Nosy Crow's Blog, page 45

Nosy Crow snaps up TWO compassionate middle-grade novels from author Hayley Webster

Nosy Crow is delighted to announce the acquisition of two standalone middle-grade novels from author Hayley Webster. The first of these, Luna Rae Is Not Alone, will be published in July 2021, with the second to follow in July 2022. Tom Bonnick, Senior Commissioning Editor at Nosy Crow, acquired world rights in all languages from Jo Unwin at the Jo Unwin Literary Agency.

Warm, engaging and relatable, Luna Rae Is Not Alone is a book about families and friendship. It’s about how children notice far more than adults give them credit for, even if they don’t always reach the right conclusions. It’s about the shame of parental neglect, and how hard it is for children to ask for help. And it’s about how children create worlds for themselves, whilst trying to protect themselves and the adults around them.

Luna has moved to a new house and a new school. It’s hard fitting in – especially when there’s so much to worry about at home. Most importantly: where is her mum, and what has her dad been hiding from her?

Hayley Webster comments: “I’m absolutely delighted that Nosy Crow will be publishing Luna Rae Is Not Alone. Luna is a character close to my heart and I’ve wanted to put her in ­­a story for a long time. Nosy Crow are known for publishing exciting and meaningful children’s fiction, so I’m honoured to be part of their publishing story, and to work with Tom Bonnick as an editor to bring Luna’s story to life!”

Tom Bonnick, Senior Commissioning Editor at Nosy Crow, comments: “I first came across Hayley’s beautiful writing on Twitter, and straight away I knew that I wanted to read more from her. She is a born storyteller, with the most incredibly distinctive and nuanced voice, filled with empathy, insight, and wry humour, and I am delighted to be publishing her first middle-grade novels.”

Jo Unwin, children’s literary agent, comments: “Nosy Crow felt perfect for Hayley – a child- and parent-focused publisher that recognises that not all the families are the same.”

Hayley Webster is a primary school teacher. She has previously written the Teacup House series for emerging readers (Usborne) under the name Hayley Scott, as well as an adult novel, One Christmas Night (Trapeze). Luna Rae Is Not Alone is her first middle-grade book.

Five of the best books about birds for children

Bird spotting is a great outdoor (or indoor) activity the whole family can enjoy, whether it’s watching a robin in the garden or a cuckoo in the woods! We’ve put together a list of five brilliant books for young bird spotters, from fact-filled sticker books for little ones to a beginner’s bird spotting kit…

Listen to the Birds, illustrated by Marion Billet

The very youngest bird spotters will adore this charming board book combining real-life sounds with colourful artwork. From the song of a nightingale to the chirp of a blackbird, little fingers will love pressing the sound button on each spread to listen to the noisy birds! Which bird will be their favourite?

Recommended reading age: 9 months+

Buy the book.

National Trust: Robins, Wrens and other British Birds, illustrated by Nikki Dyson

Little bird-lovers can stick ducks in the pond, fill the sky with swallows, add nests to the treetops and much more in this beautiful sticker book, full of brilliant facts about birds and their homes. With over 120 nature stickers, as well as 11 stunning illustrated scenes by Nikki Dyson, this is an ideal book for nature fans.

Recommended reading age: 3+

Buy the book.

Press Out and Colour: Birds, illustrated by Zoe Ingram

Let your imagination take flight and create your own beautiful 3D decorations with this brilliant collection of beautiful birds. From a chirpy robin to a proud peacock, this book contains 10 designs decorated with foil that can easily be pressed out, coloured in and slotted together to create unique hanging ornaments. Now you won’t need to go far at all to spot some wildlife!

Recommended reading age: 4+

Buy the book.

National Trust: The Colouring Book of Cards and Envelopes – Nature, illustrated by Rebecca Jones



Send your family and friends beautiful cards with this innovative colouring book, full of stationery to tear out and colour, including cards and envelopes to customise and a page of charming stickers. With twenty-four designs inspired by nature, featuring birds alongside other woodland animals, flowers and butterflies, this is a perfect book for nature lovers of all ages to enjoy.

Recommended reading age: 4+

Buy the book.

National Trust: Complete Bird Spotter’s Kit, illustrated by Mike Langham

This complete kit is the perfect introduction to birdwatching for children aged 8+. Including a guide, packed full of top tips as well as fact files for over 100 birds, binoculars and a handy notebook, young bird spotters will be able to recognise all sorts of birds in the wild, from magpies to starlings.

Recommended reading age: 8+

Buy the book.

We hope you have fun with these nature and activity books!

Little Angel Theatre and Toby Olié create a puppet performance of Ross Collins’ picture book, What Does An Anteater Eat?

Today we’re very excited to be sharing Toby Olié’s performance of Ross Collins‘ picture book, What Does An Anteater Eat? The performance was created and performed entirely from Toby’s home during the lockdown and is streamed by the Little Angel Theatre. You can watch the performance at the top of this post!

Toby Olié is a director, designer and puppeteer who has previously worked on War Horse at the National Theatre and co-directed an adaptation of Ross Collins’ The Elephantom. He is also the co-artistic director of Gyre & Gymble, a theatre company specialising in puppetry performance.

Toby said: “I have been a fan of Ross Collins’s work since first discovering The Elephantom in my local bookshop in 2006. His illustrations contain such a mixture of imagination, warmth and wit that they immediately lend themselves to becoming moving, talking characters – and as someone who grew up making model theatres out of cardboard boxes for their toys, I’m looking forward to creating a whole theatre in which I can bring this story to life.

I’m extremely grateful to Ross and Nosy Crow the publisher for giving me permission to adapt the book during these extended hours indoors, and to Little Angel Theatre for helping me to share it with families in their homes.”

You can take a look inside What Does An Anteater Eat, by Ross Collins, below:

Buy the book.

Read the full press release on the Little Angel Theatre website, here.

Anna at War has won the 2020 Bibliobuzz Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award

We’re delighted to announce that Anna at War, by Helen Peters has won the Bibliobuzz Alexandra Palace Children’s Book School’s Awards! The winners were announced by Waterstones Children’s Laureate and Bibliobuzz Ambassador, Cressida Cowell. You can watch the full announcement, here.

Bibliobuzz is a partnership between Alexandra Palace, Haringey Libraries and Haringey Schools Librarians Group. The literature programme encourages young people aged 9-12 years old to immersive themselves in the world of books by reading six selected books, before being asked to vote for their favourite. Due to the current circumstances, this year’s programme took place online, with seven authors giving selected readings and offering creative challenges.

Anna at War is a brilliant and moving wartime adventure about a young refugee, Anna, who must leave Germany for England.

As life for German Jews becomes increasingly perilous, Anna’s parents put her on a train leaving for England. But the war follows her to Kent, and soon Anna finds herself caught up in a web of betrayal and secrecy. How can she prove whose side she’s on when she can’t tell anyone the truth? But actions speak louder than words, and Anna has a dangerous plan…

Read the first few chapters below:

Buy the book.

Congratulations, Helen!

Five of the best funny picture books for toddlers!

Reading with your little ones is always a fun experience, and it’s even better when the book has everyone in fits of giggles! From mischievous characters to comical read-aloud rhymes, we’ve put together a list of five hilarious picture books that are perfect for reading together again and again!

There’s a Bear on My Chair, by Ross Collins

Poor Mouse! A bear has settled in his favourite chair, and that chair just isn’t big enough for two. From giving Bear ‘a nasty glare’ to offering him a free pear, Mouse tries everything to move Bear along, but will anything work? Packed full of silly, laugh-out-loud illustrations and told in a delightful rhyming text, this hilarious tale about one angry mouse and one very smug polar bear is sure to be a firm favourite.

Buy the book from Waterstones here.

The Pirates Are Coming!, written by John Condon and illustrated by Matt Hunt

Tom has a VERY important job: to keep an eye out for pirate ships. But when he cries ‘PIRATE!’ a few too many times and the villagers get tired of hiding – what will happen when the pirates really do show up? Full of vibrant illustrations with plenty to giggle at, a repetitive refrain for children to join in with and a jaw-dropping twist, this is the perfect book to share with pirate lovers!

Buy the book from Waterstones here.

Bad Cat!, by Nicola O’Byrne

Fluffykins is a lovely cat. He wouldn’t do anything naughty . . . would he? Apart from knocking over the flowers, tangling up all the knitting, AND scratching the sofa. . . Whatever will he do next? This hilarious tale from Nicola O’Byrne will be adored by cat lovers and loved by children as they join in to tell off a VERY naughty ‘Fluffykins’!

Buy the book from Waterstones here.

The Princess and the Peas, written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by Sarah Warburton

Lily-Rose May will NOT eat her greens and when her dad calls the doctor, she’s diagnosed with Princess-itis! But will a life of royal luxury be the perfect cure? With witty rhyming text from Caryl Hart and illustrations full of mischievous details from Sarah Warburton, this brilliantly funny twist on a popular fairy tale will delight all little princesses and princes.

Buy the book from Waterstones here.

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, written by Tracey Corderoy and illustrated by Steven Lenton

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam are the perfect doggy duo. They don’t just make amazing cakes, they solve wacky mysteries too, from hunting down lost masterpieces to stopping famous burglars! Combining humorous read-aloud rhyme from Tracey Corderoy and artwork full of comic detail from Steven Lenton, this picture book series is baked to perfection!

Buy the book from Waterstones here.

We hope this list has given you some fun books to read! If you’re looking for funny books for older readers, we have lists of funny books for 5 to 8-year-olds here, and 9 to 12-year-olds here.

So you think you know Ancient Egypt? Take the quiz with author Chae Strathie!

Do you know what the Egyptians used to catch criminals? What did Egyptian mothers eat to try to cure their sick children? And what did they eat for breakfast? Find out the answers to all these questions and many more in our fun, interactive video quiz with the award-winning author of So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? series, Chae Strathie!

All you need for the quiz is a pen, paper, and the video below… Are you ready?

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A post shared by Nosy Crow | Children’s Books (@nosycrow) on May 11, 2020 at 1:03am PDT

How did you do? If you enjoyed the quiz, you can learn more about Ancient Egypt in So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in Ancient Egypt, written by Chae Strathie, illustrated by Marisa Morea, and published with The British Museum.

A kid’s life in ancient Egypt might sound like fun with all the cool pyramids and glorious sunny weather, but actually it was rather tough! In this hilarious book, written by award-winning author Chae Strathie, children will learn exactly how difficult life really was, from dodging Deathstalker scorpions and cleaning up cow dung, to fetching water from the well and being slammed in the stocks for being naughty at school! Probably the first book about ancient Egypt that involves bubble wrap and skateboards!

Take a look inside the book:

Buy the book from Waterstones.

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Questions and answers:

1. In Ancient Egypt, the pillows on their beds were made of: (a) wood, (b) straw, (c) sausages.

2. Classes in school were often held: (a) inside pyramids, (b) outside, (c), in a paddling pool.

3. One of the most common forms of transport was: (a) boat, (b) bus, (c) skateboard.

4. As punishment schoolchildren were made to: (a) write lines, (b) sit on the naughty step of a pyramid, (c) kiss a crocodile.

5. Police in Ancient Egypt used what to catch criminals? (a) Camels, (b) monkeys, (c) hamsters.

6. A popular drink for children was: (a) beer, (b) fresh orange juice, (c) hippo bogies.

7. Ancient Egyptians often ate what for breakfast? (a) Pigeons, (b) onions, (c) Rice Crispies.

8. Before a mummy was wrapped in bandages it was filled with: (a) salt, (b) pepper, (c) Jelly Babies.

9. To try to cure sick children, mothers would sometimes eat: (a) cheese and onion crisps, (b) a mouse, (c) a kebab.

10. The Egyptian god of the sky, Horus, had the body of a man and the head of a: (a) falcon, (b) llama, (c) bumblebee.

If you’re looking for more free resources inspired by the So You Think You’ve Got It Bad series, you can find them here. We hope you enjoy the quiz!

Five funny books for 5 to 8 year-olds

What’s the best way to get younger children excited about reading? Make them laugh! We’ve got five fantastically funny books for newly independent readers to dive into – each packed full of the perfect blend of humour, action and brilliant characters!

Baby Aliens Got My Teacher!, written by Pamela Butchart and illustrated by Thomas Flintham

Join Izzy and her friends for a classroom caper that will leave you in stitches! When Miss Jones starts being really nice to them something must be up… the answer surely is simple: Miss Jones has been taken over by aliens! Packed with comic illustrations by Thomas Flintham and with brilliantly funny writing from Pamela Butchart, newly confident readers will love laughing along with ALL the school drama.

Recommended reading age: 7+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

Magnificent Mabel and the Rabbit Riot, written by Ruth Quayle and illustrated by Julia Christians

Meet Mabel – she’s mischievous, unique and, of course, magnificent! Life sometimes isn’t fair for Mabel… she doesn’t have a SINGLE pet, she doesn’t want a visit from the tooth fairy, AND she doesn’t EVEN have a sprinkler in her garden. This collection of three laugh-out-loud escapades starring the one and only Mabel are relatable, hilarious and wonderfully illustrated.

Recommended reading age: 5+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

The Dragon In The Libary, written by Louie Stowell and illustrated by Davide Ortu

Kit can’t stand reading, that is until she discovers an incredible secret… dragons live in libraries, librarians are wizards and, best of all, she’s a wizard too! When an evil property developer has plans to take over their local library, it’s up to Kit and her friends to save the library… and the world! Full of imagination, hilarity and adventure, this is a joyful celebration of the magic of books and reading.

Recommended reading age: 7+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: Up, Up and Away!, written by Tracey Cordery and illustrated by Steven Lenton

Join the much-loved baker boys for three thrilling canine and cake-based adventures guaranteed to make you giggle! From wacky races with the bake-mobile to donning dodgy disguises to catch a thief, Shifty and Sam always getting into hijinks. Tracey Corderoy’s brilliantly funny storytelling and Steven Lenton’s glorious two-colour illustrations make this the perfect reading recipe.

Recommended reading age: 5+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

The Invincibles: The Piglet Pickle, written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by Sarah Warburton

Nell and her best friend Freddie are The Invincibles! They always mean well, but they always spell trouble too… When they smuggle a piglet called Kevin home from a school trip to a farm, they enter a whole world of mayhem. It’s hard keeping a naughty piglet a secret – and soon things spiral completely out of control! Brilliantly brought to life with hilarious two-colour illustrations, this is a rollicking read to return to again and again.

Recommended reading age: 5+ years

Buy the book from Waterstones.

We hope this list has given you some funny books to read! If you’re looking for funny books for older readers, we have a list of funny books for 9 to 12-year-olds, here.

The Suitcase has been shortlisted for Oscar’s Book Prize

The shortlist for this year’s Oscar’s Book Prize has been announced – and we’re delighted that The Suitcase, by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, has been shortlisted!

Now in its sixth year, Oscar’s Book Prize was established by the London Evening Standard in memory of Oscar Ashton, the son of the paper’s executive editor, James Ashton, who died in 2012 at the age of three-and-a-half. Supported by Amazon, the London Evening Standard, and the National Literacy Trust, the £5,000 prize seeks to recognise the best pre-school book of the year, and is intended to reward the brilliant creativity of early-years literature and highlight the importance of reading with children.

And it’s an honour that The Suitcase has been recognised this year!

When a strange-looking animal arrives pulling a big suitcase, the other animals are curious. What on earth could be inside that suitcase? A teacup? Maybe. A table and chair? Perhaps. A whole home and hillside with trees? This stranger must be fibbing! But when the animals break into the suitcase and discover a very special photograph, they begin to understand what the strange creature has been through, and together they create a very special welcome present…

Take a look inside:



Buy the book.

You can watch the trailer below:

And here’s Chris reading the book:

The winners will be announced later this month. You can read more about the award and view the shortlist, here.

Congratulations, Chris!

Five funny books for 9 to 12 year-olds

From a fit of the giggles to all-out belly laughs, a funny book can truly brighten your day. So we’ve pulled together a selection of Nosy Crow books that are sure to make young readers hoot with laughter!

My Brother Is a Superhero, by David Solomons

Life is really unfair for comic-book-mad Luke, who narrowly misses out getting amazing superpowers from a visiting alien and all because he needed a wee! Instead, it’s his undeserving, never-read-a-comic-in-his-life brother, Zack, who gets all the glory. Prepare to blast off into an out-of-this-world action series packed with zany humour, hilarious baddies and a dash of sibling rivalry…

Buy the book from Waterstones.

We Won An Island, by Charlotte Lo

 When Luna and her family win a remote Scottish island they can’t believe their luck! But they all have very different plans for their new home … with some very hilarious results. From sheep pageants to mystery ice-cream vans to secret festivals, this is a brilliantly madcap, feel-good family adventure brimming with sunshine and hope!

Buy the book from Waterstones.

The Bigwoof Conspiracy, by Dashe Roberts

Welcome to Sticky Pines, where things get weird! When UFO-obsessed Lucy Sladan sneaks out into the middle of a thunderstorm to investigate unexplained disappearances in her hometown, she gets more than she bargained for… Holy Flippin’ Crudballs! Could it be that the legend of Bigwoof is true? Fast-paced, hilarious and with a brilliant retro sci-fi feel, readers will be gripped from the start as the mystery unfolds!

Buy the book from Waterstones.

When Good Geeks Go Bad, by Catherine Wilkins  

13-year-old Ella is sick of being thought of as a goody-two-shoes. Being good hasn’t got her anywhere, so why not try being bad for a while? But soon things start to spiral… Written by stand-up comedian Catherine Wilkins, this is a relatable coming-of-age story about friendships, frenemies, clueless parents and doing the right thing. Ella’s brilliant, witty observations about the injustices of teen life are a real highlight – perfect for fans of Louise Rennison and Holly Smale.

Buy the book from Waterstones.

The Spectre Collectors, by Barry Hutchison

Denzel can see ghosts, he just doesn’t know it… That is, until a terrifying mess of smoky black tendrils interrupts his maths homework! Realising his special talent, he’s soon snapped up by top-secret organisation, The Spectre Collectors, for whom spooky is a speciality. Follow Denzel and his best friend, Smithy, on a high-octane ghost-hunting adventure packed full of ghouls, magic and outrageous battles. Guaranteed to make you laugh like a (haunted) drain.

Buy the book from Waterstones.

We hope this list has given you some funny books to read! Please let us know your favourite funny books on Twitter.

A message from Mouse and Bear, by Ross Collins

There’s A Bear On My Chair creator Ross Collins has created this illustration, featuring the two heroes of his award-winning picture book, to say thank you to the NHS – and to encourage everyone to practise social distancing. Here’s a few words from Ross on the inspiration behind this piece.

Since the virus arrived I’ve been inspired by all the teachers, librarians and carers who have contacted me asking if they could read my books remotely to their children. They are doing wonderful work keeping people connected and bringing much needed stories into kid’s lives in such strange times.

I wanted to say thank you to them and to our amazing NHS and thought who better to display the two metre rule than Bear and Mouse, who have always been more than happy to keep their distance from each other!

Take care of each other.

Ross Collins

Thank you, Ross! If you’ve not yet discovered There’s A Bear On My Chair – winner of a UKLA Book Award and the inaugural recipient of the Amnesty CILIP honour – you can take a look inside the book below.

Buy the book online from Waterstones.