There are footprints all over the corner shop yard. And something has been nibbling Rollo the cat's little red ball. Rollo follows a trail of sweets which lead to a funny looking creature asleep in the nest of a fluffy little bird. Could this cute-looking mouse be the culprit?
From Mick Inkpen, creator of Wibbly Pig, this story is full of warmth and charm. Children will enjoy helping Rollo to follow the trail of sweets and there is plenty of humour to keep adults turning the pages too, while the message of sharing with your friends is one that's always worth repeating.

The second story to star Douglas finds the very cuddly bear on a mission to work out who is unravelling the lovely woolly hat that Dad gave him. Trouble is, the further Douglas travels and the more friends he asks for help, the smaller his hat gets! Maybe he needs Dad's assistance to solve the mystery.
Douglas is a character all children will recognise - a bit clumsy, a bit of a worrier and not as brave as his size would suggest. With gorgeous pictures from David Melling that celebrate the father-child bond, this is a great book for dads to share with their children.

Peely Wally is a small bird who lives high up in a tree. One day she lays an egg... As the story progresses, children can follow the dotted line, identify different animals, spot butterflies on each page and try to work out what happens next... but the special surprise at the end is sure to keep them guessing!
This story from a talented first-time author and illustrator might remind you of books by the great Eric Carle. Simplicity and gentle humour combine to create a page-turning tale that children will want to return to again and again.

Meet Scruffy Bear, whose quick thinking might just save the day! When he meets six white mice in the woods, he has to help them hide so they don't get found by owls, foxes or snakes. Luckily Scruffy Bear thinks up some clever disguises and manages to outwit all the mice's enemies.
Chris Wormell is known for his beautiful and realistic depictions of wildlife. In this book, a fairytale-style story is accompanied by images that show the natural world as it really is. It also carries a gentle message that celebrates bravery and looking out for your friends.

Hal's parents are rich, and he lives in a huge, spotless house. But rich children need friends too, and Hal longs for a dog. His parents decide to rent a dog from the Easy Pets Agency, but when the time comes for Fleck to be sent back, Hal decides that he can't live without him, so they run away...
This story, the last book Eva Ibbotson wrote before she died in 2010, encapsulates her huge appeal for young readers. Reassuring but never boring, skilled at placing characters in situations where they must use all their skill and resourcefulness to triumph, hers is a talent that will be much missed.

Fans of Michael Morpurgo will love this novel from a debut author who really understands that special bond between humans and animals. Callum and Iona live in the wilds of Scotland. Their friendship develops when they find an osprey building a nest on Callum's farm. As they track the osprey's journey back to Africa, drama also develops closer to home.
Focusing on two ordinary children whose lives take a different course when they come into contact with a wild creature, this book crosses continents and packs a real emotional punch.

Move over Wimpy Kid, you've got competition in the home-grown form of Tom Gates! Tom is easily distracted - by sweets, his best mate Derek and thinking up ways to annoy his sister Delia - and often finds himself in trouble. As he charts his haphazard way through school, readers will be laughing out loud every step of the way.
The very imaginative - and genuinely funny - cartoon illustrations and doodles that speckle every page of this book add a great deal to the story and are sure to catch the attention of even the most reluctant reader.

When Grace writes a school project called The Family Bible, with a book about each member of her family, she thinks she's in line for an A grade - if not a Nobel Prize. But when Grandpop shows it to the elders of their church, she discovers that asking tricky questions can lead to big trouble when you live in a close-knit religious community.
As always, Morris Gleitzman brilliantly combines humour with thought-provoking issues. He has a rare talent for making children laugh with a witty one-liner then causing them to question their views.

The monster showed up at midnight. As they do... In this haunting and compelling story, a boy tries to come to terms with his mum's illness, symbolised by the monster that rises from the earth and brings all the scariness of his situation into the boy's house. But what does the monster want with Conor? Eventually he realises that it's after the most dangerous thing of all: the truth.
Beautifully written by Patrick Ness from an idea by the late Siobhan Dowd, this novel with its outstanding illustrations lingers in the mind long after it is finished. Perfect for teenagers with enquiring minds.

The pain caused by Rose's death in a terrorist attack should be fading with time, but for her family it is as raw as ever. When Jamie and Jasmine's dad takes them from London to the Lake District to start a new life, it takes the family to breaking point. And how can Jamie be a normal teenager when his dad is angry all the time and Rose's ashes are still on the mantelpiece?
With the power to move readers - adults included - to tears, this book shows how grief affects one 'normal' family. Unflinching but not grim, this heart-warming story finds elements of hope and humour in a very sad situation.