Nosy Crow's Blog, page 54

Eight Nosy Crow titles nominated for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards

The nomination lists for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards have been published today – and we’re thrilled to announce that eight Nosy Crow books have been nominated this year!

The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are the UK’s oldest children’s book awards, and are judged solely by librarians. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people, and the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum, No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton, The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge, Little Bird Flies by Karen McCombie, and Anna at War by Helen Peters, have all been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal.

Take a look inside the nominated books below:

This is a Dog by Ross Collins, The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, and I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree, compiled by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon, have been nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal.

And you can take a look inside each of the nominated books below:

You can read more about the awards, and view the full list of nominations, here. The longlists for both the Carnegie and Greenaway Medals will be published in February, followed by the shortlists in March, and the overall winners will be announced in June.

Congratulations Kirsty, Catherine, Christopher, Karen, Helen, Ross, Chris, Fran and Fiona!

Some Spook-tacular Ideas for a Happy Halloween – a guest post by Anna Wilson

This month we’re proud to have published the National Trust: 2020 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac, written by nature-lover and wild swimmer Anna Wilson and b eautifully illustrated by Elly Jahnz. This fantastic, fully illustrated guide to 2020 includes nature spotter guides, indoor and outdoor craft and activity ideas, seasonal recipes and celebrations of religious festivals and special events.

And today we’re very pleased to share a piece by Anna on some fun Halloween activities featured in the book, which you can read below.

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This autumn term is very long . . . the summer seems a lifetime away and we’ve all – teachers, parents, carers and children – been working hard for weeks and weeks. So, it’s a relief that the holidays are here again. I am looking out at blue skies and sunshine and hoping that this weather is going to last for a while!

But even if it doesn’t, there are lots of games and activities that you can do indoors. I had great fun coming up with ideas for Nature Month-by-Month – in the 2019 edition you’ll find lots of ideas for Halloween games, for example. These can be played inside or outside. I loved writing about these because it took me back to when my children were small. I didn’t used to be very happy about them going Trick or Treating as we lived in the countryside and the houses were quite a long way apart from each other down very dark lanes! But I wanted them to have fun on Halloween, so we would invite all their friends to come to our house and we would have a big party. Here are some of the games we would play:

If you want to make your own yummy food for Halloween instead, how about trying these easy pumpkin muffins?

And once you’ve scooped out all the pumpkin flesh, you’ll have some lovely hollow pumpkins which you can carve to make Jack o’Lanterns! While I was researching and thinking up new ideas for an updated version of Nature Month-by-Month for 2020, I decided to write about pumpkin carving, as we always enjoyed doing this during half term, and it was a great activity to do on a rainy day or during one of the dark evenings after the clocks had gone back. Here’s a sneaky-peek at the pages from the new 2020 edition of the book so that you can make your own pumpkin Jack o’Lanterns for this Halloween:

Whatever you do this holiday – whether you choose to go for blustery walks or whether you stay indoors and keep cosy – I hope you have a good rest and lots of fun! As for me, seeing as it’s so sunny today, I think I’m going to take the dog and go for a walk through the crunchy autumn leaves this afternoon. Or maybe even go for a swim if the sea is calm enough . . .

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Thank you, Anna!  The National Trust: 2020 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac  is available now, here. You can take a look inside the book below:

Take a look inside The Girl Who Stole an Elephant!

In January, we’re thrilled to be publishing The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, by Sri Lankan author Nizrana Farook – a thrilling adventure of friendship, flight and writing wrongs, featuring a band of animals and an enchanting jungle setting.

Chaya, a no-nonsense, outspoken hero, leads her friends and a gorgeous elephant on a noisy, fraught, joyous adventure through the jungle where revolution is stirring and leeches lurk. Will stealing the queen’s jewels be the beginning or the end of everything for the intrepid gang?

Here’s a sneak peek inside this gripping new book – read an extract below:

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant is out on January 9th – you can pre-order your copy from Waterstones here or from The Hive here.

Don’t forget to sign up to our books newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of our books news at this page, or with the form below, and you’ll never miss a thing.

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Eight of the best Halloween books for children (that aren’t too scary!)

It’s that spooky time of year again! Today we’re sharing a list of our favourite scary (but not too scary) books for children of all ages. Take a look at the video at the bottom of this post and keep reading for even more recommendations…

Where’s Mrs Witch, illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius

Published in September, Where’s Mrs Witch is the latest book in the best-selling Felt Flaps series. With bold, graphic artwork, this vibrant board book is perfect for sharing with babies and toddlers. Peek behind the bright felt flap on every spread to see who’s hiding – and then enjoy the fantastic mirror reveal on the final page!

Buy the book.

Bizzy Bear: Spooky House, by Benji Davies

We begin our list with a fantastic Halloween board book for toddlers! With bright, colourful illustrations, a gentle rhyme, and plenty of interactive elements, this is a great way to introduce little ones to Halloween.

In Bizzy Bear: Spooky House, the ever-intrepid Bizzy Bear visits a super-spooky Halloween house. As he climbs the rickety stairs and walks the cobwebby corridors, all sorts of creepy characters appear from doors and hidey holes. But where could he be going and what will he find there?

Buy the book.

Press Out and Decorate: Halloween, illustrated by Kate McLelland

Get creative this Halloween with the latest Press and Decorate book! From spooky skeletons to ghoulish ghosts, these press-out pieces can be slotted together to create eye-catching 3D hanging ornaments or threaded together to make a decorative garland.

Buy the book.

Make and Play: Halloween, illustrated by Joey Chou

This spooktacular Make and Play book is filled with frightfully fun activities to get creative with this autumn! Press out and colour the Halloween characters to use as decorations or for a creepy scene, including witches, ghosts, spiders, pumpkins and many more…

Pip and Posy: The Scary Monster, by Axel Scheffler

A wonderfully autumnal story for toddlers and the very young, featuring a scary monster – who’s really not that scary at all! When Pip visits Posy’s house wearing a scary monster mask, he gives Posy a bit of a fright. But when she works out it’s only Pip, she feels much better and they share some biscuits she’s made. Hooray! Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

Nothing Can Frighten A Bear, written by Elizabeth Dale and illustrated by Paula Metcalf

The next book on our list is a brilliant spooky bedtime story – a humorous, heart-warming tale for little bears who are scared of the dark or think they may have heard a monster in the night…

Daddy Bear insists that nothing can frighten a bear – but when there’s a noise in the night, Baby Bear isn’t convinced. The bears set out to make sure there aren’t any monsters but, as they vanish one by one, it looks like Daddy Bear might not be so brave after all!

Buy the book.

Spectre Collectors: Rise of the Ghostfather, by Barry Hutchison

You’ve heard of the Ghostbusters, but have you heard of the Spectre Collectors? For those looking for a spooky adventure this Halloween, the Spectre Collectors series offer action, ghouls, magic, and lots of fun! In the latest instalment in the series, Spectre Collectors: Rise of the Ghostfather, Denzel and his friends face the biggest, baddest ghost of all: the Ghostfather. He’s making a comeback, and he needs Denzel’s help, whether he likes it or not…

Buy the book.

Max the Detective Cat: The Phantom Portrait, written by Sarah Todd Taylor and illustrated by Nicola Kinnear

Filled with ghoulish goings-on and talk of a family curse, The Phantom Portrait is a great spooky mystery for young readers! Max, the furry detective and top mouser, has sniffed out another case. Someone, or something, is up to no good at Lord Fawley’s castle. There are missing diamonds and bumps in the night, but Max is prickling with suspicion that these strange events have more to do with jewels than ghouls…

Here’s a look at the first chapter:

Buy the book.

And you can find even more Halloween book recommendations in our video from last year:

We hope this list has given you some spooktastic book inspiration – and we’d love to know your favourite Halloween books on Twitter!

Take a look inside Listen to the Classical Music

This month we’re delighted to have published a new book in the Listen to the… series by Marion Billet – Listen to the Classical Music, featuring beautiful orchestra music from Mozart to Tchaikovsky.

A captivating series of board books with six real-life sounds, each book has a button on each spread to trigger the sounds within. Babies and toddlers with little hands will love pressing the sound buttons and joining in with the music!

Today you can look inside the new book! You can watch the video below:

You can buy your copy of Listen to the Classical, here. Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of our books news at this page, or with the form below, and you’ll never miss a thing.

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Five New Non-Fiction Books to Knock Your Socks Off!

Over the last few months we’ve published a bunch of brilliant non-fiction books for children – from books for animal-lovers and history fanatics to reads for young activists, there’s something for everyone! To celebrate these non-fiction books, we’ve compiled a list below…

Earth Heroes, by Lily Dyu 

Published earlier this month, Earth Heroes is an inspiring new non-fiction book celebrating the work of climate change activists around the world, written by the wonderful Lily Dyu. From Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to Isatou Ceesay, each tale is a beacon of hope in the fight for the future of our planet!

Here are a few words from the editor:

“The moment I read Lily’s proposal for Earth Heroes I knew this was a book we had to publish immediately. Each story is so heartfelt and unique, introducing readers to activists they know and many more they don’t who are achieving incredible things all over the world. Above all, this book has finally given me hope for the future. Both as individuals, and by working together, we can make a difference.”

Take a look inside this fascinating and timely new book – read an extract below:

Buy the book.

Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of, by Natalie Labarre

The next book on our list is quirky, fun, and beautifully illustrated – Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of, by up-and-coming talent Natalie Labarre, celebrates quirky and fascinating jobs you never knew existed. From Taste Testers to Dinosaur Dusters, Animal Talent Agents to Mummy Experts, there are all kinds of incredible jobs that you’ve never heard of… and one of them might be just right for you!

Here’s what the editor had to say about the book:

“I could get lost in this intriguing book for hours! It’s packed full of amazing jobs that sound simply too strange to be true . . . but believe it or not, this is non-fiction, and they are all real professions! Children (and adults!) will be astonished at all the crazy jobs out there and it might even inspire readers to think outside the box with their own dreams and ambitions. If being an editor ever falls through, I’ll be first in line to become a water slide tester!”

And you can take a look at this fascinating new book below:

Buy the book.

WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History, written by Ben Lerwill and illustrated by Sarah Walsh

For animal-lovers, this next book is the perfect gift! WildLives is a heart-warming and all-round inspiring book about fifty of the most courageous creatures from around the world – from Sergeant Stubby, the war hero bulldog who saved lives, to Murali, the fearless female tiger who protected her cubs. Young readers will spend hours pouring over these pages as they discover some of the most famous and unforgettable animals of all time…

And here’s a few words from the editor:

“This is an extraordinary book about extraordinary animals – some, you might have heard of already and some you probably won’t have done, but amazingly all of the stories here are true. Many of them will make you laugh, many will make you stop and think, but, most importantly, ALL of the animals are special and their story deserves to be remembered forever.”

Take a look inside this fascinating new book:

Buy the book.

National Trust: Step Inside Homes Through History, written by Goldie Hawk and illustrated by Sarah Gibb

Published in collaboration with the National Trust, Step Inside Homes Through History is a beautifully detailed non-fiction book featuring seven different eras of history! Peek through the windows, discover the room inside, and learn about the family – what people wore, what jobs they did, what toys they played with, and how furniture has changed through time. Packed with detail, this visually stunning book makes learning about history fun!

Here’s what the editor says about the book:

“I wish this book had existed when I was a child! Readers can travel through 800 years of history and have a snoop around each house: peek through the beautiful laser-cut windows, discover what the rooms were used for and find out what the family living in that house might have been like – from their clothes to their hobbies. It’s the dream book for any child (or adult) who loves doll’s houses!”

And here’s a preview of the book:

Buy the book.

National Trust: 2020 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac, written by Anna Wilson and illustrated by Elly Jahnz

For little ones who love nature and exploring outside, the 2020 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac is an inspiring month-by-month handbook for exploring nature, seasons, various festivals and special events. Beautifully illustrated by Elly Jahnz and written by nature-lover and swimmer Anna Wilson, this is a fantastic guide to the year which will encourage readers to connect with the world around them.

And here’s some words from the editor:

“This gorgeous and affordable gift is a fantastic way to encourage and inspire young readers to connect with nature. Packed with nature facts, craft and activity ideas and information about festivals and events happening in 2020 – including the Tokyo Olympics – this is a book to treasure and share all year round.”

Take a look inside the first few pages of this wonderful handbook:

Buy the book.

We hope this list gives you some non-fiction book inspiration! If you’d like to stay up-to-date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter with the form below.

NameEmail



Books


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5 New Non-Fiction Books to Knock Your Socks Off!

Over the last few months we’ve published a bunch of brilliant non-fiction books for children – from books for animal-lovers and history fanatics to reads for young activists, there’s something for everyone! To celebrate these non-fiction books, we’ve compiled a list below…

Earth Heroes, by Lily Dyu 

Published earlier this month, Earth Heroes is an inspiring new non-fiction book celebrating the work of climate change activists around the world, written by the wonderful Lily Dyu. From Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to Isatou Ceesay, each tale is a beacon of hope in the fight for the future of our planet!

Here are a few words from the editor:

“The moment I read Lily’s proposal for Earth Heroes I knew this was a book we had to publish immediately. Each story is so heartfelt and unique, introducing readers to activists they know and many more they don’t who are achieving incredible things all over the world. Above all, this book has finally given me hope for the future. Both as individuals, and by working together, we can make a difference.”

Take a look inside this fascinating and timely new book – read an extract below:

Buy the book.

Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of, by Natalie Labarre

The next book on our list is quirky, fun, and beautifully illustrated – Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of, by up-and-coming talent Natalie Labarre, celebrates quirky and fascinating jobs you never knew existed. From Taste Testers to Dinosaur Dusters, Animal Talent Agents to Mummy Experts, there are all kinds of incredible jobs that you’ve never heard of… and one of them might be just right for you!

Here’s what the editor had to say about the book:

“I could get lost in this intriguing book for hours! It’s packed full of amazing jobs that sound simply too strange to be true . . . but believe it or not, this is non-fiction, and they are all real professions! Children (and adults!) will be astonished at all the crazy jobs out there and it might even inspire readers to think outside the box with their own dreams and ambitions. If being an editor ever falls through, I’ll be first in line to become a water slide tester!”

And you can take a look at this fascinating new book below:

Buy the book.

WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History, written by Ben Lerwill and illustrated by Sarah Walsh

For animal-lovers, this next book is the perfect gift! WildLives is a heart-warming and all-round inspiring book about fifty of the most courageous creatures from around the world – from Sergeant Stubby, the war hero bulldog who saved lives, to Murali, the fearless female tiger who protected her cubs. Young readers will spend hours pouring over these pages as they discover some of the most famous and unforgettable animals of all time…

And here’s a few words from the editor:

“This is an extraordinary book about extraordinary animals – some, you might have heard of already and some you probably won’t have done, but amazingly all of the stories here are true. Many of them will make you laugh, many will make you stop and think, but, most importantly, ALL of the animals are special and their story deserves to be remembered forever.”

Take a look inside this fascinating new book:

Buy the book.

National Trust: Step Inside Homes Through History, written by Goldie Hawk and illustrated by Sarah Gibb

Published in collaboration with the National Trust, Step Inside Homes Through History is a beautifully detailed non-fiction book featuring seven different eras of history! Peek through the windows, discover the room inside, and learn about the family – what people wore, what jobs they did, what toys they played with, and how furniture has changed through time. Packed with detail, this visually stunning book makes learning about history fun!

Here’s what the editor says about the book:

“I wish this book had existed when I was a child! Readers can travel through 800 years of history and have a snoop around each house: peek through the beautiful laser-cut windows, discover what the rooms were used for and find out what the family living in that house might have been like – from their clothes to their hobbies. It’s the dream book for any child (or adult) who loves doll’s houses!”

And here’s a preview of the book:

Buy the book.

National Trust: 2020 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac, written by Anna Wilson and illustrated by Elly Jahnz

For little ones who love nature and exploring outside, the 2020 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac is an inspiring month-by-month handbook for exploring nature, seasons, various festivals and special events. Beautifully illustrated by Elly Jahnz and written by nature-lover and swimmer Anna Wilson, this is a fantastic guide to the year which will encourage readers to connect with the world around them.

And here’s some words from the editor:

“This gorgeous and affordable gift is a fantastic way to encourage and inspire young readers to connect with nature. Packed with nature facts, craft and activity ideas and information about festivals and events happening in 2020 – including the Tokyo Olympics – this is a book to treasure and share all year round.”

Take a look inside the first few pages of this wonderful handbook:

Buy the book.

We hope this list gives you some non-fiction book inspiration! If you’d like to stay up-to-date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter with the form below.

NameEmail



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Six Nosy Crow Books included in the 2019 BookTrust Great Books Guide

We’re delighted to announce that six Nosy Crow books are included in the 2019 BookTrust Great Books Guide! This printed guide of the BookTrust’s 100 favourite books from the previous year will be posted to all primary schools in England and Wales – and is also available to read on the BookTrust website, here.

Meekoo and the Big Red Potty by Camilla Reid and Nicola Slater, Dinosaur Farm by Penny Dale, Have You Seen My Blankie? by Lucy Rowland and Paula Metcalf, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Aliens Are Coming! by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton, The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum, and When Good Geeks Go Bad by Catherine Wilkins, have all been included in the 2019 guide.

Meekoo and the Big Red Potty is a hilarious sound button book, designed to make potty-training a positive experience for mums, dads, and their little ones! Take a look at our video preview of the book:

Buy the book.

Sixth in the bestselling Dinosaur series by Penny Dale, Dinosaur Farm is filled with HUGE vehicles, very naughty piglets, and of course – hilarious dinosaurs! Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

A fabulous rhyming tale by Lucy Rowland, featuring a princess protagonist, an adorable dragon and a cast of friendly fairytale characters, Have You Seen My Blankie? is the perfect bedtime story for any child who has that very special snuggly toy. And here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

Fourth in the series of delightful two-colour fiction titles, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Aliens Are Coming is another thrilling adventure featuring everyone’s favourite robber-dogs-turned-bakers. Take a look inside the book here:

Buy the book.

Set in a near-future world, The Middler is a gripping story for 9-12 year olds, which perfectly captures the trials and frustrations of being the middle child, the forgotten child, the child with no voice – even in your own family. Here’s a look inside:

Buy the book.

A brilliantly funny story from author and stand-up comedian Catherine Wilkins, When Good Geeks Go Bad follows Ella, who decides that being bad is far more fun than being good, but being bad is a slippery slope and things start to get out of hand. Here’s a look inside the book:

Buy the book.

Congratulations to all our authors and illustrators included in the guide!

The Future Is In Our Hands – a guest post from Lily Dyu, author of Earth Heroes

Earlier this month we published Earth Heroes by Lily Dyu, a wonderful new non-fiction book featuring twenty inspiring stories about climate change activists from around the world. And today we’re excited to be sharing a piece from Lily herself, on the message behind the book…

Half a century ago, humans stood on the moon for the first time. Perhaps the most important image from the moon missions wasn’t of astronaut Neil Armstrong taking his first step on to the grey lunar desert, but actually one taken a few months earlier on Christmas Eve, 1968. It was then that the Apollo 8 mission sent the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. The team were searching for future lunar landing sites, and one of the astronauts took a photo as our planet appeared over the moon’s horizon. This picture became known as Earthrise. It shows the dull, lifeless surface of the moon and behind it our beautiful blue planet, alone in the blackness of space. The astronauts remember it as being the most breathtaking sight, filling them with love and longing. It was the only thing in space that had any colour, and it struck them that they’d come almost a quarter of a million miles to photograph the moon, but it was the Earth that was really worth looking at.

I grew up with dreams of looking upon the Earth from space. As a teenager, I wanted to be an astronaut and, instead of pictures of my favourite bands, my room had a poster of a NASA astronaut floating above the Earth. Winter evenings were spent stargazing from the garden, picking out my favourite constellations. I wasn’t really an outdoorsy child, and I only discovered nature in my twenties when I took up running. Muddy trails led me to forests, rivers, mountains and clifftops, with their rich abundance of life. I fell in love with the natural world; it was where I felt most at home and running in the wild filled me with an intense connection to the living environment around me.

I have learned that astronauts too feel a deep connection with all life on Earth once they see our planet from space. Below them is a world without borders – a miraculous swirl of land, ocean and clouds. They realise that humans are just one species alongside other creatures on Earth and are shocked to see our planet’s fragility and vulnerability. Our atmosphere, nurturing all life, looks like a paper-thin shell. It is the only thing protecting us from deadly cosmic radiation and the hostile environment of space, and the only thing preventing us from becoming like other lifeless planets in the solar system.

Humans have created an environmental emergency here on Earth, dangerously warming our atmosphere. Climate change is the biggest threat humankind has ever confronted. And we have already destroyed so much of our astonishing natural world. We need to act urgently so we can continue to share our one home planet with each other and all life. Scientists say it is achievable, but we are running out of time. In October 2018, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a special report saying that we have 12 years to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It argues that if temperatures rise beyond this, many of the negative effects of climate change will be irreversible. Our beautiful world will be changed forever.

Faced with such a shocking statement, it’s easy to think that there’s nothing we can do. News headlines often focus on negative stories, so we rarely hear about any of the good things that are happening. But there are in fact countless people doing amazing things to protect our planet and conserve nature. These are ordinary people, most of whom aren’t looking for the spotlight, and in this book, you will meet Earth Heroes that you have heard of and many more you have not, whose stories show that we can all make a difference.

From Chewang Norphel, the engineer building artificial glaciers in Ladakh, to Doug Smith, the biologist returning wolves to America, and from Stella McCartney, the designer creating sustainable fashion, to Melati and Isabel Wijsen, the schoolgirls saving Bali from plastic pollution, these Earth Heroes show that one person, no matter how small, really can change the world. And if nations can work together to put people into space, then imagine what we could achieve together for Planet Earth if only we tried.

As conservationist and tiger defender Bittu Sahgal tells people, who ask how they can help protect nature, “Be who you are and do what you do best.”

Everyone matters. The future is in our hands.

Thank you, Lily! Earth Heroes is available now, here. You can take a look inside the book below:

No Ballet Shoes In Syria shortlisted for the 2019 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards

We have some fantastic news to share today – No Ballet Shoes in Syria, by Catherine Bruton has been shortlisted for this year’s Books Are My Bag Readers Awards in the Children’s Fiction category. Launched in 2016 and sponsored by National Book Tokens, it is the only award curated by bookshops and voted for by readers themselves. Vote for this year’s award and you could win one of five £100 National Book Tokens! Discover the brilliant shortlist and vote for your favourite for a chance to win, here.

No Ballet Shoes in Syria tells the story of Aya – eleven years old and newly arrived in Britain with her mum and baby brother, seeking asylum from war in Syria. When Aya stumbles across a local ballet class, the formidable dance teacher spots her exceptional talent and believes that Aya has the potential to earn a prestigious ballet scholarship. But at the same time, Aya and her family must fight to be allowed to remain in the country, to make a home for themselves and to find Aya’s father – separated from the rest of the family during the journey from Syria.

With beautiful, captivating writing, wonderfully authentic ballet detail, and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling – filled with warmth, hope and humanity.

“Wise and kind and unputdownable.” – Hilary McKay, Costa Book Prize-winning author of The Skylarks’ War

“A perfect balance of tragedy and triumph.” – Natasha Farrant, author of The Children of Castle Rock

“A moving story about one of the big issues of our time, told with wonderful clarity, and incredibly touching.” – Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo

Here’s Catherine Burton discussing the inspirations behind the book:

And you can take a look at the first chapter below:

Or, if you’d prefer, you can listen to the first chapter of the audiobook:

The winners will be announced at the award ceremony on Tuesday 12th November.

For more information about the award, and to place your vote, click here.

Congratulations Catherine!