New children's books for July 2023
by Sophie Green
Looking for new books for your little ones? Take a look at our brand new children's fiction and non-fiction books for July 2023.
The Truth About Yeticorns, by Rachel Morrisroe and Ella K. Okstad
A Yeticorn's charging about on the loose! Bea often tells little fibs when something goes wrong. Fairy-cats wiped mud all over the floor, wild octoponies flooded the bathroom - and lately, a humongous Yeticorn has been charging around, gobbling up her sister Edie's sweets and sneezing confetti everywhere! But one day, Bea wakes to find that a Yeticorn REALLY has come to stay - and his whippy, trippy tail causes all sorts of problems that she gets the blame for! Can Bea find the courage to stop fibbing and finally tell the truth?
Borrow The Truth About Yeticorns →
The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever!, by Louise Fitzgerald and Kate Hindley
Welcome to the quickest bedtime story ever! Your little one will be asleep in seconds. But wait! There are a couple of things you must do first. Have you plumped up the pillows? And colour-co-ordinated the teddy bears? Getting ready for a story is a very important business, I'll have you know.
Borrow The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever! →
The Duck Never Blinks, by Alex Latimer
You see that duck over there? You could watch it all day and it wouldn't blink. Nothing works - not shouting, not jokes, or even sad stories. Maybe you have some other ideas? Just don't take your eyes off the duck, and don't, even for a second, think about blinking!
Borrow The Duck Never Blinks →
The Thunk, by Michelle Robinson and Deborah Allwright
Meet Hector Voltaire: a young explorer who can't wait to discover all the wonders of the wide world. First up: a magical, mythical creature called the THUNK. The Thunk has a trunk and its fur's blue-ish pink, and it's ever so slightly, completely EXTINCT. Or at least, that's what everyone else thinks. Hector is determined to prove them wrong, and sets out with all his exploring equipment on a grand journey of discovery.
The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale, by Jon Klassen
Deliciously dark story from the creator of This is Not My Hat.
In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both?
Old Gods, New Tricks, by Thiago D.E. Moraes
Trixie dos Santos is obsessed with trickster gods, so when the world is plunged into darkness, she knows who can bring back the light. Loki, Maui and the Monkey King join her on the hugest adventure, but can Trixie keep these maverick saviours in line?
One Chance Dance, by Efua Traoré
A magical tale inspired by Yoruba myths and legends from the author of Children of the Quicksands.
Jomi's Mum left him to find their destiny in Lagos. Now, Jomi and his friendly bush baby follow her - but their only starting place is a TV dance competition his mum used to love. If Jomi and his new Lagos friends can get on that TV show, then maybe Jomi's mum will see him and they can find their destiny together.
Carnival of the Spider, by Kieran Larwood and Sam Usher
When Sheba the wolfgirl learns that her old friend Sister Moon is being held prisoner by the Spider and its gang of mechanical villains, the Carnival immediately launch a daring rescue mission to Paris. Along with Pyewacket the witch's imp and catlike Inji, Sheba joins forces with Moon's son Remy, a boy who can bend shadows to his will. Deep underground in the catacombs of Paris there is a map, which they must find to trade for Moon's freedom. But who is this mysterious Spider? And why is she so desperate for an old map? With the city under siege from Prussian invaders and the Spider's henchmen on their trail, the Carnival will need to use all their powers to save their friend.
Borrow Carnival of the Spider →
All the Way Down, by Stewart Foster
When three eleven-year-old 'problem children' are thrown together at summer camp, they're challenged to build a place to live together for the next week. But after a trip to a disused tin-mine goes awry, Milo and his new friends, Oscar and Effie, soon find themselves split off from the group and trapped underground. Can they work through their individual issues and come together as a team to find their way to freedom?
Arkspire, by Jamie Littler
Arkspire is a city obsessed by magic. The five Arcanists - a group of all-powerful magicians - have protected the great city for as long as anyone can remember. Within the hustle and bustle of these cobbled streets lives Juniper Bell, a thief who'd do anything for her family - even her unbelievably annoying sister, Elodie.
Then one night, something incredible happens. A mysterious stolen relic explodes, revealing a mysterious creature, Igna - who appears to 'bond' with Juni. The only creatures like that are allegedly dangerous enemies of the Arcanists - and it's not long before they turn their attention to Juni. Soon Juni, Igna and everyone she loves are pulled into an extraordinary world of magic, power and prestige - but also grave danger. It seems the world Juni thought she knew is nothing but a lie - and now only Juniper and Igna can bring it down.
League of Thieves, by Sarah Crofton and W.J. Tattersdill
Prepare for death-defying rooftop chases, shadowy enemies and fiendish picture puzzles in this thrilling adventure gamebook where the hero of the story is YOU. As a member of the League of Thieves you're used to plenty of danger and mystery, but your most perilous mission yet is about to begin. Can you succeed where all others have failed and break into the infamous Castle Flaggstone to rescue your friend, steal a priceless treasure and uncover an ancient secret? With a fun dice-based combat system, beautifully illustrated puzzles to solve and a story full of twists and turns, this interactive adventure will have you gripped from beginning to end.
Against the Odds: The Incredible Struggles of 20 Great Adventurers, by Alastair Humphreys and Madga Starowicz
Some of the greatest adventurers of all time have once failed. Many more have had to overcome great hardships to pursue lives of adventure. Hand-picked by Alastair Humphreys, this compilation retells the extraordinary journeys undertaken by adventurers who have tried, failed and succeeded against the odds. These men and women have ventured into space, oceans, deserts and jungles and inspired Alastair's own adventures. They may do the same for you too. A book full of hope and the power of self-belief and determination.
Human Body Factory: The Nuts and Bolts of Your Insides, by Dan Green and Edmond Davis
An entertaining and informative exploration of the busy human body factory, from the MD sending out orders in the brain to waste being sorted and delivered out of the body. With each 'department' introduced by the busy workers who keep everything running smoothly, the ingenious artworks are packed with humorous details.
Animal Talk: All the Incredible Ways That Animals Communicate, by Michael Leach and Meriel Lland
For many animals, communicating is as important to their life chances as finding food and water. This book explores the variety of innovative ways animals 'talk' to each other. Whether it is releasing a cloud of ink to confuse, roaring to intimidate, dancing to attract a mate or howling to locate one another, the range of messaging methods in the natural world is quite astonishing (and sometimes quite disgusting!).
Find more recommendations for children.