Category: Book/Resource Lists

  • Takeoff! 2019

    Takeoff! 2019

    20 of the best new books for your school library collection for years 3 and 4.

    The books on the Takeoff! list are selected annually by librarians from the Schools Library Service and primary schools, and is a list of recommended fiction to buy for your school library.

    For fiction for upper KS2, take a look at our latest Must Read booklist.

    The list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Posters and bookmarks will be sent to subscribing primary schools.

    Please contact the library for more information on the Takeoff! list or to request additional posters or bookmarks (subject to availability)

     

    View the list of 20 books

    Adepitan, Ade

    Ade’s amazing Ade-ventures

    When you are in a wheelchair, it’s hard to fit in with the other kids, but Ade finds the Parsons Road Gang are completely different….

    Agard, John

    Shona, word detective

    Don’t be bamboozled or bumbazed – just because lots of words are mysteriously going extinct, doesn’t mean that Shona can’t track them down and save them…

    Barker, Claire

    Picklewitch and Jack

    Picklewitch is, quite literally, out of her tree. She has a nose for naughtiness, a taste for trouble and a weakness for cake. And unluckily for brainbox Jack – winner of the ‘Most Sensible Boy in School’ for the third year running – she’s about to choose him as her new best friend…

    Blackman, Malorie

    A dangerous game

    Also Ellie and the Cat / Grandpa Bert and the Ghost Snatchers

    Butler, Steven

    The Nothing to See Here Hotel

    Welcome to The Nothing to See Here Hotel! A hotel for magical creatures, where weird is normal for Frankie Banister and his parents who run it.

    Colfer, Eoin

    Mariella Queen of the skies

    Mariella loves nothing more than inventing but bedtime keeps getting in the way of all her brilliant ideas! So when Mum and Dad won’t take no for an answer there’s only one thing for it… Mariella has to build a rocket-powered flying suit to zap her round the world faster than the setting sun!

    Corderoy, Tracey

    Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Aliens are Coming!

    Things are HOTTING UP! Someone is CHEATING in the SANDCASTLE competition! There’s something FISHY about the new CAFE! But it’s the ALIEN INVASION that REALLY makes Shifty and Sam lose their COOL! Anyone for an ICED bun?!

    De Saulles, Tony

    Bee Boy: Attack of the zombees

    A strange sickness bug is causing havoc at school.  Mel and his bees think they know why when they discover a factory in the woods – with beekeepers in metal suits and… zombees!

    Fine, Anne

    Back on Weird Street

    Asim, Laila and Tom like nothing more than spooking each other with tales of the unexpected. This summer they’re back with three more stories to chill you to the bone. Can your dreams really grant you fortunes and riches? What lurks in the shadows of Number 17? And is Grandma’s house really haunted, or is it all just a fun imaginary game?

    French, Vivian; Paul, Korky

    The fiendish revenge of Leroy Jones

    Leroy Jones is a very ordinary boy blessed with a truly ridiculous name – one that he is determined to keep hidden from everyone. But when he is paired with the bossy Amy Strundle for a project, she’s set to be a thorn in his side and wants everyone to know his secret. Can Leroy find a way to get his revenge and is it really a dish best served cold?

    Hemming, Alice

    Arlo, Mrs Ogg and the dinosaur zoo

    Things aren’t looking good for 4X. With another teacher running away screaming (literally), Arlo wonders how long the new supply teacher will survive. When Mrs Ogg takes 4X to the zoo, Arlo realises it’s down to him to keep everyone in line, but what she fails to mention is that this is no ordinary zoo…

    Kent, Gabrielle

    Knights and bikes

    Welcome to the sleepy island of Penfurzy, where nothing exciting ever really happens. OR DOES IT? Adventure awaits Demelza and her new best friend in the whole world, Nessa, as they explore the island and uncover the mysteries of the Penfurzy Knights.

    Lawrence, Patrice

    Toad Attack

    Toads are everywhere – munching through gardens, causing chaos in the city – where did they come from?  Leo and Rosa are determined to find out!

    McCall Smith, Alexander

    Hari and his electric feet

    Hari spends most of his time earning money with his sister, making sweets, delivering lunches, but what he really loves to do is dance.. . Is there a way to do what he loves and earn money as well?

    Love, Jessica

    Julian is a Mermaid

    Julian is dazzled by the women he sees on the train home dressed as mermaids   and all he can think about is making his own fabulous mermaid costume.

    Milway, Alex

    Hotel Flamingo

    Anna has her work cut out to get hotel Flamingo back to its former glory, and make it welcoming to all animals, great and small.

    Pitzorno, Bianca

    Lavinia and the magic ring

    What would you wish for is a fairy stepped out of a taxi and gave you a magic ring?  As you know, and as Lavinia finds out, having your wishes come true can lead to mayhem!

    Strong, Jeremy

    Big trouble for Nellie Choc-Ice

    Another story about Nellie, the great penguin explorer.  Nellie has to save the day when the submarine she is travelling in is hi-jacked in New York!

    Todd Taylor, Sarah

    Max the theatre cat: the disappearing diva

    Madame Emerald, the famous singer, is behaving strangely – hiding in her dressing room and refusing to sing in public.  Max, who is a curious cat, tries to figure out why….

    Cross, Gillian

    Jason Banks and the Pumpkin of Doom

    Jason Banks is a bully. No one likes him and even the teachers are scared of him! It’s time that someone taught Jason a lesson and he might just have met his match in the strange pumpkin that keeps appearing on his doorstep. Will Jason ever learn the error of his ways?

     

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  • Teen Booklist 2018

    Teen Booklist 2018

    TheList2018banner41 of the best new fiction titles for your secondary school Library

    The Teenage Book list is selected annually by librarians from the Schools Library Service and secondary schools, and is a list of recommended fiction to buy for your school library.

    The teen list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last 12 months, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Titles from the Teen and Primary lists will be chosen for the Tower Hamlets Book Award short list in July. Remember to let us know if you want to participate in this event!

    Posters and bookmarks will be sent to subscribing secondary schools.

    Please contact the library for more information on the Teen List or to request additional posters or bookmarks (subscribing schools only).

    View the full list
    9781909991408 A Berlin Love Song Sarah Matthias Max is 17, a German schoolboy, when he meets Lili, a trapeze artist from a travelling circus that performs every year in Berlin. Lili is from a Romani gypsy family whose life and customs are very different from those of Max and his family. Their friendship turns into love – but love between a member of the Hitler youth and a gypsy is forbidden. As events tear them apart can their love survive?
    9781910411582 A dangerous Crossing Lane Mitchell Ghalib doesn’t want to leave his home in Syria. But the city has become too dangerous, and his family has no choice but to flee. Together they make their way through Syria to the Turkish border, where Ghalib gets separated from his family. Stricken with grief and fear, fighting cold, pain and hunger, he manages to make it . Ghalib is safe for now, but life in a refugee camp is wretched and hopeless, and this boy’s journey in search of safety is far from over.
    9781406372601 A Friend in the Dark Pascal Ruter Victor is a failure at everything – school, girls, making his dad feel better about his mother having left them. When Marie-Jose, the smartest girl in the class and musical prodigy, starts helping him with his maths homework, there must be something she wants in return.
    9781471145421 All the things that could go wrong Stewart Foster Dan the bully and Alex the bullied are thrown together by their mums for the summer – what could go wrong?  Of course, there are always two sides to every story.
    9780552574303 Beyond the bright sea Lauren Wolk Crow has always lived on the island, ever since, as a tiny baby, she was found washed up on the shore by gentle Osh.  But as she grows older, questions start to arise about who she really is…
    9781911107026 Code Name: Butterfly Ahlam Bsharat Butterfly has lots of questions about the world around her as she grows up in Palestine – why do children seem to grow up so fast?  Why does she sometimes get annoyed with her friends? And more searching questions – why does Baba have to work for the Israeli farmers and not able to have a farm of his own?  Why do the Israelis shoot at Palestinians?  A dramatic portrayal of life in occupied Palestine
    9781407172095 Dream Magic Joshua Khan Things are dire for the inhabitants of Castle Gloom and the surrounding villages. The undead are leaving their graves in droves, a troll army is on the march from the north, and people are mysteriously disappearing from their homes. The people of Gehenna are blaming their misfortunes on Lilith Shadow, their young queen.
    9781406375657 Flying Tips for Flightless Birds Kelly McCaughrain Twins Finch and Birdie Franconi are stars of the flying trapeze. But when Birdie suffers a terrifying accident, Finch must team up with the geeky new kid, Hector Hazzard, to form an all-boys double act and save the family circus school.
    9781509874057 I am thunder Muhammad Khan Fifteen-year-old Muzna Saleem is used to being invisible. So no one is more surprised than her when Arif Malik, the hottest boy in school, takes a sudden interest.  But Arif is hiding a terrible secret and, as they begin to follow a dark path, Muzna faces an impossible choice: keep quiet and betray her beliefs, or speak out and betray her heart.
    9781444934472 I am traitor Sif Sigmarsdottir London has been targeted by extra-terrestrial life and victims are transported to a terrifying other world. Amy Sullivan is an unwilling hero. She runs until she can’t run any more. Then, she is taken.To have a chance of saving herself, and her planet, Amy will have to put faith in those she fears the most. But what if it means becoming a traitor to everyone she has ever loved?
    9781405286152 I have no secrets Penny Joelson Fourteen-year-old Jemma has severe cerebral palsy. Unable to communicate or move, she relies on her family and carer for everything. She has a sharp brain and inquisitive nature, and knows all sorts of things about everyone. But when she is confronted with this terrible secret, she is utterly powerless to do anything. Though that might be about to change…
    9781444934007 Illegal Eoin Colfer/ Andrew Donkin Ebo is one of thousands of refugees from West Africa, desperately attempting to make the crossing to the refugee camps in Italy. Following his sister and his brother he crosses the Sahara to Tripoli and finally to the merciless crossing over the sea.
    9781444927184 Indigo Donut Patrice Lawrence Indigo has had a tough start in life, having grown up in the care system after her dad killed her mum. Bailey lives with his parents in Hackney and spends all his time playing guitar or tending to his luscious ginger afro. When Indigo and Bailey meet at sixth form, serious sparks fly. But when Bailey becomes the target of a homeless man who seems to know more about Indigo than is normal, he is forced to make a choice he should never have to make.
    9781406379006 Landscape with Invisible Hand M.T. Anderson The alien Vuvv land on earth and begin making humans obsolete with their superior new technology.  The trouble with this is that soon, families have no money for food or clean water.  Adam and his girlfriend Chloe pull out all the stops to survive.
    9781405930994 Lion Saroo Brierley Five year old Saroo went missing from his village in India  – and finally found his way back after twenty-five years -an epic story of survival
    9781444014815 List of Real Things Sarah Moore Fitzgerald Grace knows the difference between what’s real and the strange ideas that float around in her little sister’s mind. Their parents died – that’s real. A secret hotel on the cliff-top where their parents are waiting – definitely NOT real. So when grief strikes again, Grace is determined not to let her sister’s outlandish imagination spiral out of control. But the line between truth and fantasy is more complicated than it seems…
    9780192749956 Night Speakers : Sleepless Ali Sparkes Night after night Elena, Matt, and Tima wake at exactly the same time, with no idea why. It’s messing them up and fracturing their lives . . . until they venture out into the dark and find each other. And then the sleepless trio realize their astounding power – they can speak any language; they can even communicate with animals. But something is happening over on the industrial estate – something which is emitting sounds that only they can hear, and killing any winged thing that crosses its path.
    9781781127230 Rook Anthony McGowan When Kenny and Nicky rescue a rook left for dead, Kenny is determined to keep it alive. Nicky doubts the scruffy bird will make it, but then Nicky has plenty else to worry about – a school bully, his first love, and the fact that everything is about to go very, very wrong.
    9781784646981 S/He Catherine Bruton Raven is “gender-fluid” – not a boy, not a girl – so some days decides to join the boys’ activities, and sometimes with the girls.   Kat finds herself enormously attracted to Raven, but what does that say about her?  Whilst trying to work this out, some others in the class want to find out what gender Raven is once and for all – what can Kat do to stop them?
    9781444011258 Saint Death Marcus Sedgwick Anapra is one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the Mexican city of Juarez. Twenty metres beyond is America – the dangerous goal of many a migrant. Faustino is one of them, trying desperately to escape from the gang he’s been working for. He’s dipped into a pile of dollars he was supposed to be hiding, and now he’s on the run. Watching over them all the while is Saint Death. Santissima Muerte.
    9781406379242 Scythe Neil Shusterman A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life – and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
    9781509801138 Seven Letter Word Kim Slater Finlay’s mother vanished two years ago. And ever since then his stutter has become almost unbearable. Bullied at school and ignored by his father, the only way to get out the words which are bouncing around in his head is by writing long letters to his ma which he knows she will never read, and by playing Scrabble online. But when Finlay is befriended by an online Scrabble player called Alex, everything changes.
    9781471146077 Sky Song Abi Elphinstone Eska  and Flint live in the snowy kingdom of Erkenwald, where whales glide between icebergs, wolves hunt on the tundra and polar bears roam the glaciers. But the people of this land aren’t so easy to find – because Erkenwald is ruled by an evil Ice Queen and the tribes must stay hidden or risk becoming her prisoners at Winterfang Palace.  Join Flint and Eska in their search for the power to force the Ice Queen back.
    9781471147159 The Diabolic S.J. Kincaid Nemisis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The girl who is as much as sister as a master. There’s nothing Nemesis wouldn’t do to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect her… she must become her; hiding her true abilities and pretending to be human.
    9781408332511 The Erth Dragons : Dark Wyng Chris D’Lacey Ren is the first of his kind – a boy with the powers of a dragon – but the dragons are wary of his skills.  Meanwhile a dark stranger arrives among the humans, far more threatening for the dragons than Ren….
    9781408342923 The Ethan I was Before Ali Standish A childhood dare changes Ethan’s life for ever when he loses his best friend Kacey.  Moving from Boston to Georgia, he meets Coralee, who might just be able to help him come to terms with what happened, but Coralee has secrets of her own…
    9781471160622 The Girl In Between Sarah Carroll In an old, abandoned mill in the heart of Dublin, homeless Sam and her ma take find refuge. Sam feels safe in her “Castle” but as her ma spins out of control and the Authorities move ever closer, Sam finds herself trapped – stuck in the crumbling mill with only the ghosts of the past for company
    9781406372151 The Hate U Give Angie Thomas Sixteen-year-old Starr manages to juggle her two worlds – the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. But this uneasy balance is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.
    9781781126806 The Liars Handbook Keren David River is instantly suspicious of  Mum’s new boyfriend, Jason  – he seems fake, too good to be true. At school, River s routine fibs are escalating into something more serious, and his teacher gives him a notebook in the hope he can channel his fantasies into creative writing instead. And so, River begins The Liar s Handbook, and an investigation into Jason. But what he uncovers is a terrible deception involving his biological father, the police force and his mum s environmental campaign group… but will anyone take his findings seriously?
    9781406375473 The Loneliest Girl in the Universe Lauren James Romy is lonely, the only survivor on a spaceship, so how wonderful to discover a second spaceship also with a single passenger  – a boy called J.  Romy is falling in love, but what do the mysterious messages which have started arriving from Earth really mean?
    9781510101586 The Ones that Disappeared Zana Fraillon Esra and his siblings are imprisoned in a basement by Orlando and their job is to tend the underground crops of drugs that Orlando grows.  They manage to escape, but are separated – how can Esra get his family back together again
    9781509832569 The Road to Ever After Moira Young Davy makes his angel pictures in the dirt in the early dawn while people are asleep.  An orphan and living on the streets, he is used to surviving alone, so when George the dog leads him to Miss Flint, he is wary about getting involved.  But Miss Flint, with not long to live needs him for her last great adventure
    9781406373554 The Secret Horses of Briar Hill Megan Shepherd Britain is at war. Emmaline has been evacuated away from the bombs to Briar Hill Hospital in Shropshire. When she gets there she discovers a secret. It’s not to be shared, not to be told to anyone, even her friend Anna.
    9781406379907 The Wonderling Mira Bartok Number 13, a one-eared foxlike boy lives trapped in The Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures, run by the evil Miss Carbunkle. When he recieves two gifts – a name and a best friend – he finds the courage to escape into the world on a path to his true destiny.
    9781783446735 Things a bright girl can do Sally Nicholls Through rallies and marches, in polite drawing rooms and freezing prison cells and the poverty-stricken slums of the East End, three courageous young women join the fight for the vote. But the fight for freedom will challenge Evelyn, May and Nell more than they ever could believe. As war looms, just how much are they willing to sacrifice?
    9781406366938 Truth or Dare Non Pratt Sef is desperate to raise money to somehow reverse the brain damage done to his big brother, Kam, when he fell into a river. Claire is a willing accomplice on his mission to create a you-tube channel “truth or dare” – after all, Claire would do anything for Sef.  But they are not making enough money, so Sef comes up with the biggest dare yet – one story through two people’s eyes.
    9781408878880 We come apart Sarah Crossan Jess would never have looked twice at Nicu if her friends hadn’t left her in the lurch. Even when they’re picking up litter in the park for community service. He’s so not her type. Appearances matter to Jess. She’s got a lot to hide.Nicu thinks Jess is beautiful. His dad brought Nicu and his mum here for a better life, but now all they talk about is going back home to find Nicu a wife. The last thing Nicu wants is to get married.  But his dad’s fists are the most powerful force in Nicu’s life.
    9781926890142 When morning comes Arushi Raina It s 1976 in South Africa, and four young people are living in Johannesburg and its black township, Soweto: Zanele, a black female student organizer; Meena, a South Asian girl working at her father’s shop; Jack, an Oxford-bound white student; and Thabo, a teen-gang member, or tsotsi. From each of their points of view, this book explores the roots of the Soweto Uprising and the edifice of apartheid in a South Africa about to explode.
    9781474921145 Where the World Ends Geraldine McCaughrean Be taken to the end of the world, a lonely rock stack in the midst of rough seas, to hunt for its only inhabitants, the seabirds whose meat, oil and feathers help to keep your community alive.  When no one keeps back to take you home, how would you keep up your spirits amongst the desparate and despairing group?  A lyrical, harsh and enthralling story of survival and resilience.
    9781781126950 Worry Angels Sita Brahmachari Amy May knows about webs of worries – so many people she meets are caught in them, from her own artist dad to newly arrived refugee Rima and her family. By being brave enough to open up her own worry box, can Amy May help those around her to find a way forward?
    9781509812509 Tender Earth Sita Brahmachari Laila Levenson has always been the baby of the family, but now with her older siblings, Mira and Krish, leaving home just as she starts secondary school, everything feels like it’s changing… can the reappearance of Nana Josie’s Protest Book and the spirit it releases in Laila, her friends and her local community, help her find her own voice and discover what she truly believes in?
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  • Takeoff! 2018

    Takeoff! 2018

    Takeoffbanner2018

    22 of the best new books for your collection for years 3 and 4.

    The books on the Takeoff! list are selected annually by librarians from the Schools Library Service and primary schools, and is a list of recommended fiction to buy for your school library.

    For fiction for upper KS2, take a look at our latest Must Read booklist.

    The list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Posters and bookmarks will be sent to subscribing primary schools.

    Please contact the library for more information on the Takeoff! list or to request additional posters or bookmarks

     

    Read the full list
    9780571329731 Ballerina Dreams Michaela DePrince At the orphanage in Sierra Leone, Michaela dreamed of being a ballerina, so imagine her delight when her new American adoptive parents send her to ballet school! A true story of international ballet star.
    9781783445202 The Bolds on Holiday by Julian Clary Hyena family, the Bolds, are off to the seaside, but trouble arrives when Bobby is mistaken for a pup and snatched by a wicked dognapper. Can the family track her down and rescue all the stolen dogs without giving away their disguise?
    9781444934014 Dinosaur Dash By Mo Farah, Kes Gray, Marta Kissi Mo and his friends discover that running backwards takes you back in time as well! But they find themselves in the time of the dinosaurs – who are not all that friendly!
    9781781125885 Dread Cat Michael Rosen Dread cat has promised he will turn over a new leaf and stop eating them – but can the mice trust him?
    9781847157874 Escape from Planet Bogey Gareth P. Jones The Pet Defenders need to find out why animals are disappearing from Nothington-on-Sea and discover aliens are holding the Planet Bogey Games. Can secret agents Biskit and Mitzy win the contest and find their missing partner, Champ. And what’s more, can they get back home afterwards?
    9781444931600 Princess Smartypants and the Fairy Geek Mothers By Babette Cole In Fairy Land, the Fairy Geek Mothers have set up a website, offering wishes – ignoring the rule that fairies can only offer three wishes at a time. When the wishes start to go wrong, it is up to Princess Smartypants and her friends but everything back to rights
    9781782956099/ 9781782953043 Daisy and the Trouble with Chocolate/ Jack Beechwhistle : Rise of the Hairy Horrors Kes Gray As well as getting to look after the school hamsters for the whole Easter holidays, Daisy is lucky enough to get two free tickets to Chocolate Land – what could be better?!

    Why does the hairdresser, Valentino, collect the hair he cuts from everyone’s head?  Jack Beechwhistle, undercover agent extraordinaire, makes it his business to find out.

    9781786960160 The River Challenge Bear Grylls The worst thing that could happen to Jack is falling in a river – given his secret fear of water, but he is pulled out by Bear Grylls and Jack learns how to survive – building a shelter for overnight, catching fish, building a raft and navigating back to safety!
    9781407135090 The Cat and the King Nick Sharratt When a fire-breathing dragon burns down the castle, the king and his best friend the cat have to move house -and find 37 Castle Close where they set about getting to know their neighbours -but watch out for the return of the fire-breathing dragon!
    9781406373349 They Don’t Teach This in Worm School! Simone Lia Marcus likes being a worm likes brown, mud and digging holes, but when he meets Laurence a pigeon who thinks he’s a flamingo, he has to do a deal to stop himself getting eaten – and that is navigating the way to Kenya so that Laurence can find his family. The trouble is, Marcus doesn’t know how to navigate…
    9780008248413 The Birthday Surprise Clara Vulliamy Both Dotty and her teacher Mr D are hugely excited about their upcoming birthdays. Dotty’s Mum is planning a special party for her and the class have made a surprise present for Mr D. But when the gift mysteriously disappears, who could have taken it?
    9781781126837 Good Dog McTavish Meg Rosoff McTavish could see that the Peachey family needed help, now that Ma Peachey had resigned and there was no one to do the cooking or the laundry. When Plan A does not work, he sets about implementing Plan B…
    9781474744195/ 9781474744201 The Girl in the Graveyard and other Scary Tales/ The Library Claw and other Scary Tales Michael Dahl Spooky rooms in the local library noises in the basement, a short cut through the graveyard, an imp in the bathroom – no end of scary stories in these two collections!
    9780857639158 The Invincibles : The Beast of Bramble Woods Caryl Hart Nell and Freddie sneak out to join the older children camping in the woods. It’s great fun…until the Beast of Bramble Wood wants to join in!
    9780993553738 Al’s Awesome Science: No.1: Egg-Speriments! Jane Clarke Al loves experimenting – one of these days he is going to discover something amazing. Right now, he’s testing for the best thing to make a time machine with – which he will need to get away from the trouble he’s in for making so much mess!
    9780192763877 Bee Boy : Clash of the Killer Queens Tony De Saulles Half BEE. Half BOY. Melvin Meadly is . . . BEE BOY. As a bee, Mel is ready to defend his hive against all enemies taking on killer wasps, terrifying hawkmoths, and battling queen bees. But as a boy, has he got what it takes to protect his bees (and himself) against the greatest menace of all Nasty Norman Crudwell?
    9781406366051 Animals Behaving Badly By Nicola Davies True stories about some very weird and strange animals, from deadly wolverines to thieving birds and farting fish!
    9781509808847 Swashbuckle Lil and the Jewel Thief Elli Woollard No-one in school knows that Lil is a swashbuckling pirate who’s scared of nothing – but she has to come to the rescue when Old Stinkbeard tries to steal the King’s ruby whilst the class are on a trip to the museum
    9781848126336 Flying Fergus 7: The Wreck-It Race by Sir Chris Hoy The new coach, Charlie Campbell, has different ideas on how to win a cycling championship and the team are not sure it is going to work – why do yoga? And wheelbarrow races? And why enter the Wreck-it Run, where you have to build you own bike and compete in pairs? How will this help the team get faster?
    9781911370062 My Name is Not Refugee Kate Milner We have to leave this town, it’s not safe, says mother. We have to say goodbye to old friends and travel a long way. We will see new and interesting things and learn new words: a beautiful way to learn about what it means to be a refugee.

     

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  • Must Read Booklist 2018

    Must Read Booklist 2018

    MustRead2018banner41 of the best new fiction titles for your primary school Library, aimed at years 5 and 6.
    The Must Read Book list is one of our annual selections of the best fiction for primary schools chosen by librarians from the Schools Library Service and primary and secondary schools, and is a suggested list to buy for your school library.

    For fiction for years 3 and 4, take a look at our Takeoff! booklist.

    The book list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Titles from the 2018 Teen and Primary lists will be chosen for the Tower Hamlets Book Award short list in July. Don’t forget to register for this event!

    A set of posters and bookmarks for the book list will be sent to all subscribing primary schools.

    Please contact the library for any further information about the book list.

    To request additional posters/ bookmarks email jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk (subject to availability)

    Read the full list
    9781848126169 A Storm of Strawberries Jo Cottrill An engaging story from the point of view of a young girl with Down’s Syndrome.  A storm is raging on their strawberry fruit farm but that’s not the only storm brewing.  Her sixteen year old sister is embarking on a blossoming relationship with her girlfriend and not everyone approves.
    9781474927291 The Amber Pendant Imogen White Rescued from a miserable life in the workhouse, Rose Muddle finds that her new mistress has a plan for her, involving a magical amber pendant and evil, mysterious enemies.
    9781406342284 Caleb’s Cab Sally and Sylvain Chomet Trapped in a surreal, parallel world where money means more than happiness, Caleb needs to find his father before the evil Money Mongers get to him first. His only hopes – a fake moustache and his dad’s taxi cab.
    9781782117049 Dragon’s Green Scarlet Thomas After the Worldquake, Effie learnt about magic – time in her grandfather’s library made sure of that. But there’s still much she has to learn. About the Otherworld and about the Diberi, a secret organisation with plans to destroy the entire universe.
    9780552576239 Fly Me Home Polly Ho-Yen London is cold and grey and the neighbours are noisy and there’s concrete everywhere. Feeling lost and alone in a strange new city, Leelu wishes she could fly away back home – her real home where her dad is, thousands of miles away. But Leelu is not alone; someone is leaving her gifts outside her house – wonders which give her curious magical powers. Powers which might help her find her way home . . .
    9781848125643 Giant Kate Scott Eleven year old Anzo, is short, very short. Which makes it difficult to be noticed in a noisy family who are unusually tall. If only he could grow a bit taller. With the help of his best friend, Elise, he harnesses the power of positive force.  Anzo eventually gets up the courage to follow his dream and find his place in the world.
    9781783443826 His Royal Whiskers Sam Gayton Something bad has happened to Prince Alexander, the only heir to the mighty Petrossian Empire. Somehow, the Prince has been miraculously transformed into a fluffy-wuffy kitten. Why has this terrible catastrophe happened? Who are the  boy and girl and how will they avoid getting their heads chopped off by Alexandra’s father, the Fearsome Czar?
    9781474921305 Just Call Me Spaghetti-Hoop Boy Lara Williamson Adam Butters has decided he’s going to be a Superhero.  He’s going to solve problems and make people happy and that’s good because his adoptive Mum needs cheering up. This is a story about the power in us all to be extraordinary.
    9780571327584 Letters from the Lighthouse Emma Carroll Enthralling story of evacuees Olive and Cliff who have plenty of mysteries to solve: secret codes, their sister’s disappearance in an air raid, and why is the lighthouse so important to the enemy and to the allies?
    9781444929096 Miraculous Miranda Siobhan Parkinson Miranda Maguire is the creator of a land where stories never end. As she writes down her fantasy world, small miracles start to happen in real life.  Can miranda write a miracle for her poorly sister?
    9781510103825 Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow Jessica Townsend Morrigan is due to die on her twelfth birthday, and is less than happy when it turns out that her death is coming a year early. Unless, that is, a different fate is planned for her, involving the Wundrous Society, a giant cat and the phenomenally ginger Jupiter North.
    9781910959589 Overheard in a Tower Block Joseph Coelho An astonishing new collection of powerful and moving poems about growing up in the city. A disappearing father and a Mermaid Queen mother; bullies that kick you under the table and the things that lurk in the library….
    9781510102088 Running on the Roof of the World Jess Butterworth Tash has to follow many rules to survive in Tibet, a country occupied by Chinese soldiers. But when a man sets himself on fire in protest and soldiers seize Tash’s parents, she and her best friend Sam are determined to escape Tibet – and seek the help of the Dalai Lama himself in India.
    9781444013931 Scaredy Cat, Scaredy Cat Phil Earle Kay Catt has a nickname Scaredy Catt because you’ve never met a more anxious girl in your life! Then she meets a mysterious old man on Storey Street and begins to come out of her shell. Wilf Wilkinson isn’t your average old man but has a cloak, a strange pointy hat and some extraordinary cats.
    9780192749826 Stunt Double Tamsin Cooke Free-running champion and karate black belt, Finn’s ideal job is as a stunt double in the movies.  But director Agatha Novak wants the stunts to become more and more daring and dangerous – what secrets is she hiding?
    9781910989951/ 9781910989814 Tamsin and the Dark / Robo Rumble Neill Cameron Alex and Freddy are brothers. They’re also robot (not so) secret agents defending East London from rampaging villains! Schoolgirl Tamsin Thomas has a part-time job as the last Pellar: magical protector of Cornwall’s human population from creatures ancient and uncanny…
    9781407159690 The Bookshop Girl Sylvia Bishop Property Jones lives in a bookshop, and her secret is that she can’t read. When her family win the incredible Montgomery Book Emporium in a raffle, things seem too good to be true, until the mysterious Eliot Pink turns up…
    9781910655757 The Elephant Thief Jane Kerr Offered a job by a zoo keeper, pickpocket Danny’s task is to ride an elephant, Maharajah, from Edinburgh to Manchester. But Danny’s past, and a ruthless criminal, can’t be left behind so easily.
    9781407138558 The Everything Machine Ally Kennen Olly, Stevie and Bird have just had a very special delivery. It’s a machine that has a name, can speak and is able to print anything they want. But getting everything you’ve wished for isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!
    9781408882191 The Explorer Katherine Rundell When their plane crashes four children are stranded in the Amazon jungle. Now they have to survive alone, but was someone there before them?
    9781848126473 The Girl Who Drank the Moon Kelly Barnhill The people of the protectorate don’t realise that instead of eating them, Xan rescues all the babies they leave as a sacrifice to her.  Luna, one such child, accidently drank moonlight instead of starlight and so became extraordinarily magical.  When the people from Protectorate decide to kill the witch instead of offering more sacrifices, can Luna’s magic save her?
    9780141377025 The Guggenheim Mystery Robin Stevens Three months ago Ted Spark solved the mystery of how his cousin disappeared from a pod on the London Eye. Now his Aunt has been accused of stealing a painting from the Guggenheim Museum and it’s up to him to find the real culprit.
    Read more at https://www.penguin.co.uk/puffin/books/304196/the-guggenheim-mystery/#TlbqekTmpIxoZlIC.99
    9781911490043 The Ice Garden Guy Jones Jess is allergic to the sun. She lives indoors in a world of shadows, peeking at other children from her house. One night she sneaks out and discovers an impossibility – a magical garden made of ice.
    9781510201255 The Incredible Billy Wild Joanna Nadin When Billy Wild’s teacher asks the class to write a letter to their god, Billy’s request is simple:

    Please send me a dog.

    So when he discovers a greyhound hiding in the shed, he decides someone must really be listening. With the help of his brothers, Billy sets out to hide her from Dad.
    Billy must make a big, brave, wild decision – but it’s one that might save Dog and hundreds like her.

    9781910002766 The Island at the End of Everything Kiran Millwood Hargrave There are some places you would not want to go . Even if there are  oceons filled with sea turtles and dolphins. Even if there are forests lush with parrots and the air is warm and fragrant. Nobody comes to the island because they want to. The island of no return
    9780857638403 The Jamie Drake Equation Christopher Edge It’s really cool to have a Dad who’s an astronaut, but actually Jamie misses having him around.  When Jamie picks up a strange signal on his phone, he realises aliens are getting closer and his Dad is in danger.  Can he save the day?
    9780571340200 The Legend of Podkin One-Ear Kieran Larwood Podkin is the son of a warrior chieftain, so when the warren is attacked, Podkin has to rise to the challenge of protecting the rabbits and defeating Gorm, the most horrifying enemy rabbitkind has ever known.
    9781407171289 The Light Jar Lisa Thompson In the dead of night, Nate and his Mum run away to a tumbledown cottage in the middle of a forest. When Mum heads off for food and dosen’t return, Nate is left alone and afraid with shadows all around him.  But comfort comes from an unexpected place and the reappearance of someone from his past.
    9781509810727 The Never-Ending Birthday Katie Dale When Max and Anni have the worst birthday ever, as they blow out the candles on their cake they make one wish – to be able to do that day again. And again. Until they get things right.
    9781911370048 The Pavee and the Buffer Girl Siobhan Dowd Jim is a teenage traveller, whose family have stopped at the town of Dundray in Ireland.  Jim is made to go to school but it proves a hostile place for traveller children except for one girl, Kit, who tries to help him find some peace. A moving story based on many true accounts of travellers’ lives . Illustrated with stunning ink-and -wash artwork  bringing the story vividly to life.
    9780571332540 The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club Alex Bell When Stella joins the Polar Bear Explorers on an expedition to the Icelands, her eyes are opened to a world of danger , adventure and snow pirates! There are giant yetis, magical golden geese and important friendships to be made.
    9781471146244 The Pudding Problem Joe Berger Sam Little declares he is NOT a liar but that might not be completely true!  Maybe he tells the odd porky pie or stretches the truth now and again.  An hilarious graphic novel where Sam’s experiments with the truth get him into all sorts of trouble.
    9780440871170 The Silver Boy Kristina Ohlsson The curious silver boy outside Aladdin’s parent’s restaurant leaves no footprints when he runs away and always seems to disappear.  Aladdin and his friends are drawn into a web of secrets, treasure and crime when they set out to investigate
    9781681197883 The Song from Somewhere Else A. F. Harrold Frank doesn’t know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies one afternoon. No one likes Nick. He’s big, he’s weird and he smells – or so everyone thinks. And yet, there’s something nice about Nick’s house. There’s strange music playing there, and it feels light and good and makes Frank feel happy for the first time in forever.
    9781444936728 The Wizards of Once Cressida Cowell Xar is a wizard. Trouble is, he has no magic at all and will do anything to get it. Wish is a warrior. She has too much magic for her own good and will do anything to hide it. Sooner rather than later, their worlds are going to collide.
    9781784292744 There May Be a Castle Piers Torday On Christmas Eve, Mouse and his family set off in the snow and freezing temperatures to his grandparents. They never arrive. Thrown from the car, Mouse finds himself, along with a sheep and a bossy horse in a strange, magic land. Together they set off on a journey, somewhere, to find something very important…
    9781910989449 Wed Wabbit Lissa Evans Fidge and her awful cousin Graham (and his ‘transitonary toy’ plastic carrot), have somehow ended up in the garish land of the Wimbly Woos that is straight out of her little sister’s picture book. Battling against brightly coloured political correctness and an evil, giant, phonetically challenged rabbit, they need to find their way home before they wind up dead or completely insane.
    9781509840472 Welcome to Nowhere Elizabeth Laird Twelve year old Omar is from the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. Omar wants to become a successful businessman but soon bombs are falling and Omar and his family have to flee their home and homeland. But where do you go when you can’t go home?
    9781406371703 William Wenton and the Luridium Thief Bobbie Peers William is in hiding with his family after the mysterious disappearance of his Grandfather. His talent for cracking codes gets him kidnapped and taken to the secretive Institute for Post Human Reasearch. What secrets are  the Institute hiding? Impossible puzzles, cybernetic creatures and bloodthirsty robots all try to stop him finding out the truth.
    9781406373189 Raymie Nightingale Kate DiCamillo Raymie has a plan – a plan that will surely bring her desperately-missed father back into her life.  After all, what father will not sit up and take notice when his daughter wins the State baton-twirling contest?  But life does not always go according to plan…

     

     

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  • Must Read Booklist 2017

    Must Read Booklist 2017

    MustRead2017banner40 of the best new fiction titles for your primary school Library, aimed at years 5 and 6.
    The Must Read Book list is our annual selection of the best fiction for primary schools chosen by librarians from the Schools Library Service and primary and secondary schools, and is a suggested list to buy for your school library.

    The book list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Titles from the 2017 Teen and Primary lists will be chosen for the Book Award short list in July. Don’t forget to register for this event!

    A set of posters and bookmarks for the book list will be sent to all subscribing primary schools.

    Please contact the library for any further information about the book list.

    To request additional posters/ bookmarks email jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk (subject to availability)


    Read the full list
    Authors Title Synopsis
    Murphy, Adam Lost tales An invisible warrior longing to be seen; a greedy king trying to cheat fate; a lonely princess who became friends with a sea monster. Eight lost stories from around the world.
    Boyce, Frank Cottrell Astounding broccoli boy Rory Rooney is prepared for anything, up to and including a hippo attack. What he’s not prepared for is discovering that he’s turning green. Broccoli green. Is he turning into a super hero, or has he just eaten something that disagrees with him?
    Bradman, Tony Master Will and the Spanish spy All young Will Shakespeare wants is to join the troupe of players, but there’s a dangerous reality to the drama…
    Bunzl, Peter Cogheart Lily’s father is missing and silver-eyed men stalk her through the shadows. What could they want from her? With her friends – Robert, the clockmaker’s son, and Malkin, her mechanical fox – Lily is plunged into a murky and menacing Victorian world. Too soon Lily realises that those she holds dear may be the very ones to break her heart…
    Caldecott, Elen Spooks and scooters A dream holiday is cancelled because of the theft of the blueprints for a revolutionary new scooter. Now it’s up to the Marsh Road investigators to solve the mystery!
    Cooke, Tamsin Cat burglar As a result of slipping her hand into an Aztec bracelet, a race-against-time ensue for Scarlett as she tries to find and release her father from his captivity in the hands of an evil gang, in time for him to take his diabetes medicine.
    Cotterill, Jo Electrigirl Holly used to be an ordinary girl, but a rogue lightning bolt has given her the superpower of accidentally blowing things up. Now she needs to learn to control her powers in time to stop a really creepy mobile phone company…
    Crossley-Holland, Kevin Heartsong Laura is an orphan abandoned by her mother in 18th century Venice. She has no voice but she does have a gift for music which is discovered by the composer, Vivaldi.
    Day, Susie Pea’s book of best friends When Pea Llewellyn’s dizzy but dazzling single mum becomes a bestselling author, everything changes. It’s time to leave their tiny flat in Tenby for a proper house in London, and a whole new life – but Pea also needs a new best friend…..
    Delahaye, Rachel Jim Reaper, son of Grim Jim’s problems start off simple – he doesn’t have the latest scooter. Then things become more tricky, from Mum’s anchovy tea to finding out exactly what Dad does for a living…
    Dodd, Amber We are giants Sydney really doesn’t want to move house, she doesn’t want to have to make new friends and she certainly doesn’t want to grow taller than her dwarfish mum, but life has to go on, even if you don’t want it to….
    Earle, Phil The war next door The Milners own Storey Street – well they want to – but right now they just bully everyone on it. Until the Jessop’s caravan arrives and fearless Jemima threatens to end their reign of terror…
    Easton, T S Our house Chloe lives in a less than perfect house. The front door has a mind of its own, one room is decorated with a heavy metal mural and there are enough bats in the attic to keep Batman busy. Her family is less than perfect too, though, so perhaps it’s a good home after all?
    Fisher, Justin Ned’s circus of marvels Ned Waddlesworth has always considered his world to be exceptionally ordinary. Until the day he discovers it ISN’T. AT ALL. Because on Ned’s thirteenth birthday he discovers that everything magical he’s ever read about or imagined is REAL.
    Gardner, Lyn Rose Campion and the stolen secret Rose was left by her mother at the door of Campion’s Palace of Variety and Wonders as a baby. When murder threatens to destroy the music hall, Rose will need all her performance skills to crack the crime and delve into a murky past of blackmail, subterfuge and abduction…
    Gemin, Giancarlo R Sweet pizza Joe’s Italian great-grandfather opened his cafe in Wales in 1929. Today, inspired by stories of persecution of his family during the war, Joe vows to save the cafe, and bring Italian culture back to the high street.
    Gibbons, Alan The lion roars Jimi knows the names of all the great African footballers, and he wants nothing more than to wear the kit of the Lions of Senegal. Can his daydreams be more than just dreams?
    Green, Julia The wilderness war The wilderness is the perfect place for building dens and inventing games. And it’s the perfect place for the wildlife that have made it their home. Everything seems perfect until the day that the ‘Land for sale’ sign appears…
    Haig, Matt A boy called Christmas This is the true story of Father Christmas. It’s impossible, and it gets a little bit dark, but by the end you’ll believe in magic.
    Hargrave, Kiran Millwood The girl of ink & stars The world beyond Isabella’s island is a monster-filled wasteland – and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Setting off to find her friend, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.
    Harrison, Michelle The other Alice What happens to stories if they are left unfinished? Do the characters stay within their pages? Or do they wander, and make their own ending?
    Ho-Yen, Polly Where monsters lie Legend tells of monsters living in the depths of Mivtown loch. When strange things begin happening in the village, Finn and Effie discover that darkness is not limited to the deep waters…
    Jones, Rob Lloyd Jake Atlas and the tomb of the emerald snake The Atlas family is in trouble. Jake hides an addiction to stealing and his twin sister, Pan, has to conceal her genius for fear of bullies. The siblings can’t stop fighting – with each other and with their parents. But Jake’s and Pan’s lives take a dramatic turn the day they discover the truth about their boring mum and dad.
    Kaaberbøl, Lene Wildfire (Wildwitch series) Having barely recovered from her last adventure (Wildwitch: Oblivion), Clara barely has time to adjust to her new powers and a strange cat companion before she receives a cry for help…
    Khan, Joshua Shadow magic Lilith Shadow rules Gehenna from Castle Gloom, an immense windowless citadel. Once Lily’s ancestors commanded spirits, communed with the dead and raised armies from out of the grave, but now her country is about to be conquered by the lords of light.
    Leonard, M G Beetle boy Darkus Cuttle can’t believe that his father is the sort of man to just ‘disappear’. He also can’t believe it when a giant beetle seems to want to communicate with him – how can a boy be friends with a beetle? And can the beetle help him find his father?
    Montgomery, Ross Perijee & me The shrimp-like alien creature Caitlin discovers on the shores of her island home just won’t stop eating and won’t stop growing! When the authorities try to hunt him down Perijee disappears and starts causing trouble. Caitlin must leave home and travel across the country to try and convince Perijee to stop destroying everything before it’s too late.
    Palmer, Tom Wings : flyboy Jatinder, always one to play it safe, finds himself transported into the past – into the life of Sikh fighter pilot Hardit Singh Malik…
    Reeve, Philip Pugs of the frozen north Competition is fierce to win the race to the top of the world… but Sika and Shen have something the other contestants don’t have – they have a 264 pug-powered sled!
    Rosen, Michael Uncle Gobb and the dread shed Nobody likes Uncle Gobb and Malcolm can’t work out why he polishes his face. Gobb thinks he’s trying to save the world, but he doesn’t like people asking (or answering) the wrong questions. Only bamboozling will stop him! (any resemblance to education ministers is purely coincidental).
    Rundell, Katherine The wolf wilder Wolf pups can fetch a thousand roubles and are said to bring luck to a household, but they can never be truly tamed. Feodora is a wolf wilder, who takes wolves when they outgrow their household and teaches them to be as strong and as wild as the country where they were born.
    Sedgwick, Julian Shadow of the Yangtze Ruby and Charlie must follow the Yangtze river for thousands of miles to rescue Fei, but it is a dark and dangerous journey….
    Solomons, David My gym teacher is an alien overlord Luke resents not having superpowers (unlike his brother) and it doesn’t help matters that he knows that aliens are attacking Earth and no one believes him. Will Luke’s jealousy of his brother be our planet’s downfall?
    Stewart, Paul Mind warp 500 years ago the robots turned on the humans and pushed them to the edge of extinction. Now, the final battle is beginning.
    Woodfine, Katherine The mystery of the jewelled moth Edwardian London high society is fancy enough, but it gets even more exciting when our heroines follow a trail of clues and cucumber sandwiches leading to a criminal mastermind…
    Pearson, Luke Hilda and the midnight giant When invisible creatures bombard Hilda’s house with eviction notices, it looks as though she might be moving to the town. And who is this giant who only appears at midnight, and why is Hilda the only person who can see him?
    Murty, Sudha Serpent’s revenge India’s greatest epic, the Mahabharata, introduced through a collection of extraordinary tales
    Cliff, Tony Delilah Dirk and the King’s Shilling A graphic novel set during the Naoleonic Wars with a female adventuress who’d rather fight a duel with her twin swords than put on a ballgown, her ever-patient and introverted friend Mr Selim (who basically is the God of Teamaking) and a turncoat British Army major. Also swordfights, motherly disapproval and occasional explosions.
    Halahmy, Miriam Yasmin’s journey Syria is at war. After losing their father, Yasmin and her brother, Ali, are forced into a perilous journey in search of safety.
    D’Adamo, Francesco Oh! Freedom Peg Leg Joe can lead Tommy and his family to Canada and to freedom along the secret underground railroad, but it is a dangerous journey and runaway slaves when caught are dealt with very severely
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  • Takeoff! 2017

    Takeoff! 2017

    Takeoff2 Takeoff1

    20 of the best new books for your collection for years 3 and 4.

    New for 2017 by popular demand, the books on the Takeoff! list are selected annually by librarians from the Schools Library Service and primary schools, and is a list of recommended fiction to buy for your school library.

    The list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Posters and bookmarks will be sent to subscribing primary schools.

    Please contact the library for more information on the Takeoff! list or to request additional posters or bookmarks.

    View the full list
    Authors Title Synopsis
    Agard, John; Broad, Michael Going batty Shona can’t stand bats, so she’s a bit concerned when her new teacher announces they’re about to begin a bat project. But that’s nothing to how she feels when a colony of the pesky flappers turn up in her own attic!
    Atinuke; Johnson-Cadwell, Warwick The no. 1 car spotter fights the factory Oluwalase is excited when a factory is built near his village in Nigeria. There will be jobs for the villagers, including his father. But strange things begin to happen: the goats become sick and the fish in the river are dying. What is going on?
    Beck, Ian; Beck, Ian Grey island red boat Everything on the Island of Ashes is grey, from the weather to the castle, the grass and the flowers. But then the red boat arrives and with it a young man who believes he is cursed – everything he touches turns to colour
    Brezenoff, Steven; Weber, Lisa K. The case of the stolen spacesuit When the spacesuit of a famous astronaut is stolen from an exhibition, there’s no shortage of suspects. Thankfully, Amal Farah, daughter of the Air and Space Museum’s head archivist, and her friends are on the case.
    Burnell, Cerrie; Anderson, Laura Ellen Harper and the Circus of Dreams Late one evening as the stars begin to twinkle, Harper and her friends are flying on the scarlet umbrella when they see a girl running on air, skipping along a tightrope. She leads them to the Circus of Dreams, suspended in the air by hot air balloons.
    Colfer, Eoin; Robertson, Matt Anna Liza and the happy practice Nine-year-old Anna Liza wants to be a psychiatrist just like her Mum. This involves sitting in her mum’s waiting room and asking her patients’ children what their problems are. What could possibly go wrong?
    Earle, Phil; Ogilvie, Sara Superhero street Michael J Mouse just wants to stand out against his five brothers and when he accidentally helps foil a bank robbery, it looks as though being part of a team of superheroes might be the answer. But the Z-List of Dan-Druff, Skidmark and Cyclots are hardly the Avengers…
    Faber, Polly; Vulliamy, Clara The not-a-pig Mango Allsorts lives in a city where normally everyone wants to get somewhere very quickly. But today the traffic is being held up by something that’s not a pig – it’s Bambang the tapir.
    Fine, Anne; Robins, Arthur The party club Rosie loves everything about parties: balloons, presents, games, birthday cake, goody bags! So she is disappointed when some of her classmates announce that they have outgrown parties and would rather go to the cinema or bowling. Can she remind them of what they are missing out on?
    Jones, Gareth P Rise of the slippery sea monster Wanted: Dead or Alive! (Or smashed into little bits and delivered in boxes.) The Steampunk Pirates get a taste of their own medicine when their ship is raided by a sea monster that’s greedy for gold.
    Judge, Chris; Judge, Andrew Spy mission : it’s so secret we don’t even know what’s inside Doodle your own adventure! Ethan Doodle, super spy, is on a mission so secret that it’s up to you to fill in the blanks!
    Lewis, Gill Pip and the paw of friendship Pip the Labrador puppy is learning the skills he needs to be an assistance dog for Kayla, a young girl in a wheelchair. He’s desperate to have a human of his very own, but will Kayla want his help?
    Noble, Janet; Turner, Jacob You’re a pest, Betsy Thumbslurp! Unsurprisingly, Coco’s little sister drives her mad. But it’s not just Betsy, it’s her toy hippopotamus, her smelly, gooey, snotty toy hippopotamus, that threatens to ruin her birthday party!
    Rosen, Michael; Ross, Tony Bilal’s brilliant bee Bilal hates tests – he can never remember any of the answers! Then along comes Bumble the Bee who can answer any question in the world…
    Smith, James Future Ratboy and the invasion of the Nom Noms When a bolt of lightning hit Colin Lamppost he was zapped millions of years into the future and turned into a half boy, half rat, half TV! Can he save Shnozville from the bitey little insects that are turning everyone into zombies?
    Chitra Soundar; Uma Krishnaswamy A jar of pickles and a pinch of justice Prince Veera and his best friend, Suku, are left in charge of King Beema’s court when the king goes off on a hunting trip. Each day the king’s subjects come before the boys with their problems and petty disagreements.
    Strong, Jeremy; Smith, Jamie The genius aged 8¼ Alfie Poppleton lives in a very silly town with very silly parents and very silly teachers. When the very silly Prime Minister decides to go to war over some cheese, will Alfie be able to save the day?
    Manivannan, Sharanya; Canzi, Nerina The Ammuchi puchi Aditya and Anjali were always a little afraid of their grandmother, but they love listening to her stories (even the scary ones). When she disappears from their lives they miss her, but then something happens that could have come straight out of one of her stories…
    Behrangi, Samad The Little Black Fish Little Black Fish may be small, but he has big questions and a determination to find answers. While his friemds are too scared to step outside of their routine, Little Black Fish swims over the edge of the pool, into the river which will show him the world.
    Kaadan, Nadine The Jasmine Sneeze All cats like sleep. Haroun the cat likes to sleep in the warm sun in the courtyards of Damascus. The only trouble is the pollen from the Jasmine flowers makes him sneeze! Will he fix the problem without angering the Jasmine Spirit?.

     

     

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  • Teen Book List 2017

    Teen Book List 2017

    TheList2017banner40 of the best new books for your collection for secondary schools.

    The Teenage Book list is selected annually by librarians from the Schools Library Service and secondary schools, and is a list of recommended fiction to buy for your school library.

    The teen list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Titles from the Teen and Primary lists will be chosen for the Tower Hamlets Book Award short list in July. Remember to let us know if you want to participate in this event!

    Posters and bookmarks will be sent to subscribing secondary schools.

    Please contact the library for more information on the Teen List or to request additional posters or bookmarks (subscribing schools only).

    View the full list
    Authors Title Synopsis
    Bessora; Barroux Alpha: Abidjan – Gare du Nord Alpha Coulibaly is just one of millions of refugees on the move and at the mercy of people traffickers, endlessly frustrated, endangered and exploited as he attempts to rejoin his family who are already in Europe
    Lawrence, Patrice Orangeboy Sixteen-year-old Marlon has made his mum a promise – he’ll never take his life down the wrong path. So far, it’s been easy, but then the consequences of his brothers’ actions catch up with him…
    Alexander, Kwame Booked Football, family, love and friendship take centre stage as Nick tries to figure out how to navigate his parents’ break-up, stand up to bullies and impress the girl of his dreams.
    Bedford, Martyn Twenty questions for Gloria Gloria is bored with her life, so when the mysterious, rule-breaking boy walks into school, she believes he’s the one she’s been waiting for to take her away from everything…. But is he?
    Benjamin, Ali The thing about jellyfish Suzy, silent and mourning the death through drowning of her best friend, refuses to believe the explaination that “bad things just happen”. Her determination to find the truth will mean travelling to the other side of the world. Alone.
    Blackman, Malorie Peace maker Michela lives in a society where violent thoughts are prevented by the wearing of ‘peace maker’ devices. But when a hostile starship attacks her people, Michela discovers that violence is sometimes necessary…
    Brooks, Kevin Five hundred miles For brothers Cole and Ruben it’s another rainy morning in the badlands of East London, selling dodgy paperwork for even dodgier motors. But what they find in a grimy pub – their latest errand – knocks their entire day off course.
    Cassidy, Cathy Looking glass girl Alice has spent two years watching herself grow apart from her friends. An invitation to a sleepover seemed like a chance to fit in again, but an accident plunges her into an unconscious world of dreams and broken memories. Can Alice find her way back?
    Clammer, James Why I went back Aiden needs his bike to stop the bad things from getting worse – like delivering the mail that his postman Dad’s been hoarding. When it’s stolen, Aiden follows the thieves and finds not just his bike, but a prisoner chained to the floor…but what business is it of his?
    Cotterill, Jo A library of lemons Calypso has shut herself away in books and stories since her mother’s death. So has her father who has been growing ever more distant and needing more care than Calypso can give. When she discovers the sad secret hidden in his library, she knows that there is something wrong. Perhaps her new friend, Mae, and her family hold the key to fixing both their lives.
    Curham, Siobhan The moonlight dreamers After chance encounters with Maali, Sky and Rose, Amber recruits the three girls to the Moonlight Dreamers -people who crave excitement and adventure! It’s high time they started pursuing their dreams, and how better than with the support of friends?
    Foster, Stewart The bubble boy Joe has spent his entire life in hospital, trapped. He shares his frustrations with another ‘bubble boy’, dreaming of a day when they can venture outside. When the possibly mad Amir turns up, it looks as though Joe’s wish might come true (after all, a hospital wouldn’t let a crazy person in).
    Fraillon, Zana The bone sparrow Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he’s at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets (guards) never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures.
    Gamble, Paul The ministry of strange, unusual and impossible things The Ministry of SUITs is hidden away in the far reaches of the Ulster Museum in Belfast. It deals with all the things we don’t want to have to think about or deal with as perfectly-normal-thank-you-very-much people – such as aliens, monsters, pirates and much more…..
    Hamill, Christine The best medicine Philip’s happy-go-lucky life is disrupted when his mother gets breast cancer. Through it all, he’s writing letters to his hero, the comedian Harry Hill, looking for advice.
    Hesse, Monica The girl in the blue coat Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods. One day she’s asked to find something – a person – a young Jew who has vanished from a secret room.
    Hitchcock, Fleur Bus stop baby On her way home from school, 13-year-old Amy finds a newborn baby abandoned at the village bus stop. It’s wrong, just like when Mum walked out on Amy and her sister ten years ago – so she tries to fix it
    Johnson, Catherine Blade and bone Ezra, a young surgeon, is on his way to France to find his missing friends, despite the danger that an Englishman faces in revolutionary Paris. In the city he finds Renaud, another ‘surgeon’ making the most of the work of the guillotine to further his research into reanimation…
    Keil, Melissa The incredible adventures of Cinnamon Girl Alba is facing one of the most important summers of her life. School is over and while her friends want to escape their sleepy hometown, she just wants to stay put. But when a viral video about the end of the world announces that Eden Valley is the only safe place to be, thousands of people descend on the town.
    Landman, Tanya Hell and high water Devon, 1752 – Caleb is left alone when his father is arrested and transported to the Colonies. Then a body washes up on the nearby beach. As Caleb tries to clear his father’s name, he is caught up in a terrifying net of lies and intrigue.
    Levez, Olivia The island Frances is alone. Cast away on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, she has to find water, food and shelter. But survival is hard, especially when she is haunted by memories of the things that she did before, the things that made her a monster.
    Lingstrom, Eric Not if I see you first Parker Grant doesn’t need perfect vision to see right through you. That’s why she created the Rules: Don’t treat her any differently just because she’s blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances, as Scott is finding out.
    Mayo, Simon Blame Ant and her family find themselves locked away in a new kind of prison. None of the inmates are themselves criminals, but wider society wants them to do time for the unpunished crimes of their parents.
    McCombie, Karen The OMG blog In the first weeks of secondary school, four girls are thrown together in a blogging project. The one thing they have in common? Their frustrations with their mothers.
    McNiff, Dawn How not to be weird Woody is forever worried about being different. He thinks himself weird and a bit of a wuss, and the bullies make sure he doesn’t forget that. It doesn’t help that his mum dresses up as a sheep for a living. Now he’s got until the start of new school to un-weird himself.
    Nadin, Joanna White lies, black dare Having to move back to Peckham with her ill mother – ambitions of private school shattered – Asha knows that she has to fit in. But that means playing Angel’s dangerous games…
    Nielsen, Susin The reluctant journal of Henry K. Larsen Henry used to have a normal life until ‘IT’ happened. Now he’s moved away with his father. New home, new city, new nosy neighbours. Henry wants to keep under the radar, but secrets have a habit of coming out…
    Polonsky, Ami Gracefully Grayson Grayson Sender has been holding onto a secret for what seems like forever: ‘he’ is a girl on the inside, stuck in the wrong gender’s body. The weight of this secret is crushing, but sharing it would mean facing ridicule, scorn, rejection or worse.
    Reeve, Philip Rail head The Network Empire. A star-spanning web of rails traversed by sentient trains, ruled by rival families. Just the place for a lowlife thief like Zen Starling to meet his destiny…
    Russo, Meredith If I was your girl Amanda is 18, pretty and popular. But she hasn’t always been Amanda. When she was born, she was named Andrew. Now, at her new school, she finally feels like herself. But does she owe her new friends the truth about her past?
    Sepetys, Ruta Salt to the sea It’s early 1945 and a group of people trek across Germany, bound together by their desperation to reach the ship that can take them away from the war-ravaged land. Four young people, each haunted by their own dark secret, narrate their unforgettable stories.
    Sheinmel, Alyssa B. Faceless When Maisie is struck by lightning, her face is partially destroyed. She’s lucky enough to get a face transplant, but how do you live your life when you can’t even recognize yourself any more?
    Smith, Dan Boy X Kidnapped and drugged, Ash wakes up on a remote tropical island. His mum – a genetic scientist – has been imprisoned and infected with a deadly virus. Where is he? And what must he do to survive?
    Stead, Rebecca Goodbye stranger Bridge has always been a bit of an oddball, but since her serious accident she’s found fitting in with her friends increasingly hard. It’s getting harder to keep their promise of no fights, especially when they start keeping secrets from each other.
    Wheatle, Alex Crongton knights Since his Mum died, McKay’s life on the South Crongton estate has been tougher. He hardly sees his Dad who’s been working all hours and his brother’s out tempting trouble. Now McKay’s strayed off his turf and he’s in for one night of danger…
    Millard, Glenda The stars at Oktober Bend Alice doesn’t speak well since the assault, so she leaves her poems around the town, expressing what she can no longer say. Manny was a child soldier, who hasn’t stopped running from a past he wants to forget.
    Hitchcock, bonnie Sue The smell of other people’s Houses Ruth wants to be remembered by her grieving mother. Dora wishes she was invisible to her abusive father. Alyce is staying at home to please her parents. Hank is running away for the sake of his brothers. Four very different lives are about to become entangled. Because if we don’t save each other, how can we begin to save ourselves?
    Roy, Nilaijana The Wildings Prowling, hunting and fighting amidst the crumbling ruins of one of Delhi’s oldest neighbourhoods, are the proud Wildings. These feral cats fear no one, go where they want and do as they please – but change is in the air…
    Dawson, Juno Margot and Me Fliss’s mum needs peace and quiet to recuperate from a long illness, so they both move to the countryside to live with Margot, Fliss’s stern and bullying grandmother. Life on the farm is tough and life at school is even tougher, so when Fliss unearths Margot’s wartime diary, she sees an opportunity to get her own back.
    Chopra, Zuni The House that spoke Fourteen-year-old Zoon Razdan is witty, intelligent and deeply perceptive. She also has a deep connection with magic. She was born into it. The house that she lives in is fantastical – life thrums through its wooden walls – and she can talk to everything in it.
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  • The Global Dimension

    The Global Dimension

    Golbalbanner1Resources to support teaching of the global dimension

    Global Learning London and The Schools Library Service have worked together to select resources to support teaching the Global Dimension.

    The links below relate to the 8 strands of the global dimension. Each link searches our catalogue for the relevant keyword and will display resources currently in stock and their availability.

    Global citizenship

    Gaining the knowledge, skills and understanding of concepts and institutions necessary to become informed, active, responsible citizens.

    Diversity
    Understanding and respecting differences and relating these to our common humanity
    Conflict resolution
    Understanding the nature of conflicts, their impact on development and why there is a need for their resolution and the promotion of harmony.
    Social justice
    Understanding the importance of social justice as an element in both sustainable development and the improved welfare of all people.
    Values and perceptions
    Developing a critical evaluation of representations of global issues and an appreciation of the effect these have on people’s attitudes and values.
    Sustainable development
    Understanding the need to maintain and improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for future generations.
    Interdependence
    Understanding how people, places, economies and environments are all inextricably interrelated, and that choices and events have repercussions on a global scale.
    Human Rights

    Knowing about human rights including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    See also:

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