HCCB Spring Catalogue 2026

SPRING CATALOGUE 2026

KUMUSHA.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.12 MIDDLE GRADE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.17 HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S CLASSICS ������������������������������ p.36 HARPER FIRE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.38 BRANDS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.52 CONTACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.61

CONTENTS

PICTURE BOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.1

PICTURE BOOKS

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS SINCE THE BIRTH OF

MICHAEL BOND,

Michael Bond was born in Newbury, Berkshire on 13 January 1926 and educated at Presentation College, Reading. He served in the Royal Air Force and the British Army before working as a cameraman for BBC TV for 19 years. In 2015, Michael was awarded a CBE for his services to children’s literature, to add to the OBE he received in 1997. Michael died in 2017, leaving behind one of the great literary legacies of our time.

Karen Jankel is the daughter of Michael Bond. For over 30 years she ran Paddington and Company, looking after the worldwide licensing rights for her father’s creation. During that time Karen and her father collaborated on a number of concept books and stories. Since 2017 Karen has run her late father’s literary estate and continues to work closely with HarperCollins across all of Michael Bond’s books, including the Paddington titles that she co-wrote.

PICTURE BOOKS

ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED AUTHORS OF ALL TIME!

HarperCollins Children’s Books is proud to commemorate the centenary of Michael Bond’s birth.

Born on 13th January 1926, Michael was one of the most beloved authors of our time, introducing the world to Paddington Bear. Commemorative new publishing will include Happy Birthday, Paddington – the perfect present to delight fans everywhere!

9 APRIL 2026

21 MAY 2026

PADDINGTON: RISE AND SHINE

Michael Bond, illustrated by R. W. Alley 9780008766320 Board Book £7.99

• 0–36 months

•

•

Spend a day at home with Paddington Bear in this fun new board book for babies and toddlers!

Rise and shine! Paddington’s days are always so busy – where does he find the time to fit in so many snacks?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PADDINGTON

Michael Bond and Karen Jankel, illustrated by R.W. Alley 9780008766344 Hardback

•

• £12.99 • 3+

Celebrating Michael Bond’s centenary year in 2026, and Paddington’s June birthday!

It’s Paddington’s birthday and he can’t wait to perform some magic tricks at his party.

He’s been practising very hard! But he soon discovers that being a magician is not as easy as it seems, especially with his unfriendly neighbour, Mr Curry, in the audience . . .

2

TOO CUTE TALES:

THE NUMBER ONE CUTE CONTEST Illustrated by Steve James 9780008799540

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

3+

An adorable, illustrated picture book from a brand-new series bursting with cuteness!

Come hang with the cuties in Rainbow Town, where being kind is the cutest thing you can be!

Penny Panda is getting ready for the Number One Cute Contest, the biggest day of the year in Rainbow Town. She puts on her cutest outfit: her rainbow glasses, her most colourful headphones and her sweetest dress. But on her way through town, she meets some fellow cuties who are having a hard time! Will Penny Panda help them, even if it means missing out at the Number One Cute Contest?

PICTURE BOOKS

29 JAN 2026

The first book in Too Cute Tales, an adorable new picture book series for children aged 3+.

AUTHOR INFO Steve James is originally from a small village in North Yorkshire, but he now lives on the outskirts of the vibrant city of Leeds with his partner and their daughter. He has over ten years of experience working in the creative industry, and recently has had the opportunity to work on some dream projects, including illustrating a range of Star Wars greeting cards.

3

WE ARE DRAGONS John Condon, illustrated by Patrick Corrigan 9780008762872

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

3+

Unleash the laughter with We Are Dragons!

A hilarious rhyming picture book packed with fun and delightful details to discover in every illustration!

Join four playful dragons on their hilarious journey through a fairytale kingdom, where fun turns into chaos at every turn.

From dazzling at the Prince’s Royal Ball to mixing fizzing potions in a witch’s cauldron, these dragons can’t help but cause mischief wherever they go. This rhyming tale is bursting with humour and vibrant illustrations that will delight young readers. Discover the mayhem and laughter that await.

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

John Condon is a multi-award nominated author, whose picture books have received critical acclaim in the UK and abroad. His titles include The Wondrous Dinosaurium (Maverick Arts, 2018), The Best Bear Tracker (Templar, 2022), and The Pirates Are Coming! (Nosy Crow, 2020). His writing won The Children’s Jury Award, and he has been translated into thirteen languages.

Patrick Corrigan grew up in a cloudy town in Cheshire where he brightened up his life with various creative endeavours and activities (his favourite was cross stitch!). He studied ceramics at university before training as an art teacher. He then went on to become the art director of a busy design studio in London. In 2018 he made the decision to try his hand as a freelance illustrator and has never looked back.

PICTURE BOOKS

26 FEB 2026

4

ABSOLUTELY FINE Emma Chichester Clark 9780008492014

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

3+

A heart-warming and reassuring new picture book from the critically acclaimed creator of the beloved Blue Kangaroo series.

Gorgeously illustrated in Emma Chichester Clark’s signature style, this gentle and comforting tale of friendship is the perfect bedtime story.

There are good days and there are bad days. Everybody has them. And when Maudie has a bad day, she heads to her house in the woods to be alone. But when her friends keep coming over to see if she’s alright, she realises that sometimes it’s fine not to be absolutely fine.

From the same world as A Good Night’s Sleep, this beautiful and moving new picture book will reassure children that good friends can help you through bad days.

PICTURE BOOKS

26 MARCH 2026

AUTHOR INFO Emma Chichester Clark studied art at the Royal College of Art. She has worked as a freelancer for magazines, publishers and advertising agencies as well as teaching art for several years but now dedicates most of her time to children’s books. She was nominated for the Kurt Maschler Award for Illustration twice and I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

5

FREE TO BE ME! Smriti Hall, illustrated by Nila Aye 9780008671488

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

3+

From internationally bestselling author Smriti Halls and award-winning illustrator Nila Aye, this affirming story encourages every child to celebrate their individuality and find their place in the world.

Elbert the Elephant is full of life and ready to try anything! The only problem is that nothing ever seems to go quite as it should – from ballet dancing to swimming lessons to story time at the library… will Elbert ever find a place where he fits?

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Smriti Halls worked for the BBC and began a career in children’s publishing and television as a writer and commissioning editor. She started writing her own books in 2012 and is now published in more than 30 languages worldwide, with bestselling and award-winning titles to her name. Smriti lives in London with her family and one well behaved dragon named Doris.

Nila Aye is an award-winning illustrator, collaborating on many well-loved children’s books including Nature Trail, People Need People and the Little Pop-Up series. Her love of visual storytelling and collaboration with authors continues to energise Nila in her mission to bring beautifully illustrated books to a new generation of young readers around the world.

PICTURE BOOKS

7 MAY 2026

6

YOUR HAND IN MINE Helen Mortimer, illustrated by Ashling Lindsay 9780008497651

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

3+

A thoughtful, heartfelt celebration of parental love – perfect for sharing with little loved ones.

‘THERE’S A BABY, PEEKABOO! REMEMBER WHEN WE DID THAT TOO, WHEN YOU WERE TINY, SOFT AND NEW, YOUR LITTLE HAND IN MINE?’

A mother and son enjoy a fun-filled day taking the bus to the park for a picnic, playing games and returning home for a bedtime story. As well as exploring everything we use our hands for, this reassuring rhyming story with gorgeous illustrations, celebrates the simple act of holding hands as an expression of security and love.

A beautiful story, perfect for parent and child to share.

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Helen Mortimer worked for several major publishing companies before becoming a freelance children’s books editor and author. Her picture books for children include the Words for Little People series, Omar, The Bees and Me, Enzo, The Swallows and Me, When a Star Falls and The Winter Wish.

Helen lives in Oxfordshire.

Ashling Lindsay is writer and illustrator from Belfast. Among her picture books for children are The Dog Who Danced on the Moon by John Boyne and The Night Box

by Louise Grieg, which was nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Teach Primary Book Awards and the Klaus Flugge Prize. She teaches Illustration at Belfast School of Art.

PICTURE BOOKS

7 MAY 2026

7

Richard Jones 7 MAY 2026

7 MAY 2026

AUTHOR INFO Richard Jones is an illustrator living and working in Devon. He graduated from the University of Plymouth in Graphic Design and Illustration, before becoming an children’s book illustrator, inspired by his work in Exeter Library where he loved looking through the children’s books.

Richard’s style combines beautifully layered textures with a gentle, muted palette and memorable character design. He has worked on several picture books including Perdu, Safe at Last, Quiet, The Iron Robin, Feelings and The Snow Lion which has been published into 20 languages.

LOOK AT ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE? DOG

LOOK AT ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE? LION

9780008785857 Board books £8.99 12 months +

9780008785857 Board books £8.99 12 months +

Join in the peekaboo fun in this brand new board books series from acclaimed author-illustrator Richard Jones!

An interactive animal board book, complete with charming artwork and simple text for even the youngest of readers, children will have fun spotting the baby lion cub on each page.

•

•

•

PICTURE BOOKS

LOOK AT ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

•

8

I, ROCK

Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Mark Chambers 9780008771843

•

ppaerback

•

£7.99

•

3+

A hilarious brand new picture book from bestselling author, Eoin McLaughlin!

All Rock wants to do is celebrate his 3 billionth birthday with his friends. But who will come to his party?

It’s been a long few years since Rock joined the planet in something called the Big Bang. Since then, he’s seen a few friends come and go, but now that it’s his 3 billionth birthday, he just wants to celebrate with his best friends, Gary the Dinosaur and Worm. But Worm is always busy, and Gary the Dinosaur hasn’t responded. Will Rock have anyone at his party?

A hilarious new picture book from Eoin McLaughlin, with brilliant illustrations by Mark Chambers, this zipthrough-time story will have hearts melting for Rock, who’s been there, done that (but didn’t bother buying the t-shirt because he’s a rock).

PICTURE BOOKS

4 JUNE 2026

AUTHOR INFO Eoin McLaughlin is a bestselling Irish children’s author. His debut picture book The Hug, with Polly Dunbar, was named a Book of the Year by the Guardian and has been translated into over 20 languages. The follow-up While We Can’t Hug was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards and nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal.

The Case of the Missing Cake, with Marc Boutavant, featured in the Guardian’s best new children’s books of the month. The Irish Times called it ‘sneaky’, which Eoin agrees with. A second book with Marc is on the way.

Eoin is also a creative director at Channel 4, where he works on the promotion of things like The Great British Bake Off and The Paralympics.

9

CHINO’S TREASURE HUNT Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (writing as Nwa Grace James), Illustrated by Joelle Avelino 9780008550158

•

Hardback

•

£7.99

•

From birth to 5 years

A stunning, gentle and joyful family story from award-winning Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Chino and Bunny are going to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Chino isn’t too sure about going, but when she arrives, Chino discovers they have a map leading to treasure buried in the garden . . . Together, Chino and her grandparents embark on a magical hunt treasure hunt, making exciting discoveries along the way.

Featuring characters from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s exquisite debut picture book, Mama’s Sleeping Scarf, this gentle and heart-warming story about family, love and spending time together comes from one of the most outstanding contemporary authors of our generation and is illustrated in stunning colour by Joelle Avelino.

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the author of Purple Hibiscus, which was longlisted for the Booker Prize, Half of a Yellow Sun, which won the Orange Prize for Fiction; and acclaimed story collection The Thing Around Your Neck.

Joelle Avelino is a Congolese and Angolan Illustrator who grew up in the United Kingdom. She is particularly motivated by the need for people from all races and backgrounds to see themselves in the world around them. So far, Joelle has worked on several titles including Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black, written by Dapo Adeola, winner of the British Book Awards Illustrated Book of the Year.

Americanah was published around the world in 2013, received numerous awards and was named one of New York Times Ten Books of the Year. A recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, she divides her time between the United States and Nigeria.

PICTURE BOOKS

18 JUNE 2026

10

4 JUNE 2026

18 JUNE 2026

WHEN I GROW UP I’D LIKE TO BE . . .

THE CAVE DOWNWIND OF THE CAFÉ

Rob Biddulph

Mikey Please

9780008627744 3+ £7.99

•

• Paperback

9780008639068 3+ £8.99

•

PICTURE BOOKS

NEW IN PAPERBACK

• Paperback 11

DINOSAUR PLAYTIME Illustrated by Alberta Torres 9780008751838

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

3+

Prehistoric playtime is the focus of this toddler-friendly picture book full of fun, imagination and a whole lot of dinosaurs!

What would playtime have looked like during the dinosaur times? Come and find out in this brilliantly fun picture book for young readers. With bright, playful illustrations by Italian illustrator Alberta Torres, this book is perfect for little dino lovers everywhere!

KUMUSHA BOOKS

26 FEB 2026

AUTHOR INFO Alberta Torres is an Italian illustrator, currently based in London. She was awarded the Battello A Vapore Prize for Best Emerging Illustrator in 2013. Her debut picture book, I Love You as Big as a Rainbow, was published with Tiger Tales, and she is the illustrator of This Little . . . series with Macmillan.

13

CELEBRATING PEOPLE LIKE ME Illustrated by Martina Stuhlberger 9780008760199

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

5+

Discover celebrations from across the globe in this beautifully illustrated book showcasing the festivals and traditions from different culture.

Are you ready? Let’s go on an amazing journey through the year and discover all the wonderful celebrations happening across the world!

Let’s plant trees at Boomfeestdag in the Netherlands, see in the new year at Songkran in Thailand, join the parade at Pride in London, and get dressed up for The Day of the Dead in Mexico!

KUMUSHA BOOKS

26 MARCH 2026

With beautiful illustrations throughout by Martina Stuhlberger, experience the joy and tradition of these cultural occasions and be amazed by the festivals, parades and celebrations from all across the globe.

AUTHOR INFO Martina Stuhlberger is an illustrator living in Austria. With a passion for faraway worlds and culture, her illustrations are influenced by her own adventures and combine some of the vibrancy and colours she finds as part of her travels.

14

MY BEST FRIEND IS A MONSTER Sian Owen, illustrated Germana Musco 9780008752378

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

3+

A warm, funny picture book about fitting in, from an exciting debut author and illustrator team!

A young boy is about to be joined at school by his best friend . . . who happens to be a huge monster! But as they soon find out, it isn’t always easy to fit in at school, especially if you have blue fur and gigantic feet! Can the boy find a way to help his best friend to be accepted and make friends with the other children]?

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Sian Owen is a dance teacher and choreographer. She has worked as a professional dancer for X Factor, The BRIT Awards and MOBO Awards, as well as touring with Girls Aloud and Take That. Sian has also had a successful career in musical theatre, performing in West End shows including Fame, Daddy Cool and Cats.

Germana Musco is an Italian artist based in London. She worked as an architect, freelance graphic designer, video maker and copywriter before studying Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art and Picture Book Illustration at Ars in Fabula.

KUMUSHA BOOKS

18 JUNE 2026

15

CHASING DRAGONFLIES Blessing Musariri, illustrated by Maisie Paradise Shearring 9780008671822

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

1–6

The sequel to Two People Can, winner of The Best Picture Book Prize at The Inclusive Books for Children Awards 2025!

A hugely imaginative story about a baby girl taking her first steps and what it means to her big brother, written by award-winning Zimbabwean poet Blessing Musariri and illustrated by British artist Maisie Paradise Shearring.

A young boy called Shingai is impatient for his baby sister, Aneni-Rose, to grow up so that they can go on epic adventures together to the world’s wildest jungles, the deepest, most shark-filled oceans, and the hottest deserts. As the big brother, he assumes he will be the hero and his baby sister, who is only little and hasn’t even begun to walk yet, will be his sidekick. But he’s about to learn that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the biggest adventures start at home.

KUMUSHA BOOKS

18 JUNE 2026

The perfect book for an older sibling welcoming a baby brother or sister into their family and for a baby learning to walk for the first time!

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Blessing Musariri thought she might grow up and be a lawyer but she was born a chatterbox, a voracious reader and a compulsive keeper of journals. She became a writer.

Blessing has published various titles for children since her first picture book, Rufaro’s Day (Longman 2001). She also writes YA fiction, poetry, radio and screenplays. Blessing believes that children deserve books that are beautiful, honest, fun and that help us discover ourselves in the stories of others.

Maisie Paradise Shearring is an illustrator and author based in Hull. She loves making books, drawing from observation, and inventing characters in her sketchbooks. In April 2015, Maisie won the International Award for Illustration at Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Maisie’s books include Anna and Otis, I’m Actually Really-Grown Up Now, The Girl Who Noticed Everything, and The Boy Who Loved Everyone, which won the Little Rebels award in 2020 and a Christopher Award in 2022.

16

MIDDLE GRADE

THE MIRACULOUS SWEETMAKERS:

THE STORM PRINCE Natasha Hastings, illustrated by Alex T. Smith 9780008496166

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

9–12

New for 2026, the third thrilling adventure story in the historical fantasy series, The Miraculous Sweetmakers.

When best friends Thomasina and Anne hear the same mysterious voice calling to them in the dead of night, they know that Guaire magic must be the source.

Obsessed by the legend passed down through generations of the Guaire family, Thomasina’s Aunt Morven believes it is her destiny to become the Storm Prince. But to complete her transformation, she must seize control of wild magic and gain power over all magical beings.

MIDDLE GRADE

1 JAN 2026

But it’s not just the balance of the magical world that is at stake. Wild magic is unpredictable, and its strong enchantments take hold of Thomasina, threatening to destroy the very friendship that binds the girls together.

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Natasha Hastings is the bestselling author of fantasy books for adults and children. Her debut novel, The Frost Fair, was Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month in November 2023, longlisted for the Branford Boase Award, Editor’s Choice in The Bookseller, and a Times Book of the Week. The second in the trilogy – The Sea Queen, published September 2024 – became a number 1 Amazon bestseller. Her debut regency romantasy for adults, How To Charm A Viscount, will be released in 2025 under the name Natasha J. Hastings.

Alex T. Smith is an award-winning illustrator of children’s books including the Claude series. He is a World Book Day Illustrator.

18

SCARLET SAVES THE MULTIVERSE James Davis

9780008653644

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

8–12

Scarlet Saves the Universe is the unbelievably funny, exciting, and action-packed sequel to Scarlet: Defender of the Universe – a middle-grade Guardians of the Galaxy.

Scarlet is in trouble.

LOTS of trouble.

Not only does she have to hide the other Scarlet – the one who appeared in her house after she travelled back in time – from her mum and dad. She ALSO has to save the universe again. And not just one universe. All of them.

MIDDLE GRADE

15 JAN 2026

But first she has to stop a species of cyber beetles from becoming extinct, hack into a giant supercomputer, and find a cure for the mysterious illness that’s threatening the life of a very important dolphin.

AUTHOR INFO James Davis lives in Manchester with his two favourite humans: the one he married and the one that popped out of that one. He likes sprinting after balls, waterslides and other people’s dogs. He has been known to perform stand-up comedy, but not very well known. He took his A-level Art when he was eleven years old. And failed it. Sometimes he misses having hair.

19

INKBOUND (2)

METICULOUS JONES AND THE SHADOW COMPASS Philippa Leathley 9780008660963

•

Hardback

•

£14.99

•

9+

The next extraordinary magical adventure about family, fate and finding the courage to be truly yourself.

At the Founders’ Day Parade in the magical city of New London, a tombstone engraved with Metty’s name mysteriously appears and leads her to an eerie underground cathedral. It’s home to the League of Shadows – a secret society who promise power and protection. But joining their ranks means going against Aunt Mag’s wishes and completing a set of dangerous, magical challenges.

MIDDLE GRADE

29 JAN 2026

When an inspector threatens to expose the Joneses’ darkest secret, Metty has no choice. The only way to protect her family is to join the League before the next full moon. Racing against time with the help of a magic thief and a sarcastic fire demon, she must find her way back to the cathedral. But will she be too late to save those she loves?

AUTHOR INFO

PRAISE FOR INKBOUND: METICULOUS JONES AND THE SKULL TATTOO

Philippa Leathley grew up in East Yorkshire, spending summers near London with her eccentric grandparents and writing as soon as she could hold a pen.

She enjoys learning new languages, studying anything from historical fashion to shipwrecks, and is passionate about protecting the environment. She lives just outside Hull with her three rescue cats, Bram, Lyra and Theo the Brave.

‘ The whole book crackles with imagination. It’s beautifully written, with broad appeal to boys and girls, and fizzes with indelible imagery . . . A fantastic adventure’

@prleathley

- The Times, Children’s Book of the Week

20

HARI KUMAR ULTIMATE SUPERSTAR Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Mamta Singh 9780008738198

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

8–12

Meet Hari Kumar, superstar-in-the-making, in this laugh-out-loud doodle-packed diary series for 8+ readers.

Hari Kumar: 10 years old, 75% Indian, 25% French, and 100% going to be a superstar. All Hari needs to make it big is a lucky break – a chance to get his name out there. And when that arrives in the form of a film festival competition at school, it’s Hari’s chance to shine.

MIDDLE GRADE

12 FEB 2026

But life isn’t always like the movies. The new kid Hari thought would be his sidekick turns out to have the makings of a true villain, the crack team he’s assembled have minds of their own, and censorship (in the form of the Deputy Head Teacher) is looming. Can Hari keep things together and pull off an epic comeback, or will his film-making debut be cancelled before it’s even released . . .?

Packed full of friendship, doodles and draaaaama, this series is perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Loki!

AUTHOR INFO Rashmi Sirdeshpande is an autistic ADHDer and British Indian children’s author and an advocate for underrepresented voices in children’s publishing.

A former World Book Day author and BookTrust Writer-in-Residence, Rashmi has won a number of awards, including the Diverse Book Awards (for Dadaji’s Paintbrush, illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane) and the Society of Authors Queen’s Knickers Award, which celebrates “outstanding” picture books (for Never Show a T-Rex a Book, illustrated by Diane Ewen). Her factual book Good News (illustrated by Adam Hayes) was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Awards and her latest, Amazing Asia (illustrated by Jason Lyon), has been shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing awards.

21

BLACK BEAUTY Michael Morpurgo 9780008580612

•

Hardback

•

£16.99

•

8+

From the nation’s favourite storyteller comes a powerful, moving and heartwarming retelling of the beloved, unforgettable story of Black Beauty.

A story championing kindness, compassion and humanity, and a rallying cry for the rights of animals, readers have fallen in love with the story of a horse called Black Beauty for 150 years.

Now, this faithful retelling, beautifully written with Michael Morpurgo’s inimitable warmth, offers a new generation of readers the chance to discover this unmissable children’s classic.

Illustrated in full colour throughout by acclaimed artist Tom de Freston, this stunning new edition will make the perfect gift for the whole family.

MIDDLE GRADE

26 FEB 2026

AUTHOR INFO Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE FRSL FKC DL is a writer, playwright, performer and librettist. The author of more than 150 children’s books, he has sold over 35 million copies worldwide and in almost 40 languages. A former teacher and vocal spokesperson for the benefits of reading for pleasure, he is currently the President of Book Trust. Between 2003–2005 he was Children’s Laureate and in 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Many of Michael’s books have been adapted for stage and screen, including the phenomenal National Theatre adaptation of War Horse, which has been seen by over 10 million people in over 100 cities around the world, broke the West End record for weekly ticket sales, and won 5 Tony Awards and 2 Olivier Awards. Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children.

22

THE SHADOW PONY Olivia Wakeford, illustrated by David Litchfield 9780008658618

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

9–12

From the best-loved author of My Dog comes a deeply moving depiction of the bonds between children and animals, and a beautiful portrait of memories shared between generations of a family.

Evan hates change, which is a big problem because the last few years have brought a lot of it. His family is split down the middle, and lately Grandad hasn’t been himself. But Evan can always depend on Okie Dokie, his lovable dog.

When a school trip takes Evan to an old mine where Grandad used to work, things go disastrously wrong.

Grandad refuses to talk to Evan about the mine, and especially about the poor pit ponies that worked down there in the dark.

MIDDLE GRADE

26 FEB 2026

But Evan is desperate to know more about Grandad’s past and if he can only find out what Grandad’s hiding, the weird gulf between them will surely disappear. Can Evan uncover Grandad’s secrets before they are lost forever?

AUTHOR INFO

PRAISE FOR MY DOG

Olivia Wakeford is the author of My Dog. She has worked in film and television, been a scriptwriter, dog-walker, PA and more, but her favourite job is writing novels for children. Olivia graduated with distinction from the MA in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University. She was born in Wales and now lives in London with her husband and their socially awkward Labrador, Obi.

‘An incredibly moving, tender and heartfelt story.

Beautifully and sensitively told, My Dog is a stunning debut novel by a very talented author’

@livvywivvy | @wakefordwrites

- Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear

23

FEATHER VANE Beth O’Brien

9780008642044

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

9+

A captivating fairy-tale reimagining by the author of the incredible Wolf Siren.

A fairy-tale adventure full of dangerous magical creatures, perfect for fans of Sophie Anderson and Michelle Harrison.

In the village of Greeth-Under-Edge, magical creatures are causing chaos. A green-toothed hag lurks in the river, a nest of gnomes are up to no good and a scatter of salamanders threaten to set everything on fire.

Creirwy and Morfran, trainee sorcerers, have been sent to banish the creatures by brewing an almost impossible potion. To collect the ingredients, they’ll need to go on an adventure with dangers at every turn.

MIDDLE GRADE

26 MARCH 2026

But as the twins journey through a moon fairy forest, into a hag’s watery lair and to the top of a giant’s beanstalk, they find that the most powerful magic is not always where you’d expect . . .

AUTHOR INFO Beth O’Brien is an English Literature BA and Creative Writing MA graduate from the University of Birmingham. She is also the author of four adult poetry books. Having been born visually impaired and with an upper-limb difference, Beth is passionate about the representation of disability in literature and is currently studying for a PhD researching the (mis)representation of disability in contemporary fairytale retellings.

She is the founder and editor of Disabled Tales, a website dedicated to discussing disability in fairytales and folklore.

24

MONSTER DIARIES:

THE CYCLOPS AND THE WORST PARTY EVER Anne Miller, illustrated by Sam Caldwell 9780008733018

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

7+

Written by QI Elf and children’s author Anne Miller, this is an accessible and hilarious first introduction to mythology which reframes the story from the monsters’ point of view.

Monsters from mythology finally get to tell their side of the story, in this hilarious illustrated series for fans of Loki, Horrible Histories and Pamela Butchart.

MIDDLE GRADE

9 APRIL 2026

Polyphemus just wanted to throw the Greatest Party of All Time, but when you’re a monster, party-planning is really complicated. You have to get the best snacks and invite the right guests. And you have to try really hard not to accidentally eat the guests instead of the snacks. That’s where everything started to go very, VERY, wrong for Polyphemus, especially as Odysseus proves to be the worst guest of all time . . .

AUTHOR INFO Anne Miller grew up in a tiny village in Scotland where the blacksmith drove the school bus; she studied Classics at school where she fell in love with Greek myths. Since 2011 she has worked for Quite Interesting Ltd as an Elf of many skills: assistant producing and scriptwriting for BBC 2’s QI, producing R4’s The Museum of Curiosity and co-writing QI’s bestselling fact book series. Anne once reached the semi-finals of Only Connect, and is the owner of two Blue Peter badges.

25

STARMINSTER: THE CITY OF WINGS Megan Hopkins 9780008626952

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

8+

Take flight to save the secret city in the sky, in the heart-stopping finale to the soaring Starminster trilogy.

London Overhead, the secret city hidden in the stars, is the only place where Astrid has ever felt at home.

But when the enchantments protecting the city mysteriously start to glitch, everyone who lives there is plunged into danger.

MIDDLE GRADE

9 APRIL 2026

As the grown-ups abandon the city, Astrid refuses to give up her wings and go back to her old life on the ground.

It’s up to Astrid and her friends to save their home, but they’ll have to unravel the darkest secrets of London Overhead, before time runs out, and the magic is gone forever . . .

AUTHOR INFO Megan Hopkins is a Northern Irish writer who grew up in Belfast, Stuttgart, Chesterfield and Nairobi. She now lives in Kent with her husband and two young children. She is a secondary school English teacher with an MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the Open University. She is a member of the Sevenoaks Bookshop Writing Group and was longlisted for WriteMentor’s Novel in Development Award 2022. Megan has always dreamt of flying. Starminster was her opportunity to live that dream and share it with everyone who longs for endless skies.

26

CROW: THIEF OF MAGIC Fiona Dixon

9780008717360

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

9–12

Magic Knows Magic.

With an incredible story, a stunning, richly detailed world, and a wonderful cast of characters, Crow: Thief of Magic is an unputdownable, exciting and hugely ambitious fantasy adventure.

Twelve-year-old Crow is a thief.

Scraping a living on the winding streets of Starsgard, Crow works for the leader of the criminal underworld, stealing from the city’s wealthy ruling class. But when a routine job takes Crow to the home of a mysterious sorcerer, his whole life is turned upside down – and after a planned heist goes wrong, leaving Crow alone and with nowhere to turn, he finds himself a new position as the sorcerer’s apprentice.

MIDDLE GRADE

7 MAY 2026

Before long, Crow is introduced to the ancient art of dream magic – catching dream essence and using it to create dreams for the rich citizens from whom he once stole. But when Crow learns of an ancient strain of nightmare magic that threatens to unleash devastation on Starsgard, he must make a terrible choice . . . and decide who he can really trust.

AUTHOR INFO Fiona Dixon has been getting lost in fantasy worlds for a long as she can remember. As a child, she spent a lot of time in wardrobes hoping to find a portal to another world or exploring the woods on imaginary adventures. After travelling the globe and working in New York and New Zealand, Fiona now lives in a 200-year-old cottage on the Oxfordshire/ Northamptonshire border with her husband and two cats.

27

SOLVE THE WORLD’S GREATEST MYSTERIES Mike Rampton, illustrated by Gareth Conway 9780008756222

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

7+

A hilarious book about the world’s greatest mysteries. It is sure to have children laughing whilst they learn. From the author of Become a Genius in a Year.

A lot of events in history have great big question marks hanging over them, but not for long: not now you’re involved! Delve into the mysteries, weigh up the evidence, learn lots of great facts and ponder about the cases that have confuddled people for decades.

MIDDLE GRADE

7 MAY 2026

This book is jam-packed with the facts behind twenty real-life cases, along with lots of cool, ridiculous and mind-blowing history, science and physics knowledge. You won’t want to stop until you’ve got to the bottom of these mysteries!

AUTHOR INFO Mike Rampton is the author of There’s No Such Thing As A Silly Question (Nosy Crow, 2024) as well as several exciting books coming soon that he hasn’t quite finished yet. He also writes for various newspapers and magazines, usually about loud music or how tired he is.

He lives in Cambridge and has been bitten by a striking number of animals..

28

TOO MANY TIMS Henry White

9780008762575

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

7–10

An unruly illustrated adventure full of hijinks, hilarity and CLONES perfect for 7+ readers.

Join Tim and Nora (or should I say Tims?) in this brand-new, laugh-out-loud illustrated series from Little Badman author Henry White and Lollies-winning illustrator Tim Wesson.

Timothy Arthur Spode has a LOT on his plate. With his jam-packed schedule of jobs, chores, hobbies and favours, he barely has time to sleep. Not that his rotten parents give a flying flurry about THAT. Luckily, he’s best friends with Nora. Who’s a super-omni-mega-genius. She invents a cloning machine to lighten Tim’s load, but it’s not long before Tim-Three gets hold of it, assembles a clone army and starts planning a TIMVASION.

MIDDLE GRADE

7 MAY 2026

With help from Nora and the trusty Tim-Two, can Tim save the world from . . . himself?

AUTHOR INFO Henry White is a comedy writer, working in television, online, and most recently in children’s fiction. He grew up in West London, began his career in animation, has written and directed adverts for the BBC, worked as a sitcom staff writer, and enjoys penning silly songs for comedy channels. He also has a birthmark shaped like a duck.

29

WHAT TO DO, PERNICKETY BOO? Sally Gardener, illustrated by Chris Mould 9780008602710

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

7+

What To Do, Pernickety Boo is the magical sequel to Pernickety Boo – the story of a very unusual umbrella!

Beautifully written by Carnegie and Costa Award-winning author Sally Gardner, illustrated throughout with stunning illustrations from Greenaway-shortlisted artist Chris Mould, and filled with heart, humour and imagination.

Pernickety Boo, the well-educated umbrella with unexplored magical powers, is very happy in his new life at 3 Rose Terrace with his beloved owner, Sylvie Moonshine, and best friend Jimjam the cat – even if the occasional mishap does some times occur.

MIDDLE GRADE

21 MAY 2026

And when a diamond tiara stolen from a princess suddenly comes into Pernickety’s possession, he embarks on an exciting new time-travelling adventure in order to clear his name and reunite the tiara with its proper owner.

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Sally Gardner is a multi-award-winning novelist, whose books have sold over 2 million copies in the UK and been translated into more than 25 languages. Sally earned a First-Class Honours degree from Central St. Martin’s Art School and worked for many years as a theatre designer, working on some notable productions. After her twin daughters and her son were born, she started to illustrate children’s books, and then turned to writing. She won the 2005 Nestle Smarties Children’s Book Prize for her first full-length novel I, Coriander (2005), and won both the Costa Children’s Book Prize and the Carnegie Medal for Maggot Moon (2012).

Sally is an avid spokesperson for dyslexia. Having been branded ‘unteachable’ by some and sent to various schools, Sally was eventually diagnosed at the age of twelve as being severely dyslexic and is passionately trying to change how dyslexia is perceived by society.

Chris Mould is an award-winning illustrator who went to art school at 16. A sublime draftsman with a penchant for the gothic, he has illustrated the gamut from picture books and young fiction to theatre posters and satirical cartoons for national newspapers. His stunning reimagining of Ted Hughes’ The Iron Man was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and was a Waterstones selection of best books and shortlisted by Foyles for Book of the Year. He lives in Yorkshire with his wife, has two grown-up daughters, and when he’s not drawing and writing, you’ll find him . . . actually, he’s never not drawing or writing.

30

PRINCE KAL VS THE SALIVATOR ALLIGATOR Ross Welford 9780008755164

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

8–12

The second book in the laugh-out-loud funny, diary-style Prince Kal series, from Ross Welford, the bestselling author of Time Travelling with a Hamster.

Prince Kal has finally managed to return safely to his home realm of Imaginaria – but unfortunately, he’s left his chaotic younger sister Minkle behind on Earth.

And so, accompanied by his wizard mentor, a Pixie girl scout, and an ancient sword, Kal must return to Earth – and once again navigate the peculiar rules and customs that Earthlings live by – to rescue Minkle before she can cause too much trouble . . .

MIDDLE GRADE

7 MAY 2026

Incredibly funny, illustrated throughout with diary-style doodles, and with a hilarious, one-of-a-kind hero, Prince Kal is a brilliant and unforgettable new series from Ross Welford, perfect for fans of Tom Gates, Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good, and Hercules: The Diary of a (Sort of) Hero.

AUTHOR INFO Ross Welford was a journalist and television producer before becoming a full-time writer. He lives in London with his wife, children, a border collie and several tropical fish.

31

LENNOX DEAN: LIVING THE DREAM Rebecca Patterson 9780008752637

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

8–12

The launch of a hilarious new highly illustrated diary-format fiction series, from award-winning author-illustrator Rebecca Patterson!

Lennox Dean and his best friend Idris dream of being cooler, richer and more popular, and they have plans to make it happen! When their teacher sets a diary-writing assignment, they grab the chance to impress their classmates by making their lives seem WAY more exciting than they really are. But things spiral out of control when they accidentally invite everyone to the coolest party EVER. How are they going to make it happen in real life and avoid total embarrassment – by next weekend???

MIDDLE GRADE

4 JUNE 2026

A celebration of friendship, families and the messiness of ordinary life, it’s perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Loki, and Tom Gates.

AUTHOR INFO Rebecca Patterson grew up in Bolton and initially studied fashion at the Polytechnic of East London, followed by the Royal College of Art. Never entirely comfortable in the world of fashion she sent manuscripts and illustrations to publishers since her teens and retrained in children’s book illustration at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge when her children were at school. She has now written and illustrated children’s books for over a decade, winning the Roald Dahl Funny prize in 2012 for My Big Shouting Day. Her work draws on her own and her children’s childhoods and she has also worked part time as teaching assistant in a local primary school where she honed her “Scary Witch” and “Deranged Robot” playground routines to riot-inducing levels of over-excitement.

32

CECILY SAWYER: HOW TO CRACK A CODE Iona Rangeley, illustrated by David Tazzyman 9780008644482

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

9–12

The second thrilling, mysterious and very, very funny Cecily Sawyer mystery, from the award-winning author of Einstein The Penguin.

Cecily Sawyer is surrounded by spies. They’re everywhere – on the streets, in her home, at her school – and after intercepting a highly suspicious message intended for her parents (also spies), Cecily, along with her highly-intelligent pet mouse, Mrs Maple Syrup, decides to investigate.

MIDDLE GRADE

18 JUNE 2026

And the more that Cecily digs, the further the mystery deepens . . . forcing her to question who – if anyone – she can really trust.

Hugely gripping, incredibly funny, and highly original, and brilliantly illustrated throughout by David Tazzyman, How to Crack a Code is an unputdownable mystery – perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine.

AUTHOR INFO

ILLUSTRATOR INFO

Iona Rangeley grew up in Norfolk and studied English at Oxford, where she developed a love of children’s books. She has wanted to be a writer since her debut novel, Sam and the Pig, which she wrote when she was five.

David Tazzyman is an internationally acclaimed award-winning illustrator.

33

15 JAN 2026

15 JAN 2026

29 JAN 2026

29 JAN 2026

BIG NATE LIVES IT UP Lincoln Peirce

BIG NATE BLASTS OFF Lincoln Peirce

THE INGO CHRONICLES: THE DEEP ​ Helen Dunmore

THE INGO CHRONICLES: THE CROSSING OF INGO ​ Helen Dunmore

9780008758790 Paperback 9+ £7.99

•

9780008758806 Paperback 9+ £7.99

•

9780008765668 Paperback 10+ £7.99

•

9780008765675 Paperback 10+ £7.99

•

29 JAN 2026

MIDDLE GRADE

NEW EDITIONS OF BACKLIST FAVOURITES! REISSUES – STUNNING

THE INGO CHRONICLES: STORMSWEPT ​ Helen Dunmore

9780008765682 Paperback 10+ £7.99

•

34

7 MAY 2026

ALICE WITH A WHY Anna James, illustrated by Matthew Land 9780008611507

•

Paperback

•

£7.99

•

7–9

Return to Wonderland in this extraordinary reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by one of our most brilliant storytellers England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realises her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

MIDDLE GRADE

NEW IN PAPERBACK

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different from the Wonderland of her grandmother’s stories – for it is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

Enter an enchanting adventure through Wonderland, featuring stunning illustrations by Matthew Land. Starring new characters and old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll’s beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

‘An extremely confident retelling, in which James has managed to adopt some of Carroll’s most beloved characters, and use them to tell a story that is thoroughly her own’ - Daily Telegraph

AUTHOR INFO Anna James is the acclaimed author of Pages & Co. and Chronicles of Whetherwhy. As a journalist, she writes for a variety of newspapers and magazines, and chairs events at bookshops and literary festivals across the UK. She lives in London, in a flat full of books. @acaseforbooks

35

HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S CLASSICS

9 APRIL 2026

9 APRIL 2026

9 APRIL 2026

9 APRIL 2026

THURSDAY’S CHILD Noel Streatfeild

FAR TO GO Noel Streatfeild

BALLET SHOES FOR ANNA Noel Streatfeild

WHITE BOOTS Noel Streatfeild

9780008778729 Paperback 9–12 £7.99

•

9780008778712 Paperback 9–12 £7.99

•

9780008778699 Paperback 9–12 £7.99

•

9780008778705 Paperback 9–12 £7.99

•

9 APRIL 2026

HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S CLASSICS

NEW EDITIONS OF BACKLIST FAVOURITES! CLASSICS REISSUES STUNNING

A STITCH IN TIME Penelope Lively 9780008778736 Paperback 9–12 £8.99

•

37

Harper Fire publishes bestselling and award-winning authors including Alice Oseman, John Green, David Levithan and Veronica Roth alongside new voices such as Salomey Doku, Rachel Greenlaw, Petra Lord, S. F. Williamson and Lauren Wilson. ​ ​An original and market-leading list for young adult readers, Harper Fire is passionate about stand-out books that represent all YA readers, authors, and stories; ​books to make you think, feel, laugh, cry; books to make a mark. ​ ​ @harperfirebooks ​www.harperfirebooks.co.uk

A WAR OF WYVERNS S. F. Williamson 9780008652319

•

Hardback

•

£16.99

•

9-12

The epic sequel to the #1 Sunday Times bestseller, A Language of Dragons!

Vivien Featherswallow has translated a secret language of dragons – sparking an all-out civil war, with dragons and humans fighting on both sides, in the process.

And after defeating Prime Minister Wyvernmire and escaping Bletchley Park, Vivien has become the reluctant face of the rebellion – and been labelled the most wanted criminal in Britain. But what good is a rebel who must remain in hiding, powerless to help her friends?

HARPER FIRE

1 JAN 2026

Unsure of her purpose, and torn with doubt about the life she thought she was meant to lead, Vivien travels to the remote Scottish Isles to find a mysterious, long-forgotten species of dragon – one which might hold the key to ending the war . . . forever.

AUTHOR INFO

PRAISE FOR A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS:

S. F. Williamson is fascinated by the way languages are born and was surrounded by them long before she undertook a degree in French and Italian. She has always known that languages are creatures that live and move and breathe, and as a child she learned that speaking them meant accessing ideas, traditions and people she would only otherwise know from a distance. A graduate of Bath Spa University, Steph now lives in France with her husband and two cats.

‘An incredibly assured debut of betrayal, forgiveness, and bravery’ - The Observer

39

GASLIT Megan Davidhizar 9780008617035

•

Paperback

•

£8.99

•

14+

An incredible and unputdownable YA thriller, with incredible twists and turns that will have you guessing until the very last page, from the author of Silent Sister.

When a night of babysitting turns fatal, a girl burdened with survivor’s guilt becomes increasingly convinced that someone is responsible for the gas leak that killed her family member – and that she was the intended target all along.

HARPER FIRE

15 JAN 2026

Ella wishes that she could do something more fun on New Year’s Eve than babysitting her cousins, but when nobody answers the door, she knows something isn’t right. Breaking in, she finds her cousins unconscious on the floor. And Aunt Julie is dead.

When investigators discover that the cause of death was from a gas leak, a small voice in the back of her head keeps reminding Ella that it could have been her – not Aunt Julie – inside that house. Ella is determined to find out what really happened to her aunt, but as deadly lies begin to seep through the cracks of the investigation, Ella gets the feeling that the gas leak might not have been an accident – and that someone might be out to kill her next.

AUTHOR INFO Megan Davidhizar grew up moving around the American Midwest. She now spends her mornings wishing she liked coffee, her days learning from the students in her English classroom, and her evenings reading stories to her three children while her husband tries to convince them the movies are better.

40

QUEEN OF FACES Petra Lord

9780008688592

•

Hardback

•

£16.99

•

14+

An epic and unforgettable fantasy adventure from a phenomenal new voice, Queen of Faces is like nothing you’ve ever read before.

Anabelle is trapped in a boy’s body, and in a year, it will kill her.

In the nation of Caimor, the wealthy buy and trade bodies like clothes. But Ana can only afford a grey, damaged male form, and by her seventeenth birthday, it’s already falling apart. As her extraordinary magical ability grows, but her body continues to fail her, she is left with only one choice: become an assassin for Paragon Academy, Caimor’s prestigious school of magic.

HARPER FIRE

29 JAN 2026

But rebellion brews in Caimor, and at its helm is Khaoivhe, the most infamous dark mage in history.

As Ana steals, fights and kills for Paragon, and forms a tentative alliance – and maybe more – with the elusive Wes, she discovers secrets that transform her concept of hero and villain . . . while striving, above all, to become her truest self. And that might just be the most powerful thing of all.

A page-turning blockbuster, full of heart-pounding action, inventive magic, cinematic plot twists and emotional gut-punches.

AUTHOR INFO ‘A work of wild imagination, this is an outstanding debut. An original and epic fantasy world with magic that feels entirely real’ - Juno Dawson, Sunday Times bestselling author of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven

Petra Lord is a biracial trans author. She has a BFA in TV Writing from New York University, which she uses to recommend TV shows to her parents and predict the endings of movies. She’s currently based in Los Angeles, where she feeds her dual addictions to hot pot and Korean barbecue and sustains herself with videos of her cat. Queen of Faces is her debut novel.

41

STARLIGHT AND STORM Rachel Greenlaw 9780008664770

•

Hardback

•

£16.99

•

14+

The third and final irresistible adventure in the Compass and Blade trilogy, full of intrigue, sizzling romance, dark magic and monstrous beings.

She’s no one’s weapon to wield . . .

Mira is trapped in a deadly situation which could see the end of everything she has fought for.

She must enter into one final desperate bargain, but this time, it’s with her greatest enemy, the ruling council. To save her life, her home and the people she loves most, Mira is forced to compete in a series of terrifying trials filled with dark magic and dangerous monsters.

HARPER FIRE

26 FEB 2026

Her allies are scattered, her people without a home. With Eli lost in another world, Mira must shape herself into a weapon in order to survive. But with the true nature of the ruling council and their ambitions finally revealed, the battle for the future of the Fortunate Isles has become a war. And in war, there is only ever one victor . . .

AUTHOR INFO Rachel Greenlaw lives on an island in the middle of the Atlantic, with all the allure of tropical palm trees in the summer and spine-tingling storms in the winter. Her debut women’s fiction novel, One Christmas Morning, is published in 2023. Starlight and Storm is the third in the Compass and Blade trilogy. @rachelgreenlaw | www.rachelgreenlaw.com

42

BRIELLE AND BEAR: PROJECT FAIRYTALE Salomey Doku 9780008617608

•

Paperback

•

£12.99

•

13+

The second in Salomey Doku’s stunning, full-colour graphic novel series.

Fairytale Rule No.2: Ordinary people fall into adventures all the time – especially when they least expect it.

Brielle is living out her fairytale dream at Once Upon a Time University, but it’s exam season and with all the late-night studying and extra classes, she still hasn’t found a moment to tell Bear how she really feels about him. As Bear starts to get closer to cheerleader Sasha, and Brielle reconciles with ex Pavão, divisions begin to form between the pair.

HARPER FIRE

26 MARCH 2026

After the summer holidays, Brielle determines to rewrite her fairytale rules and tries to reconnect with Bear. But with the Masquerade Ball fast approaching, will she be too late to spark romance?

Hope, dreams and magical secrets collide in this stunningly illustrated and irresistibly romantic coming-of-age fairytale, where the path to happily ever after is never easy . . .

AUTHOR INFO Salomey Doku is a self-taught author-illustrator from Leeds. Originally trained in architecture, she started watercolour painting in 2018 and quickly fell in love with the art of storytelling. When she is not drawing, she is either daydreaming, going on long walks, at church, or talking to her pet hedgehog Strawberry. Brielle and Bear is her first graphic novel. @salomeydraws | @sa.dokuillo | salomeydraws.com

43

A SONG I WROTE FOR CHARLOTTE Caitlin Devlin 9780008710927

•

Paperback

•

£8.99

•

14+

A beautifully written coming-of-age YA romance, perfect for fans of John Green, Alice Oseman, Stephen Chbosky and Jennifer Niven.

Connie Moore has never failed at anything. That is until the Royal Academy of Music decide her piano playing isn’t good enough and she finds herself pursuing her back-up plan: moving into student halls to study English Literature.

HARPER FIRE

23 APRIL 2026

Just across the corridor, fellow student Charlotte Owen – not a girl who takes no for an answer – drags Connie determinedly into university life. As an unlikely friendship blossoms, Connie begins to wonder if there’s something more to the way she feels about Charlotte.

With an irresistible voice and an exquisite balance of humour and heartbreak, you’ll fall in love with A Song I Wrote for Charlotte from the very first page.

AUTHOR INFO Caitlin Devlin studied English and Creative Writing at Warwick University before graduating to work in music and theatre journalism. As a teenager, she started writing novels as Christmas presents for her younger sister and brother. Since then, her work has been recognised by competitions such as the Iggy & Litro Young Writers’ prize, the Flash 500 short story competition, the Exeter Writers short story competition and, in the music world, by the UK Song-writing Contest. Her adult debut, The Real Deal, was published in 2024. She is also a performed playwright. She currently lives in London with her partner and spends all her money at cafes.

44

THE BETWEEN-WORLDS B&B Amy Mae Baxter 9780008793890

•

Paperback

•

£8.99

•

14+

Step into the Between-Worlds B&B, where magical cosy vibes await. A charming, feelgood and romantic cosy YA fantasy about a travelling B&B – from an incredibly exciting new voice.

Margo is bored. It’s the summer before she graduates, she has no idea where her life is going and she’s really not enjoying her job as a lifeguard (she loves swimming, but all she gets to do is watch people swim).

HARPER FIRE

7 MAY 2026

When Margo gets locked out one evening, she checks into a lovely B&B she’s never noticed. Rooms are available for £24.50 (the exact amount in her bank account!) and she’s greeted by surprisingly handsome receptionist, Finn. The rooms are cosy, there’s even a grand library and a huge swimming pool, and the breakfast smells amazing.

But Margo soon suspects that it’s all too perfect, and that magic is in the air. She’s fairly sure that one of the other guests is a fairy princess, for one thing. Finn soon tells Margo that this is a B&B for magical beings. But Margo is pretty sure she doesn’t have a magical bone in her body, so what is she doing there?

AUTHOR INFO Amy Mae Baxter is editorial director at Avon and the founder and editor-in-chief of Bad Form, a multiaward-winning books magazine by and about writers of colour. She was named a Bookseller Rising Star in 2021, and a Big Issue Changemaker of 2022. The Between-Worlds B&B is her debut novel.

45

FIFTEEN-LOVE Daisy Wilson

9780008803391

•

Paperback

•

£8.99

•

12+

A sweet, swoony childhood friends to lovers sports romcom for fans of Lynn Painter, Jenny Han and Alexandra Moody.

When Izzy’s mum forces her to be a ballgirl at the prestigious Carrington Cup tennis tournament, she thinks it will mean a cute outfit, a bit of exercise and a chance to be on TV. Little does she know, working at the tournament requires serious endurance – with people being cut from the crew for everything from imperfect hair to not knowing a player’s favourite sports drinks.

The biggest challenge of all, though, is Jack – Izzy’s old doubles partner and best friend, who abandoned her when he turned pro.

While everyone else sees Jack as tennis’s moody teen heart-throb, Izzy is trying to avoid him at all costs.

HARPER FIRE

4 JUNE 2026

But as tensions rise both on and off the courts, this summer might just force Izzy to confront everything she thinks she knows about Jack – and to finally decide what she wants for her own future.

AUTHOR INFO Daisy Wilson is a writer and hopeless romantic, who lives in a cosy cottage in the English countryside.

She loves crafting, watching terrible reality TV, and dreaming up perfect fictional boyfriends, and is much better at reading and writing about sports than actually playing them.

46

A PROMISE BOUND IN MIST Elle Hughes

9780008771850

•

Hardback

•

£16.99

•

14+

An epic love story woven with fae magic and wild nature, for fans of Adalyn Grace, Brigid Kemmerer and the Brontë sisters.

Rose has spent her life being told cautionary tales about faeries and mists and moons and those who stray on to the moors after dark.

But she can’t resist the call of the crag’s wild beauty, and anyway, she doesn’t believe in magic . . .

Then she meets Hawkbit, a beautiful boy who seems to have come from nowhere, always surrounded by birds and butterflies and wild horses. Rose and Hawkbit are inexplicably drawn to the moors, and to each other. But as their obsessions deepen while their lives diverge towards different worlds, will their pull to each other end up pulling them into danger?

HARPER FIRE

4 JUNE 2026

AUTHOR INFO Elle Hughes lives with a man and a dog in a forest on an island. From her cabin, she reads and writes books about love and nature and magic. A Promise Bound in Mist is her first novel for young adults, inspired by her love of epic romances and Brontë-esque settings.

47

TELL YOUR FRIENDS Lauren Wilson 9780008687564

•

Paperback

•

£8.99

•

14+

A thrilling and intoxicating tale of envy, revenge and the price of perfection, from the acclaimed author of The Goldens.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HER . . .

Reluctant online sensation Crystal Shaw sees university as her chance to escape the clutches of her controlling vlogger family. While outwardly agreeing to her mother’s demands to create a spin-off channel about her university experience, Crystal is secretly looking for someone who can help her expose some damning evidence about her parents – which she hopes will destroy their social media empire, giving her and her younger siblings freedom.

HARPER FIRE

18 JUNE 2026

Crystal opens up to Alyssa, a fellow journalism student, and the two begin to form a friendship.

But Alyssa is a secret superfan of Crystal’s family’s vlog – and has her own dark plans. Alyssa isn’t ready to say goodbye to her perfect surrogate family just yet . . . and she’ll do anything to be welcomed into the fold.

AUTHOR INFO

PRAISE FOR THE GOLDENS:

Lauren Wilson is originally from County Durham, and now lives in Newcastle upon Tyne. She has a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism, and an MA in Creative Writing, both from Northumbria University. She has previously been a freelance radio reporter, set up her own content writing and social media management business, and worked for Mslexia, a magazine committed to championing women’s writing.

‘Deliciously dark and incredibly cool . . .

An unputdownable novel’ - The Bookseller

@laurenwauthor

48

MY EX AND OTHER MONSTERS Molly Morris

9780008756154

•

Paperback

•

£8.99

•

14+

A quirky teen romcom about the monstrous consequences of falling in love!

Indie Reynolds has perfected the art of cool, calm and uninterested. When a casual family curse means that everyone you fall in love with turns into a literal monster when you get close to them, shutting down that part of your brain becomes kind of a necessity.

HARPER FIRE

18 JUNE 2026

That’s why Indie makes sure that any relationships she has stays positively un¬-serious. And it’s why she can’t risk falling for her new colleague Max, even if he does have endless charm and a perfect jawline.

But when sparks start flying between them, Indie realises that feelings don’t always do what they’re told.

Can she find a way to finally let someone get close to her, or will the consequences be too monstrous?

AUTHOR INFO Molly Morris is a California native with a penchant for the bizarre. After living in the Washington, DC area for university, she moved to the UK to study on the Creative Writing MA at UEA. It’s here where she honed her love for all things magical realism and Young Adult fiction, her writing and reading true love. These days she lives in Norfolk with her husband, daughter and their cat, Lemon.

49

A PRINCE AMONG PIRATES Katie Abdou

9780008754860

•

Hardback

•

£16.99

•

14+

A Prince Among Pirates is the unbelievably funny, sharp and smouldering historical romance that will be the debut of 2026.

Kit Davenport is impulsive, headstrong, a little too sure of himself, and desperate to get out from under his father’s thumb. Oh – he’s also the son of a Viscount, and days away from marrying a future marchioness.

But Kit doesn’t want to marry and become trapped in his father’s world of white wigs, dull dinner parties, and odious meetings in the House of Lords. A string of dubious choices lands him on the crew of the infuriatingly charismatic Captain Reggie Sharpe’s galleon, the Deliverance.

HARPER FIRE

18 JUNE 2026

There’s just one problem: Kit has no idea they’re pirates.

Before Kit can say “wrong ship,” he’s trading ballroom etiquette for rum-soaked camaraderie, explosive gunfights, and, perhaps most excitingly, heart-stopping kisses under the stars.

But life at sea holds just as many secrets as treasures. And when Kit’s past catches up with him, he’ll have to decide who he truly wants to be: a gentleman, or a pirate?

AUTHOR INFO Katie Abdou was born and raised in coastal Massachusetts, where she cultivated a love of history, the occult, and piracy. She aims for her writing to be a place for teens and young adults to find representation and explore trauma, hardship, romance, and adventure within the safety of fiction. Katie is a writer, a costumer, a hiker. a baker, a winemaker, and, most importantly, the Best Auntie in the World.

She lives in Massachusetts with her four fuzzy wee dragons (who are blissfully unaware they’re actually cats). A Prince Among Pirates is her debut novel.

50

15 JAN 2026

7 MAY 2026

SHADOW AND TIDE

THORN SEASON Kiera Azar

Rachel Greenlaw 9780008642617 £8.99

•

14+

•

Paperback

9780008721855 £9.99

•

14+

•

Paperback

HARPER FIRE

NEW IN PAPERBACK

51

BRANDS

Nick Butterworth was born in London and grew up in a sweet shop in Essex. He worked for various major graphic design companies before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Among his picture books are Thud!, QPootle5, Jingle Bells, Albert le Blanc, Tiger and The Whisperer, winner of the Nestlé Gold Award. But he is best known for his stories about Percy the Park Keeper, which have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

Percy has also appeared in his own television series.

12 FEB 2026

7 MAY 2026

BRANDS

1 JAN 2026

CROSS RABBIT Nick Butterworth

9780008642242 £7.99 3–6

•

• Paperback

Percy the park keeper tries to help when a cross rabbit complains that the mice are being too noisy, playing the snow. But the peace doesn’t last long. Will the poor rabbit ever get any sleep?

Percy and his animal friends have delighted readers around the world for over thirty years!

A RAINY DAY Nick Butterworth 9780008765880 £7.99 3+

•

• Board Book

Percy the park keeper and his animal friends are just about to enjoy a picnic when, suddenly, there is a thunderstorm.

Sheltering in Percy’s hut, the friends wonder how they’ll pass the time indoors. But as they all start to enjoy playing games, they soon discover that they can always have fun together – whatever the weather!

A fun, rhyming story about friendship.

ONCE UPON A JOURNEY Nick Butterworth

9780008536091 £7.99 3+

•

• Paperback

Percy the park keeper has turned a rusty old car into a “sailing car”, powered by the wind!

To celebrate, he drives his animal friends away from the park to camp beneath the stars. But after a wonderful evening, as everyone is starting to settle down, they discover that Percy’s car has rolled into a pond!

Whatever will they do? Perhaps, Percy’s old friend Randolph the reindeer can come to their rescue?

53

Theodor Seuss Geisel – better known to his millions of fans as Dr. Seuss – was born the son of a park superintendent in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1904. After studying at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, and later at Oxford University in England, he became a magazine humorist and cartoonist, and an advertising man. He soon turned his many talents to writing children’s books, which included the creation of the one and only The Cat in the Hat, published in 1957. www.seussville.com

18 JUNE 2026

18 JUNE 2026

BRANDS

21 MAY 2026

THE CAT IN THE HAT: A SEARCH AND FIND BOOK Dr. Seuss

9780008772000 £9.99 4+

•

• Hardback

Can you find the Cat in the Hat? Get hunting on every page in this brand new search and find featuring Dr. Seuss’s beloved Cat!

ANIMALS GALORE: A STICKER ACTIVITY BOOK Dr. Seuss

9780008772024 £6.99 4+

•

• Paperback

Enjoy the most splendiferous animals from Dr. Seuss’s stories in this brilliant sticker activity book!

COLOURFUL CREATURES: A STICKER ACTIVITY Dr. Seuss

9780008772017 £6.99 4+

•

• Paperback

Stick, colour and puzzle your way through an array of Seuss’s most spectacular creatures!

54

NEW IN PAPERBACK 29 JAN 2026

Oliver Jeffers is a highly acclaimed talent in picture books. He graduated from The University of Ulster in 2001 with First Class honours and has since exhibited his paintings around the world. His outstanding talent has already been recognised by several high-profile awards, including the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award, the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award and the Irish Children’s Book of the Year.

THE BOY AND PENGUIN LITTLE LIBRARY Oliver Jeffers

9780008764982 £6.99 1-5

•

•

29 JAN 2026

29 JAN 2026

MEANWHILE BACK ON EARTH

HAPPY EASTER FROM THE CRAYONS

THE DAY THE CRAYONS` MADE FRIENDS

Oliver Jeffers 9780008556228 Paperback £8.99 3+

Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

•

9780008764944 Paperback £7.99 • 3+

BRANDS

26 MARCH 2026

780008735968 Paperback 3+ £8.99

•

Board Books

The boy and penguin from the much-loved classic picture book Lost and Found return in this cute collection of mini board books.

Stories of the boy and penguin have enchanted readers worldwide, ever since they first appeared together in the bestselling contemporary classic, Lost and Found, over twenty years ago.

Now the much-loved characters are introduced to a new generation of fans, in this irresistible set of four mini board books.

Find out how the boy and penguin met, join them on their travels – and more – in this cute story collection, perfect for the youngest readers!

The books in this set are: How We Met, Things We Do, Places We Go and At Home Together.

www.oliverjeffers.com

55

SKULLDUGGERY PLEASANT (18):

A SOUL FULL OF SHADOWS

29 JAN 2026

BRANDS

NEW IN PAPERBACK

23 MARCH 2026

7 MAY 2026

Derek Landy 9780008585969 Hardback £16.99 11+

•

Derek Landy lives near Dublin. Before writing his children’s story about a sharply-dressed skeleton detective, he wrote the screenplays for a zombie movie and a murderous horror film. “ I think my career-guidance teacher is spinning in her grave,” he says, “or she would be if she were dead.” www.skulduggerypleasant.com

The bone-shaking new trilogy concludes – the latest adventure in the bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series.

Skulduggery Pleasant has many enemies – many, many enemies – and people try to kill him multiple times a day. But when someone puts a price on his head, he finds himself going up against a foe that not even he can beat. Not alone, anyway.

And where is his partner right when he needs her the most?

Valkyrie Cain is in prison, fighting to stay alive in a place where everyone wants to kill her.

With an island of sorcerers ready to cut themselves off from the rest of the world, a terrorist group enjoying unprecedented public support, and a showdown looming between Winter Grieving and the Child of the Ancients, Skulduggery and Valkyrie find that their options, like their chances, are quickly running out. IS THIS THE END?

SKULLDUGGERY PLEASANT (17):

A HEART FULL OF HATRED Derek Landy

9780008601324 Paperback £8.99

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT (13): SEASONS OF WAR 9780008667450 Paperback £8.99 11–14

•

REISSUES 1 JAN 2026

•

• 11–14

SKULLDUGGERY PLEASANT (16):

A SMALL MATTER OF IMPENDING CATASTROPHE Derek Landy

9780008776701 Paperback £8.99

•

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT (14): DEAD OF ALIVE

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT (15): UNTIL THE END

9780008667467 Paperback £8.99 11–14

9780008667474 Paperback £8.99 11–14

•

• 11–14

•

56

26 MARCH 2026

BRANDS

15 JAN 2026

The Adventures of Paddington is an Emmyaward winning animated preschool series on Nick Jr, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Channel Five’s Milkshake!

The show is about Paddington, the world’s favourite marmalade loving bear, and his adventures with the Brown family in London.

Guaranteed to win the hearts and minds of children everywhere, this series is packed with humour and charm and celebrates kindness, friendship and good manners.

THE LOST HAT 9780008778637 Board book £7.99

•

• 0–6

Join Paddington on a delightful new felt-flap adventure to find his lost hat!

THE HONEYBEE HELPER 9780008621636 Board book £7.99

•

• 2–6

Paddington makes an amazing discovery after being stung by a bee – that without bees there would be no marmalade!

Being a very polite sort of bear, he wants to thank the bees by creating a wildflower garden, but it doesn’t quite go to plan!

57

21 MAY 2026

BRANDS

Judith Kerr

26 FEB 2026

Judith Kerr was born in Berlin, but left Germany with her family in 1933 to escape the rising Nazi party.

They settled in England, where she later met her husband, the celebrated screenwriter Nigel Kneale, with whom she has two children: she wrote The Tiger Who Came to Tea for them. She followed it with the Mog the Forgetful Cat series and many other celebrated stories, as well as her semi-autobiographical story, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. In 2012, Judith as awarded an OBE for her services to children’s literature and holocaust education, and in 2019 she was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards. Judith died in 2019, and her much-loved stories continue to delight children all over the world.

MOG: SPOT AND SAY Judith Kerr 9780008788797 Board Book

• £7.99 • 0–6

Follow Mog on her journey from breakfast table, into town and back home again!

With lift-the-flap fun, discover Mog on every spread and spot lots of other things too!

THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA: FIRST WORDS: A LIFE-THE-FLAP BOOK Judith Kerr 9780008771836 Board Book

• £7.99 • 0–36 months

Join the Tiger and discover so many new words in this lift-the-flap board book, perfect for young readers!

From things that go and things to wear to all the things to eat, meet all your favourite characters from Judith Kerr’s beloved classic The Tiger Who Came To Tea and enjoy some peekaboo fun with flaps on every spread!

FROM BELOVED AUTHOR OF THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA!

58

7 MAY 2026

21 MAY 2026

BRANDS

J ILL BAR K LEM Jill Barklem was drawn to the natural world from childhood. While training as an illustrator at St Martin’s School of Art, her long journeys to college gave her time to escape into the imaginary world of a colony of mice, later to be developed as the enchanting miniature world of Brambly Hedge.

HOUSE FOR A MOUSE Jill Barklem 9780008794651 Board Book

• £7.99 • 0–36 months

Find out what makes the perfect house for a mouse in this gentle rhyming story for babies featuring the beloved mice of Brambly Hedge.

NICE FOR MICE Jill Barklem 9780008794682 Board Book

• £7.99 • 0–36 months

Discover favourite things for mice to do in this gentle rhyming story for babies featuring the mice of Brambly Hedge.

Featuring the beloved mice of Brambly Hedge, be immersed in the miniature world of the hedgerow in this brand-new board book format, perfect for the youngest readers.

59

Born in Boston in 1919, Richard Scarry’s drawing talent led him to study at the Boston Museum School.

He began his career as an illustrator and freelance artist, and in 1963 he published his first book, Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever, which became an international bestseller. Scarry has since sold over 300 million books worldwide and been translated into dozens of languages.

FUNNIEST STORY BOOK EVER Richard Scarry 9780008771805 £8.99 3+

•

• Paperback

This classic collection of Richard Scarry’s most amusing tales will keep kids giggling right up until bedtime.

BRANDS

Richard Scarry

7 MAY 2026

Illustrated in Scarry’s signature style, each story is packed full of brilliant details and fun mysteries to solve.

Richard Scarry is an internationally renowned author and illustrator, whose unique world is a treasure trove of fabulous characters.

Over 300 titles in print with over 200 million copies sold worldwide and translated into 34 different languages.

60

Enquiries for Partnerships/Sponsorships and Michael Morpurgo Elisa Offord – Elisa.Offord@harpercollins.co.uk Oliver Jeffers, Paddington, Nick Butterworth, Judith Kerr, Anna James, Mikey Please and Rashmi Sirdeshpande Sam White – Sam.White@harpercollins.co.uk

CONTACTS

General enquiries childrens.publicity@harpercollins.co.uk

Harper Fire, Hannah Gold, Derek Landy, S. F. Williamson, Kiera Azar, Petra Lord and John Condon Charlotte Winstone – Charlotte.Winstone@harpercollins.co.uk Rob Biddulph, Anna James, Olivia Wakeford, Fiona Dixon, Ross Welford, Iona Rangeley and Rachel Greenlaw Charlotte Horsman – Charlotte.Horsman@harpercollins.co.uk C.S. Lewis, Dr Seuss, Jill Barklem, Phillipa Leathley, Megan Hopkins, James Davis, Anne Miller and Sally Gardener Courtney Westley – Courtney.Westley@harpercollins.co.uk Kumusha, Hannah Gold, Natasha Hastings, Beth O’Brien, Mike Rampton, Henry White and Rebecca Patterson Sam Hawkins – Samantha.Hawkins@harpercollins.co.uk Smriti Halls Iona Richards – Iona.Richards@harpercollins.co.uk

61