Favourite Recent Children’s Paperbacks

~January 2024~

I have greatly enjoyed a lot of recent children’s paperbacks. Here are some of my favourites.

Time Travelling With a Hamster – Ross Welford

I am always interested in books with time travel, and liked Ross Welford’s Time Travelling With a Hamster (9+) which was published some years ago. I was thus pleased to see that he was bringing out a sequel, Time Travelling With a Tortoise (9+), and delighted to find that I enjoyed it even more than the original book. It has the same main characters, and I was intrigued by its consideration of the problems of trying to change the past, and the suggestion that it might be better to accept the present. It is very readable with much adventure and humour.

The Swifts – Beth Lincoln

There is also a fair amount of humour in Beth Lincoln’s The Swifts (9+), although this is somewhat darker. There are murders and Gothic elements as a family reunion turns to chaos. The female protagonist has the fantastic first name Shenanigan, and names play an important part in this novel. I thought it was a lot of fun, and others clearly share my enthusiasm as it is on the shortlist for the Nero Children’s Book Award.

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door – Pari Thomson

Another favourite is Pari Thomson’s Greenwild: The World Behind the Door (9+). This fantasy has lovely illustrations by Eliza Paganelli and an excellent map (I always like a map). Thomson is very good at world-building and I think this could really capture a child’s imagination as it skillfully combines green themes with adventure and companionship.

The Wolf Twins – Eve Jozefkowick

Ewa Jozefkowicz’s The Wolf Twins (9+) also contains green themes as it considers whether wolves should be rewilded. This enjoyable novel is told in alternating chapters by two, very different, female twins. Their different perspectives and personalities add to the book’s interest, and I enjoyed watching their characters develop.

The Climbing Boys – Ann Murtagh

Finally, a good historical novel is Ann Murtagh’s The Climbing Boys (9+). I really liked this book which is set in Dublin in 1830. It has an appealing protagonist who has to leave school to help his family in their trade of chimney sweeping. I was impressed by the novel’s consideration of historical social issues, and was pleased that there was some adventure as well as good characterisation.

These are only some of the many enjoyable children’s books which have been published recently. Do ask us if you want any more specific recommendations!

Frances