Lovereading 4 Kids Updates from the world of children’s books

Christmas is long gone and so are the January sales but we are the gift that keeps on giving! This month on the site, your kids can have the chance to win an exclusive range of prizes in our competitions section and as if that weren’t enough, we have our usual great ideas and guidance to help you help your children choose their next read…

Some February features not to miss…

Guest Editor Tim Bowler

One of the Lovereading4kids team was lucky enough to meet the wonderful Tim Bowler, our Guest Editor this month recently at a dinner to launch his latest book Buried Thunder. They decided you couldn’t wish to meet a more warm, welcoming and funny guy – but how does someone so lovely end up writing some of the creepiest and most psychological page-turning thrillers and all from his shed in a field in Devon?

His books are guaranteed to get even the most reticent reader hooked. Why not try the exclusive extract on our site for his latest Buried Thunder on any child aged 12+ and you’ll see what we mean.

Pre Pubs – we’ve never had so many in a month that deserve a space ahead of publication.

This Isn’t What It Looks Like Pseudonymous Bosch 9+ The author, Pseudonymous Bosch, advises against reading any of his books but rest assured kids are missing a treat if they don’t.	The Deeping Secrets Victor Watson 9+ The sequel to Paradise Barn. It’s six months later, and the children find themselves in the midst of another intriguing set of events.
Dark Parallel (The Joshua Files book 4) M. G. Harris 9+ Explosive and compelling time travel at its best. Will Josh and Ixchel find their way home again – or will they get stuck in the past?	My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece Annabel Pitcher 11+ Utterly mesmerizing and original. Narrated by a 10 year old boy whose family has quite frankly gone AWOL since one of his twin sisters was blown up by a terrorist bomb.
Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles book 2) Rick Riordan 11+ From the author of the Percy Jackson novels comes a terrific series set in Ancient Egypt rather than in Ancient Greece.	Rockoholic C.J. Skuse 14+ Just how far will Jody’s obsession with rock star Jackson Gatlin take her? A rip roaring story about the perils of fame and the reality of all that glamour.
Plague Michael Grant 14+ Fourth book in the mind-blowing Gone series. There are 100 copies of the first in the series – GONE – being given away to introduce new readers to this awesome series…	Theodore Boone John Grisham 14+ Brimming with the intrigue and suspense that made John Grisham a number one international bestseller and the undisputed master of the legal thriller. His first for teens.

Have you seen the laughing Gruffalo?

The much loved Gruffalo is donning a big Red Nose and getting behind Comic Relief in 2011. A specially produced activity book is being produced priced at £2.99, of which at least £2 will go straight to the charity. There will be lots of Gruffalo based activities in the lead-up to the big day, so come to the site to find out how you and your children can get involved in Green Wart … sorry, we mean “Red Nose” day with the Gruffalo! Why not get your school to host a Gruffalo food party for example? Click here to find out more.

Parental Aids – Essential Reading

No time to ponder your selection but need to order a book right away, then don’t worry, help is at hand in our Bookshelf-Essentials section… In it you’ll find some ‘must reads’ – as with all our titles they’re hand-picked – all conveniently separated into age-range – so that your child’s next adventure is only a few clicks away. Find out more today.

The (Hollywood) Hills are Alive, with the sound of READING

Kids love movies. Well, we all do. But, why not get your kids to be the directors of their own movies by reading the books first? Reading encourages them to use their imagination and create the world and characters for themselves. Later this month there is a terrific teen novel scheduled for release on the silver screen. Why not give your teenager a chance to say, “the book’s better!” by getting the book for him or her.

I am Number Four due to be released 23 February

John Smith looks like a normal teenager. However, he has a secret. A secret that means he can’t stay in one place for long. John used to be one of nine. Three have been killed. John is number four. After finally finding a place where he fits in and a girl he likes (who has secrets of her own), he must stand and face his demons. Literally. The film looks awesome, we have a trailer on our website so just imagine how great the book is!

Finally, have you taken a peek at ‘Your top 10 of 2010‘? Broken down by age range it’s well worth checking out to see what your kids may have missed last year.

There are some real crackers but you better be quick as the list won’t be up forever.

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Cat on the Mat and Friends Brian Wildsmith A bumper picture book made up of four best-selling classic stories by this award winning illustrator. The simplicity of Brian Wildsmith’s illustrations and the jokes that both the pictures and the stories tell make this a delight for young readers…. … Download free opening extract
2		The Perfect Hug Joanna Walsh A gem of a book! How the panda finds the perfect hug is told in sparkling rhyming couplets which describe hugs of all sorts including ‘hugs for wrigglers and hugs for gigglers,/ Hugs that are tickly and hugs that are … Download free opening extract
3		I Like Toys (Petit Collage) Lorena Siminovich Irresistible ‘touch and feel’ books, these two chunky board books – I Like Peas and I like Toys – offer a wonderfully tactile experience to the very youngest readers while also imparting useful information. I Like Toys brings the … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Wolf Won’t Bite! Emily Gravett Award winning Emily Gravett gives the wolf a chance in this visually bold and entertaining inversion of the story of three little pigs. Three brave little pigs tease the big scary wolf making him the butt of every circus trick. … Download free opening extract
2		Lonely Beast Chris Judge How the Beast overcomes his loneliness is a touching story about friendship of all kinds. Despite his name, the Beast, and all other Beasts, are gentle creatures who love gardening and cake baking. The Beast travels across the world to … Download free opening extract
3		Zou and the Box of Kisses Michel Gay A truly special picture book.  It’s the story of Zou the Zebra as he spends his first night away from his parents. Both endearing and reassuring for both and child this is a wonderful book to read aloud.  Zou disovers … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Little Old Ladies Franziska Kalch Just what do a group of old ladies do when they get together?  Well they have a whole load of fun, tell tales and share ideas.  Here the author and illustrator brings these exhuberant old ladies to life in this … Download free opening extract
2		My Brother Bernadette Jacqueline Wilson Fabulous reissue of an absolute gem of a book by on of the bestselling authors of all time but this is one of the very few titles by Jacqueline Wilson suitable for newly fluent readers. Still with colour illustrations on … Download free opening extract
3		How the World Works Christiane Dorion Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award 2011: Best Book with Facts*. A fully interactive guide to different aspects of the workings of the world. The story of the water cycle pops up in the most exciting and unusual way. The … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Muncle Trogg Janet Foxley Winner of The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2010, Muncle Trogg is the charming upside down fairytale about a tiny giant who saves the day. It’s a debut novel and the first in a series of adventures featuring Muncle, the … Download free opening extract
2		Spider Stampede (S.W.I.T.C.H. 1) Ali Sparkes Boy or insect? Twins Josh and Danny survive a series of thrilling adventures after they have been transformed into bug life by the crazy scientist Petty Potts who injects them with a most unusual serum. How insect-loving Josh and insect-hating … Download free opening extract
3		Letters from an Alien Schoolboy Ros Asquith This is the first in a terrific new series for 7+ year olds – both boys and girls.  Packed with some hilarious illustrations and the story itself is a real page-turner.  It features an alien who comes to spy on … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Little Darlings Jacqueline Wilson Jacqueline Wilson takes a look into the lives of celebrities in this touching story of two girls, two families and one father. Destiny and Sunset’s lives seem miles apart; one lives in a council flat, the other in a posh … Download free opening extract
2		The Pasta Detectives Andreas Steinhofel Shortlisted for the 2011 Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation. This is a funny and original mystery starring two unlikely boy detectives, the mildly autistic Rico and the brainy but anxiety-ridden Oscar.  The story of The Pasta Detectives explores the … Download free opening extract
3		Will Farts Destroy the Planet? Glenn Murphy Packed full of fascinating and vital information this is in part a story and in part a rich source of facts which, taken together, make it a brilliant introduction to how our world will be affected by climate change. How … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Twilight Robbery Frances Hardinge Award winning Frances Hardinge’s first novel Fly By Night starred Mosca Mye and Eponymous Clent. Now they are back for a thrilling new adventure in the city of Toll, a magical place which no one can enter or leave without … Download free opening extract
2		Buried Thunder Tim Bowler A tense and haunting thriller in which the power of the forest looks set to destroy all around it. Drawn to the forest around the house, Maya witnesses strange and unnatural events. Even when in the safety of her new … Download free opening extract
3		Street Heroes: Runaways Joe Layburn Street Heroes: Runaways is a fast-paced thriller that deals with important issues while keeping readers gripped from start to finish. By the aclaimed author of Ghostscape and Street Heroes it is in a nutshell ‘Heroes’ for children.  The Street Heroes … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		I am Number Four film tie-in edition Pittacus Lore Read the book before seeing the film. John Smith is not your average teenager. He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who … Download free opening extract
2		Dancing Jax Robin Jarvis There’s a dark power lurking in the empty house set down a long, lonely track. When a group of teenagers break in, they find a box of children’s books. Not any old books. There is something special about one book. … Download free opening extract
3		Withering Tights Louise Rennison Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010 (Funniest Book for Children aged Seven to Fourteen). Laugh out loud at this launch title of a brilliant new series by Queen of Teen author Louise Rennison. Tallulah Casey, cousin of the … Download free opening extract

Hello again from Lovereading4kids home page and welcome to romantic February! We’ve been getting sentimental in the office remembering some of our childhood favourites, as we found the great Mark Twain was first featured in a February issue of The Atlantic Monthly, describing the steam whistles, paddle foam and cindery smoke that later became the backdrop for Huckleberry Finn. Back in the 21st Century, however, we have some great books for you to discover on the site this month.

Books of the Month

There’s a feast of new books just hitting the shelves and we’ve selected a few of our absolute favourites to be our Books of the Month. There is something for everyone, so why not get online with your children and choose something together? And 9+ fans of Jacqueline Wilson are in for a real treat this year. 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Story of Tracy Beaker and the moment she teamed up with illustrator Nick Sharratt – the rest is history! 30 million book sales later, Jacqueline still comes up trumps every time, and her two new books published this month, Lily Alone and Little Darlings are no exception.

Brother’s in Arms – well writing

The Scarrow brothers are both bestselling writers for adults and they have now shown they can be equally adept at writing for children.

Alex Scarrow’s time travel adventure series – Timeriders – took off in a big way in 2010 and the third one is out this month, whilst Simon Scarrow’s first novel for kids Gladiator, set in Ancient Rome is full of pace, action and adventure. Well worth a second look.

Cutting Edge Storytelling – Our Guest Editor, Tim Bowler

Carnegie Medal winner, Tim Bowler is the master of the psychological thriller and one of the most compelling and original writers for teenagers. His talent for combining rich, atmospheric and gripping writing with a thrilling plot that keeps the reader guessing to the very end is second to none. So, we are delighted he has agreed to be our Guest Editor this month, sharing with us his own favourite books and authors.

Tim’s latest title, Buried Thunder, sees a 15 year old girl’s life turned upside down by the terrifying secrets that emerge, soon after she and her family move into their new home, when she is lured into the forest by an unknown force. It is available on the site now at 25% off RRP and is another fabulously chilling page-turner.

First among Equals – Lovereading4kids’s Debuts of the Month

Will Gallows and the Snake Bellied Troll

by Derek Keilty

9+ Young Oretown sky cowboy, Will Gallows, sets out on a perilous quest to capture the evil snake bellied troll bandit, Noose Wormworx and avenge his father’s death.

Muncle Trogg

by Jane Foxley

7+ Winner of The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2010, Muncle Trogg is the charming upside down fairytale about a tiny giant who saves the day.

The Lonely Beast

by Chris Judge

3+ We LOVE this book. It is not only one of our Debut of the Month titles but it is also our Picture book of the Month… It’s the tale of a rare Beast, whose determination to overcome his loneliness leads him to undertake a daring and dangerous quest to find others like him.

Click and Win!! Lovereading4kids Competitions

In our competitions on the site this month, you could be one of a number of lucky readers to win a special hardcover edition of The Jungle Book (worth £23.99) or a Gruffalo Goodie Bag, linked into Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. We also have 100 copies of teen sensation Gone up for grabs as well as 100 copies of an incredibly powerful and thrilling mystery for 9+ year olds called Paradise Barn. Sequels to each are due out in a month or two. We also have signed copies of award winner Michelle Harrison’s new novel Thirteen Curses as well as a range of signed backlist from the doyen of children’s authors, Jacqueline Wilson as part of the 20th anniversary of her best known character Tracy Beaker. So get to the site and try your luck!

Blue Peter Book Awards Shortlist

The Blue Peter Book Awards aim to guide kids and parents towards quality literature in order to foster a love of reading that will last for life (an award after our own heart!). These awards are especially important, because they are voted for by children themselves. There are three categories:

Most Fun with Pictures – our favourite is Lunatics and Luck by Marcus Sedgwick

Best Books with Facts – our favourite is How the World Works by Christiane Dorion

Favourite Story – our favourite is Tall Story by Candy Gourlay

But why not check out all of the shortlisted titles, which are on the site with free Opening Extracts, and make up your own mind.

But wait, there’s More! – Lovereading Special Features

Finally, we have a couple of special features on the site this month, which we wanted to let you know about:

World Book Day

We are very excited about World Book Day which takes place on 3rd March. There are hundreds of events and activities taking place and a series of BBC programmes around the initiative to help you and you kids get the buzz for some great reading. For more information on the day and how you can get involved, visit the World Book Day site here: www.worldbookday.com. Don’t miss out!

Have you seen the laughing Gruffalo?

As mentioned earlier, the much loved Gruffalo is donning a big Red Nose and getting behind Comic Relief in 2011. A specially produced activity book is being produced priced at £2.99, of which at least £2 will go straight to the charity. There will be lots of Gruffalo based activities in the lead-up to the big day, so come to the site to find out how you and your children can get involved in Green Wart … sorry, we mean “Red Nose” day with the Gruffalo! Why not get your school to host a Gruffalo food party for example? Click here to find out more.

So that’s February on Lovereading4kids. We think you’ll agree there’s loads on the site this month for your kids to enjoy both with you and on their own.