Welcome to our monthly book recommendations, and our final recs post for 2025! Last month was “Non-Fiction November”, but you know us – we couldn’t just stop there! So here’s some fantastic books that cover all sorts of facts and stories in their own way, that we think would all make perfect gifts for this holiday season.
Fiction
SuperQuesters Mission: Rainforest Magic – Paul Ian Cross and Katarina Gasko (pub. QuestFriendz)
Rainforest Magic is the second book in the SuperQuesters chapter book series, following on from River Crest Rescue earlier this year.
This time, we travel with Lilli, Leo and Bea to Questland’s rainforest in search of a cure for Popcorn the guinea pig in this problem-solving adventure!
With puzzles and codes to solve to help the Questers on their mission, plus four extra activities and experiments to try in the back of the book, this is a magical STEM-themed story for young primary readers. It also supports the KS1 and 2 national curriculum, so is perfect for home and school.
Thank you to QuestFriendz for our copy.
My Cat is Called Odin – Francesco Bedini and Stefano Tambellini, translated by Sara Copeland Benjamin (pub. Five Quills)
This thrilling, fast-moving adventure gives us a totally new take on Norse mythology!
Aldo (who’s a bit of a scaredy cat), Ian and Ollie, aka Comic Club are ready to save the world with superhero skills, morse code and wooden swords. Then one winter’s night, a black, one-eyed stray kitten turns up at Aldo’s home. Taking it in out of the cold, Aldo names it Odin after the one-eyed god of poetry and war. Little does he know that this cat has epic plans for Aldo and his friends as it heads towards a final battle…
The book features black and white illustrations that perfectly capture the characters, as well as the most gripping parts of the story (of which there are quite a few!). The original was published in Italian in 2023, so we already know that this is the first in a set – we can’t wait for the second entry next year!
Thank you to Catherine Ward for our copy.
Anya’s Quest – Jasbindar Bilan and Jane Ray (pub. Walker Books)
Inspired by Hindu mythology, this sumptuously illustrated book takes us on a journey through time and across India on a mission to help save the endangered environment.
When the goddess Ganga follows a forgotten melody, it leads to young Anya, who she charges with an important quest. But before Anya and her friend Mahi can start, they must reconnect with the natural world through their spiritual animals and rekindle the earth’s lost lullaby.
Full of kindness and about learning empathy for others, this is a beautiful story with absolutely stunning full-colour illustrations, and a very special message.
Thank you to Jasbindar Bilan for our signed paperback copy
Non-fiction
Find the Funny: Life in the Ocean – Anna Claybourne and Paula Bossio (pub. Wayland)
This is part of a new series of search and find books that also incorporate interesting scientific facts about plants, creatures, and habitats.
With six bright and colourful double-page spreads, it’s the reader’s job to find all the animals and plants hidden in the images, as well as the items Maxi the young explorer has lost along the way.
After each search, there is a question and answer section that explores some of the illustration’s features, and highlights some of the many creatures shown.
These are a fun and lively way to engage children of 6 years up in STEM topics, especially as the series so far also includes Prehistoric Life, Tech in the City, and Life in the Rainforest!
Space Tour: The Ultimate Journey Across the Universe – Charlotte Isham and Dhara Patel from the National Space Centre (pub. Collins)
Ideal for all young readers interested in space, Space Tour is packed full of fascinating facts about the skies above us.
Divided into handy sections covering everything from gas and rocky planets to invisible space, children can learn about different types of galaxies and some of the extraordinary missions to the sun, as well as how the solar system has influenced Earth’s culture and history. This is all accompanied by full pages of striking backgrounds and stunning photographs.
Written by staff from the National Space Centre, it’s an up-to-date treat that takes you on a wonderful journey of the universe.
Undiscovered Heroes of the Second World War: True Stories of Courage from around the World – Professor Yasmin Khan (pub. Hodder Children’s Books)
This book is important reading for schools and any child interested in the Second World War.
Covering 12 unsung heroes from around the world, some who sadly did not survive the war, it gives an insight into the lives of people who fought and supported the allies in their struggle against hostile nations.
From a fireman in the Blitz to a spy in Singapore, a holocaust survivor to a tea plantation worker, this book shines a light on just a few amazing people who have long been overlooked. Each person’s story is told over several pages with illustrations, after which there is a factfile that features information and photographs relevant to them and their situation.
It’s an inspiring read that we’d definitely recommend adding to your world war resources.
Picture Books
I’m Not Scary…I’m Just A Dinosaur – Ben Lerwill and Erica Salcedo (pub. Words & Pictures)
If you think all dinosaurs are scary, think again!
A must-have for all young dinosaur lovers, this book looks at the features a number of dinosaurs had that helped them survive.
From the diplodocus’ long neck to the ichthyosaurus’ huge eyes, the text explains their features clearly and simply, accompanied by large, playful, and friendly illustrations of each one.
At the back, there’s also animals alive today that share the same useful features of those long ago creatures, which is a great way to see how things have – and haven’t! – changed.
I’m Going to Eat a Polar Bear – Karl Newson and Nicola Kinnear (pub. Happy Yak)
A little penguin is bored of eating fish. They’re slippery and wet, and he wants something soft and fluffy!
An older penguin suggests a fluffy thing called a ‘bolar pear’, but no-one knows what they really are, only that they live far away…
This hilarious book will have readers giggling away as the penguin makes his long journey to find a meal! With wonderfully fun and expressive illustrations, children will also learn that although penguins and polar bears both live in cold climates, they actually live a whole world apart.
Another brilliant book we’d also recommend that makes this point is Poles Apart! by Jeanne Willis and Jarvis, recently republished for its 10th Anniversary by Nosy Crow.
Refuge – Anne Booth and Sam Usher (pub. Nosy Crow)
Refuge takes the reader on the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and beyond.
Looked at through the eyes of the donkey, we enter the stable and see the shepherds and kings arrive after the birth of Jesus. Then comes Joseph’s dream and the small family flee, finally finding refuge in Egypt.
With thoughtful, heartfelt illustrations that show the plight of this family of refugees, it also includes a free audiobook so you can listen along.
Refuge is a classic Christmas book that defies time and is as poignant today as it was when it was first published ten years ago.
£1.00 from the sale of each copy goes to the charity War Child.
That’s it for November’s recommendations – join us on Threads/Instagram, Bluesky, or Twitter/X, and let us know what you’ve been reading!
If any of the books have grabbed your attention, then you can pick up a copy of them via our recommendations list below.
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If you’re looking for more book round-ups, check out our previous reviews here.
