Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Children's Book Picks UK - May 2023

Zohra Nabi (Author), Tom Clohosy Cole (Illustrated) - The Kingdom Over the Sea - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (2 May 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1398517707 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

My own Yara, if you are reading this, then something terrible has happened, and you are on your own. To return to the city of Zehaira, you must read out the words on the back of this letter . . . Good luck, my brave girl. 

When Yara’s mother passes away, she leaves behind a letter and a strange set of instructions. Yara must travel from the home she has always known to a place that is not on any map – Zehaira, a world of sorcerers, alchemists and simmering magic. But Zehaira is not the land it used to be. The practice of magic has been outlawed, the Sultan’s alchemists are plotting a sinister scheme – and the answers Yara is searching for seem to be out of reach.
Yara must summon all of her courage to discover the truth about her mother’s past and her own identity . . . and to find her place in this magical new world.

Ross Montgomery - SPELLSTONE - Published by Walker Books (4 May 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529501933 Paperback - Age: 8+ 

The greatest magic is hidden in plain sight...

Evie is used to not being noticed. But when she meets the mysterious Wainwright, she discovers that going unnoticed might just be what makes her unique. Recruited into a secret magical organization, Evie finds herself at the heart of an ancient and magical battle. Evil is returning to the land, and Evie is the only person who can stop it. But how can she defeat the most dangerous magician in the world, when she doesn’t even know her own powers? 

Skye Melki-Wegner - The Deadlands: Hunted - Published by Walker Books (4 May 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529504736 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

Before there were dragons, there were dinosaurs...

Imagine a world in which the dinosaurs weren't killed by a meteor hitting the earth. A world in which dinosaurs have learned to speak. To dream. To wage war.

Eleri is an oryctodromeus, a small dinosaur raised in an underground warren. He dreams of becoming his herd’s storyteller but when he saves an enemy soldier from a pterosaur attack, he is exiled to the Deadlands. To survive this scorched desert full of carnivores, he joins a herd of other young exiles, including a peppy stegosaur, a stoic sauropod, an irritable triceratops … and a mysterious spy. Can five young misfits save their warring kingdoms?

Includes bonus content: a map and extra dinosaur facts.

Ravena Guron - The Thief of Farrowfell - Published by Faber & Faber; Main edition (4 May 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0571371174 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Welcome to a fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity, traded between those who can pay or - in the case of Jude Ripon, the youngest thief in Farrowfell - those who can steal it! 

Twelve-year-old Jude Ripon has never been taken seriously by her family of magic-stealing masterminds. To them, she's just the youngest, only good for keeping watch while they carry out daring heists.

Desperate to prove her worth, Jude decides to steal valuable magic from the fanciest house in town . . .

But Jude's stolen prize was protected by a curse which threatens to wreak havoc on the family business.

While attempting to untangle the mess she's made (and wondering why anyone would want to curse an honest thief trying to earn a living), Jude discovers just how far her family will go to stay at the top of the criminal world.

Suddenly, her quest to become a true Ripon isn't straightforward any more... 

JEFF NORTON - DINO KNIGHTS - BIG COVER REVEAL

Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books is thrilled to reveal the book cover image for Dino Knights which has been brilliantly illustrated by the very talented George Ermos. This is the first book in a brand new series to be published by Jeff Norton. It is due to be published this summer by Awesome Reads on 6th June 2019. If this sounds like your kind of book then you can pre-order it here. https://awesomereads.com/book/dino-knights/

Imagine medieval times where the dinosaurs never went extinct. Bravery. Loyalty.

Book synopsis: Imagine medieval times where the dinosaurs never went extinct. When dinosaur stable boy Henry Fairchild stops a vicious T-Rex from attacking his master, he is invited to join the most elite group in Brecklan, the brave Knights of Panterra, the Dino Knights. But before he can prove himself, the enemies of Brecklan attack with a flock of pterodactyls and kidnap Lord Harding. Whether he's ready or not, Henry and the Dino Knights mount a daring rescue mission...but nothing is what it seems.

Biography

Jeff Norton is a London based author focused on creating compelling characters, awesome stories, and immersive worlds. A reluctant reader as an adolescent, Jeff's newest book is 'Alienated: Grounded At Groom Lake', is the fun, funny misadventures of the only two human kids at the high school for aliens at Area 51.  

Jeff's first novel is 'MetaWars: Fight For The Future' (Orchard Books), which he created to feel like "a video game you can read" and has spurred three successful sequels. He then wrote the laugh out loud 'Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie' books (Faber) and the young adult thriller 'Keeping The Beat', written together with Marie Powell (KCP Loft / Hachette).

'Stomp School' (Little Tiger Press) is Jeff's first picture book. It's about the day care for little kaiju (that's Japanese for destructive monster). 

Originally from Canada, Jeff has lived in Ohio, Boston, and Los Angeles now lives in London with his wife and two young sons where he writes, produces TV, and coaches baseball. 

Jeff is on the web at www.jeffnorton.com and tweets as @thejeffnorton

UK Book Cover Revealed: Neil Gaiman's - Fortunately, The Milk, - Illustrated by Chris Riddell - Bloomsbury

                                   

Neil Gaiman revealed the UK jacket of his new children’s book online today.

Head to http://journal.neilgaiman.com/ for a pint-sized insight to the new book and a video of Neil talking about the book.

                                       

Illustrated by Chris Riddell, the cover features the book’s hero, a stegosaurus professor and the eponymous milk flying through time and space in a very special machine.

Fortunately, the Milk is an adventure for both young readers and those young at heart. It features aliens, dinosaurs, volcano gods and a pint of milk that saves the universe! The book will be illustrated throughout by Chris Riddell, and will be the third Neil Gaiman project that Chris Riddell has worked on. Chris has previously illustrated the tenth anniversary edition of Coraline and The Graveyard Book, for which he was Kate Greenaway Medal shortlisted.

                                        

Fortunately, the Milk is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 17^th September 2013, £10.99 - Get your order in now!

Inside artwork examples (credit to Chris Riddell) Press release care of Ian Lamb  (Head of Children's Publicity Bloomsbury.) All images subject to copyright.