6 new chapter books for young readers

I regularly receive children’s books to review.

Today, I’ve compiled a list of some recently-published summer holiday reads for readers who enjoy chapter books with plenty of illustrations:

Hotel Flamingo: Holiday Heatwave by Alex Milway
In the second book in the sweet and funny series about Hotel Flamingo and young owner Anna, she discovers that royal penguins are coming to stay, and together with her animal staff she needs to act quickly to get ready to meet the new guests’ demanding expectations for a holiday in the sun. Hotel Flamingo: Holiday Heatwave by Alex Milway (Piccadilly Press, £6.99), which was published in June, is a humorous story that makes for an ideal beach read, as everyone is learning to cope in the heat. The book features short chapters and three-colour illustrations.

Freddie’s Amazing Bakery: The Great Raspberry Mix-Up by Harriet Whitehorn
In Belville town it is already moving into autumn and Freddie Bonbon is getting ready for a new bake-off competition, organised by the town’s luxury hotel in an otherwise uneventful season. But one person in town – rival baker Bernard – has no interest in Freddie winning the top prize. Freddie’s Amazing Bakery: The Great Raspberry Mix-Up by Harriet Whitehorn (Oxford University Press, £5.99), which was published in August 2019, is the first book in a new series focused on promoting creativity and kindness. It makes for a sweet holiday read–funny and positive with black and white illustrations by Alex Griffiths.

Bad Nana: All the Fun of the Fair by Sophy Henn
For a laugh-out-loud funny chapter book, I would suggest Bad Nana: All the Fun of the Fair by Sophy Henn (HarperCollins, £8.99), which is about Jeanie and her mad gran who is not at all bad in Jeanie’s view. In this second book in the series, which was published in June 2019, Jeanie, Bad Nana and the rest of the family go to the annual town fair where Bad Nana looks like she’s about to cause trouble after a surprise outcome of the fancy dress competition. The story is told through the enthusiastic seven-year old, making readers smile from start to finish and giving the book a fresh feel. An unputdownable summer read with bold three-colour illustrations.

Cinders and Sparks: Magic at Midnight by Lindsey Kelk
In the past years, I’ve read many of the I Heart books by Lindsey Kelk, and I was excited to see the bestselling adult author in the children’s section of our local bookshop. Cinders and Sparks: Magic at Midnight by Lindsey Kelk (HarperCollins, £6.99) is a Cinderella-inspired series about a girl called Cinders, a talking dog and a fairy godmother called Brian. In the first book in the series, which was out in May, Cinders’ wishes start coming true, but it soon transpires that magic can also create plenty of chaos. The chapter book features cute and funny illustrations by Pippa Curnick.

King Dave: Royalty for Beginners by Elys Dolan
While some might be house-sitting this summer, Dave the Dragon is throne-sitting and making the most of being royal while the king is away. King Dave: Royalty for Beginners by Elys Dolan (Oxford University Press, £6.99) is the third book in the series about Dave, and the comical story with a medieval fantasy-setting can make for an entertaining holiday read for both boys and girls. The book, which was published in August, is packed with funny black and white illustrations.

The Jolley-Rogers and the Pirate Piper by Jonny Duddle
In the fourth book in the Jolley-Rogers chapter book series, The Jolley-Rogers and the Pirate Piper by Jonny Duddle (Templar Publishing, £6.99), the main characters Matilda and young pirate Jim have to save their friends in Matilda’s home town Dull-on-Sea. The town has been invaded by rats and a Pirate Piper comes to lead the town’s children away. The series is known for its humorous black and white illustrations and comical characters, and although The Jolley-Rogers and the Pirate Piper is the new book that was out in June, my young reader recommended The Jolley-Rogers and the Monster’s Gold (Templar Publishing, £5.99)as a summer read since that sees the pirates sail to a mysterious island.

Tags: Books, Children's books, HarperCollins, Oxford University Press, Piccadilly Press, Review, Templar Publishing