3 chapter books for a London staycation

The Travels of Ermine: The Big London Treasure Hunt by Jennifer Gray
The latest book in the series about globetrotting meerkat Ermine takes readers on an adventure around London. In The Travels of Ermine: The Big London Treasure Hunt by Jennifer Gray (Usborne, £5.99), likeable meerkat Ermine goes to stay with eight-year-old Minty in central London over the summer holiday, and together the duo visits a range of London sights to find clues in a quest to track down a lost jewel. The book, which was published in June 2019, is a chapter book with black and white illustrations by Elisa Paganelli.

London Folk Tales for Children by Anne Johnsen and Sef Townsend
For children who like magical and mythical stories, the little book London Folk Tales for Children by Anne Johnsen and Sef Townsend (The History Press, £9.99) can be an exciting way to bring areas and sights alive. The book, which was published in January 2019, is a collection of folk tales from different areas of London, and it features black and white illustrations by Belinda Evans, as well as a map with story titles. I particularly liked the map, as it can make it easy for readers to jump around from one chapter to the next, perhaps starting with stories relevant to any planned London outings. There is, for example, a story about the ravens at Tower of London.

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
For a classic children’s book, which is set in London, I think A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond (HarperCollins, £6.99) would be a wonderful choice for many age groups. The book tells the original story about the much-loved bear arriving in London from Peru and meeting the Brown family, who looks after him. There are also a number of Paddington picture books, which can be great for younger children learning about London.

Tags: Books, Children's books, Folk Tales, HarperCollins, Paddington, The History Press, Tower of London, Usborne