about South Asian heritage – and finds it filled with brilliant immigrant women. A rich, colourful, celebratory picture book for readers of 5+.
Captain Danger and the Stupid Shadow by Victor Engbers, translated by David Colmer, Pushkin, £12.99One day, Captain Danger's stupid shadow flies off to Cut-it-Out Island, leaving the brave captain and Django the dog to give chase. A fantastically silly and child-pleasing 6+ adventure, with a flavour of Dav Pilkey.
The Poetry World of John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier, Otter-Barry, £12.99Acclaimed poet John Agard selects 80 of his liveliest, funniest and most engaging poems in this enticing illustrated collection for 6+, including No Hickory, No Dickory, No Dock, and Mouth Open, Story Jump Out.
The Wood Where Magic Grows by Andy Shepherd, illustrated by Ellie Snowden, Piccadilly, £7.99When Iggy and his new brother Cal move near Wildtop Wood, they hear dark stories of its danger and menace. But they soon find the wood is full of magic – a magic that needs their help … This captivating 7+ story feels like a Faraway Tree for the 21st century.
Cruise Ship Kid – Thief at Sea by Emma Swan, illustrated by Katie Saunders, Usborne, £7.99Ten-year-old Silver lives on a cruise ship, and has never had a best friend who wasn't retired. This summer, she's determined to change that. But when two mega-expensive watches go missing, she may have to turn detective too, in this riotous diary-format mystery for 8+, full of jokes, quizzes and geographical trivia.
When the Storm Comes by Polly Ho-Yen, Knights Of, £7.99When a terrible storm traps misfits Mali, Fara, Jonesey and Petey in the school library with their teacher Ms Devine, it's hard for them to find common ground – but as the water rises and the danger increases, they must work together to survive. An assured, gripping thriller for 9+, laced with themes of loneliness, friendship and climate activism.
My Soul, a Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin, Farshore, £7.99Based on the true story of Khudadad Khan, this first world war novel for 9+ is told from four perspectives: Belgian farmgirl Lotte, teen German infantry soldier Ernst, gunner Khan, who's fighting for the British Army, and the walnut tree that watches over all three. A superbly poignant and evocative historical novel from a much-loved author.
Runaways by EL Norry, Bloomsbury, £7.99In the summer holidays, Jamie and July meet for the first time at Waterloo station – two very different 11-year-olds, whose home lives are both unbearable. But running away together is a dangerous business. Will they ever find safety, calm and love? This fast-paced story of friendship and shared adventure is an unmissable 10+ read.
Kickflip by LD Lapinski, illustrated by Logan Hanning, Orion, £12.99Elliot isn't like the other girls in the school netball team, but being welcomed as a boy by the skatepark crew doesn't feel right either. At a sports expo featuring netball and skating, Elliot has the chance to tell their friends about their newly realised non-binary identity – but can they be brave enough to open up? A thoughtful, compassionate 12+ graphic novel about self-discovery, courage and acceptance.
Skipshock by Caroline O'Donoghue, Walker, £16.99When her train crosses into a new dimension, Margo finds herself in New Davia, where the day last just six hours and people's lives pass with frightening speed, controlled by those with the power to move between time zones. Teaming up with travelling salesman Moon, Margo fights to find her way home – but she's increasingly tempted to stay with Moon, even as her youth starts to slip away. An original, genre-blending YA novel, full of intricate world building and intoxicating romance.
Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel, Guppy, £14.99Xavier didn't want to go to the cabin with his dad and pregnant stepmum. When the family wake from an artificial sleep to find themselves trapped in a dome, cut off completely from the world they knew, he gradually adapts to his new, much smaller life. But three years later, another family appears, and tensions rise as all of them grapple with the same question: is there any possibility of escape? Hugely thought-provoking, frequently frustrating, this speculative YA novel will stay in the mind long after it's finished.
Rebel Hearts by Tanya Byrne, Hodder, £9.99Ren Barbosa and Pearl Newman both care deeply about the environment – and despise each other's brand of activism. When both girls find themselves in an idyllic rural commune for the summer, though, their mutual antagonism slowly melts in this passionate, addictive 14+love story about fighting for the future while living meaningfully in the present.