Must Read Children’s Books for February 2025

It’s time to go out, so let’s get dressed: tug snug, wriggle jiggle into socks, t-shirt, shoes and finally, all wrapped up in a big coat.

Page by page, child and adult put the clothes on together until everyone is ready.

Wait – what else do we need before we can go out? A great big kiss!

Now we’re dressed, from top to tummy to toes!

Get Dressed, Belly Button! is a cheerful and original book that turns wrapping up warm into a game for the whole family.

Create a bedtime ritual to help baby fall asleep with this novelty board book.

Each page turn of this board book lifts the covers higher – good night toes, little knees, belly button, nose – until the baby is tucked up fast asleep under the book-blanket.

Baby is ready to sleep so it’s time to say good night – all the way from toes to nose!

With each new blanket-page longer than the previous one, the cosy check blanket gradually covers the baby’s whole body. One by one, baby and parents together say good night to little feet, little ankles, little knees… And what about you, little eyes – are you ready to close?

Then the light clicks off and everyone’s fast asleep. Good night, baby!

Good Night, Belly Button is an affectionate and original bedtime ritual to lull any baby to sleep.

From the noble strength of Crazy Horse to the innovative genius of Steve Jobs, Adoptees Who Changed the World is a board book introduction to people who made a difference in the world–and who also happen to be adopted

A celebration of Black History for babies and toddlers!

We Are Black History Board Book from Mudpuppy is a wonderful introduction to the black leaders and trailblazers who have shaped our world! From the inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the incredible calculations of Katherine Johnson, celebrate the achievements of Black pioneers featuring colorful illustrations by Tequitia Andrews.

This brand-new board book series, based on Ella Bailey’s bestselling series One Day On Our Blue Planet, is perfect for babies and toddlers. Each title in the series has five spreads with a baby animal searching for the perfect place to sleep.

Peer behind the flaps to see if they have been successful, or if they have accidentally found another animals perfect sleeping spot!

This brand-new board book series, based on Ella Bailey’s bestselling series One Day On Our Blue Planet, is perfect for babies and toddlers. Each title in the series has five spreads with a baby animal searching for the perfect place to sleep.

Peer behind the flaps to see if they have been successful, or if they have accidentally found another animals perfect sleeping spot!

Share the Love invites young readers to lift the flaps to give out candies and cards to all kinds of community helpers in this festive board book.

It’s Valentine’s Day, the perfect time to show our appreciation for each other!

Open the doors to give a valentine to all the folks who make our communities bright―a firefighter, veterinarian, mail carrier, nurse, librarian, bus driver, and teacher. A final double gatefold spread reveals a heartfelt Valentine’s Day party, thrown in appreciation of our ever-dependable community helpers.

​Share the Love! from author Frederick Glasser and illustrator Edward Miller is a fun and meaningful Valentine’s Day lift-the-flap book for little ones.

Joyful, empowering celebration of choice with an adorable snail protagonist – follow the snail’s sparkly silver trail on every page and join their amazing adventure!

Every morning, a little snail sets off on their Path. There are mountains to climb, rushing rivers to cross and, sometimes, when the path ahead seems impossible, they need to ask for help. But as long as it feels like the right Path for them, this determined snail keeps going.

Follow this adventurous snail as they decide not to follow the crowd and face unexpected challenges. This inspiring journey will help little ones understand that ANYONE can defy the odds and find their own unique way forward.

My Path will help children choose their own special path . . . and keep going!

Hop into HUGS with the Bunny Adventures!

We’re looking for the perfect hug.
Come and join the fun!

Get ready to celebrate HUGS with the bunnies, as our four favourite friends set off on an exciting lift-the-flap adventure to find the very best, cuddliest, happiest hug of all. With prickly hedgehog hugs, woolly lamb hugs and fluffy chick hugs to find hidden under the flaps, it’s an action-packed treasure hunt! Can you help the bunnies in their search – and get them home in time for bed?

Bouncy, joyful and full of fun, this is the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day and EVERY day of the year, from the bestselling author of We’re Going on an Egg Hunt and We’re Going on a Sleigh Ride.

Peri LOVES dancing and dinosaurs. So when she tags along to her sister’s ballet class and the teacher asks everyone to pretend they are dancing with a beautiful creature, Peri knows the perfect partner. But Miss Tippytoes is furious! “Never dance with a dinosaur!” she says.

But does Peri listen? She does NOT – and what happens next is a boogying, bashing, shimmying, crashing, waltzing whirlwind!

With illustrations by the internationally acclaimed Marc Boutavant, this book is set to become a firm bookshelf favourite, and a reminder to always dance to your own tune.

One in a Million is brimming with heart, reassurance and parental love, from one of today’s best-loved picture book authors and an award-winning illustrator.

It tells the story of Debra the zebra who is delighted to find she can count anything and everything… but disaster strikes when Debra realises how big the world is – and just how small she is in it. Luckily, her wise Mama is there to remind Debra that in a world of hundreds, thousands – even millions – sometimes it’s just ONE little zebra, that counts most of all.

I love you more than a baboon’s bum, a kangaroo’s bum, a slimy slug’s bum!

Stuffed full of all sorts of animal bums and celebrating love in all it’s wonderful shapes and sizes, this hilarious new picture book is sure to have little ones, and big ones, laughing with pure glee.

Featuring cheeky illustrations from the incredible Ben Whitehouse and with stellar rhyming text throughout, welcome to the brilliantly silly world of I LOVE YOU MORE THAN A BABOON’S BUM!

When Nyla has to leave her home in the countryside to start life again in the city, all she can think about is everything she misses from before. So when a comet comes crashing through the city streets and starts to glow and grow, Nyla can’t resist a chance to head somewhere that feels closer to what she had before … but what starts as an escape could be just the thing to make her finally feel at home. 

From the award-winning Joe Todd-Stanton, comes an exquisite and heartfelt picture book touching on the bewildering experience of moving house. This beautiful story explores how this can affect a child’s sense of belonging, but also how it can open them up to new and wonderful experiences.

All kinds of guests check in and out of the Grand Hotel of Feelings. Some are fun and some are tricky, but all are welcome!

Welcome to the Grand Hotel of Feelings, where all kinds of feelings come and stay. Every guest has unique needs. Anger is very loud and needs plenty of space to scream and shout. Sadness speaks in a small voice and occasionally floods the bathroom. Anxiety takes many shapes and loves the spotlight.

Some feelings are big and some are small, some are fun and some are tricky, but all feelings must be listened to and acknowledged. After all, they’re just passing through.

Beautifully illustrated and lyrical picture book about the beauty of unconditional love – the perfect story to share with your little one.

Discover the beauty of unconditional love in this gorgeously illustrated picture book. From cuddling koalas to snuggling penguins, protective lionesses to gentle elephants, Our Love tenderly captures the reassuring bond between a parent and child through the lens of the animal kingdom.

With soft watercolour artwork, it is the perfect read for any moment you want to remind your little one of your unending support and affection. Features a fold-out double-page at the end featuring a parade of all the animals.

Become the Ultimate Pokémon Trainer with this awesome 365 activity book, test your Pokémon skills by completing a different activity each day for a full year. This brain-busting, full-colour activity book is packed full of your favourite Pokémon and includes puzzles, codes, word games and more, to improve your Pokémon knowledge.

Packed full of 365 fun activities to complete over the course of a year, to test and improve your Pokémon knowledge. Do you know your Snivy from your Snorlax? Can you tell a Rock-type from a Steel-type? And how good are you at identifying Pokémon just from their ears? Embark on an exciting, challenging and fun year-long adventure to find out the answers to all these questions and more!

By the time you’ve completed the 365th activity you’ll be the Ultimate Pokémon Trainer!

Gotta Catch ‘Em All!

Betty and her Wobbly Rock pals are off to celebrate the famous Turnip Festival in the kingdom of Upper Crust. Betty is still as tiddly as a piece of toast. What could possibly go wrong THIS time?

For readers of You’re A Bad Man, Mr Gum and Grimwood!

The VIPs of Wobbly Rock can’t wait to attend Queen McNiff’s legendary Turnip Festival in the neighbouring kingdom of Upper Crust. But when Betty meets a fashionable forest sprite called Misty Jamjar, it dawns on her that perhaps her old pals aren’t as sophisticated as she once thought.

Misty convinces Betty that being small ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. If Betty can help Misty break into the Queen’s heavily guarded vault, they might just be able to gain access to the Orb of Ogg. This legendary Orb has the potential to change Betty back to her original, stunning height. GOLLY GHERKINS! It’s not as if Misty Jamjar is a secret baddy or anything. And Betty isn’t going to accidentally become as tall as a massive giant. That would be ridiculous.

Even long ago, there was day and night. The day was full of light and warmth, and people and animals alike rejoiced in the rays of the sun. But what happens when people get greedy and take the Night for granted? What will become of the Earth and those who dwell upon it? Katherine Jumbe masterfully brings the world of the Malawian savanna to life, telling a rhythmic tale perfect for bedtime. Rich illustrations by Shana Dixon depict Baby Mwana and her older Sister Alekachawo as they trek up the great Sky Road to bring the heavens back into balance.

In this fascinating and touching book, children can learn about 50 courageous creatures from around the world and throughout history.

This fully illustrated collection gathers heart-warming, surprising and often emotionally powerful stories of bravery, discovery and friendship. Featuring a range of animals – from heroes, helpers and adventurers to achievers and many more – young readers will discover some of the most famous and unforgettable animals of all time.

• Pickles the dog, who tracked down a stolen World Cup trophy
• The first mammal to be cloned – Dolly the sheep
• Cher Ami, the heroic pigeon who saved hundreds of lives

Compelling and visually arresting in equal measure, WildLives is the perfect introduction to just some of the amazing animals whose wild lives have made history.

Have YOU ever had a bad week? The hilarious new series taking the world by storm.

He’s been naked in front of the whole school, survived a marooning, a kidnapping AND a giant sinkhole, and every one of these cringe inducing moments has gone mega viral! Justin Chase is having the WORST WEEK EVER!

Time for nice relaxing weekend, right? WRONG! As Justin must face his spookiest challenge yet… zombies! No, really! And these aren’t just any zombies… he lives next door to the cemetery for ELITE ATHLETES!

Monday was manic, Tuesday was traumatizing, Wednesday was weird, Thursday was terrifying and Friday was frantic. But now… it’s SATURDAY.

The sixth book in the hilarious new seven-part highly-illustrated series for fans of the globally bestselling Treehouse series.

In a perfect world, Jonas begins to see the flaws…

THE GIVER is the classic award-winning novel that inspired the dystopian genre and a major motion picture adaptation for 2014 starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift.

It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, no pain. No one in the community wants for anything. Everything needed is provided. And at twelve years old, each member of the community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders.

Twelve-year old Jonas has never thought there was anything wrong with his world. But from the moment he is selected as the Receiver of Memory, Jonas discovers that their community is not as perfect as it seems.

It is only with the help of the Giver, that Jonas can find what has been lost. And it is only through his personal courage that Jonas finds the strength to do what is right…

The Giver is the award-winning classic of bravery and adventure that has inspired countless dystopian writers as the forerunner of this genre.

The most famous and loved racing story of all time. National Velvet is a classic tale of dreams, ambition and one girl’s belief in a horse.

Velvet’ll sit on a horse like a shadow and breathe her soul into it … I never seen such a creature on a horse.

Fourteen year old Velvet is mad about horses. When she wins a piebald horse in a raffle, she knows he’s something special. His heart is as big as the five-foot fences he jumps, and he’ll do anything for Velvet. Soon, she and her friend Mi have their sights set on the biggest race in England. But can a girl win the Grand National?

Perfect for horse and ponly lovers from nine to ninety nine years old. The book that inspired the classic film starring Elizabeth Taylor, National Velvet is a true classic of print and screen. Alongside Black Beauty and My Friend Flicka it is one of the great horse books for children.

The unforgettable tale of an orphan in Victorian London, based on the boy whose plight inspired Dr Barnardo to found his famous children’s homes.

When his mother dies, Jim Jarvis is left all alone in London. He is sent to the workhouse but quickly escapes, choosing a hard life on the streets of the city over the confines of the workhouse walls.

Struggling to survive, Jim finally finds some friends… only to be snatched away and made to work for the remorselessly cruel Grimy Nick, constantly guarded by his vicious dog, Snipe.

Will Jim ever manage to be free?

Three classic adventure tales in one from the bestselling author of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Imagine living in the heart of Africa. Imagine living in a place where the sun rises every morning over blue mountains.

Akimbo and his parents live on the edge of an African game reserve. It’s his father’s task to protect the thousands of amazing animals who make it their home, and wildlife-loving Akimbo dreams of helping him. In these three adventures, Akimbo protects elephants from poachers, saves a lion cub from a trap, and rescues a man from a crocodile!

This 3-in-1 collection contains Akimbo and the Elephants, Akimbo and the Lions and Akimbo and the Crocodile Man.

Fans of The Jungle Book and the Just So Stories will love these stories of wild animals and thrilling adventures.

Alexander McCall Smith grew up in Zimbabwe and then moved to Scotland. He was a professor of Medical Law and has written almost 100 books, including the well-loved and bestselling No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. He lives in Edinburgh.

Illustrator Peter Bailey has worked with some of Britain’s best-known authors and poets, including Allan Ahlberg, Dick King-Smith, Michael Morpurgo and Philip Pullman.

The tale of a lost mouse who finds a new home

Thursday the Mouse fell from a balloon having just escaped from the Home for Waif-Mice and Stray-Mice. The Peck family of church mice adopt him and give him his name – Thursday – because the day he arrived was a Thursday to remember. Thursday joins the Pecks in their organ-loft home at the church of St Mary’s in the Valley.

The funniest book of the year from an incredibly exciting new voice in children’s fiction!

Scarlet only responds to the advert at the back of the Beano for the role of Defender of the Universe to prove to her annoying younger brother that it’s not a real thing… so she’s a little surprised to be told that she’s got the job and is now responsible for the safety of the entire galaxy. Along with her co-Defender Jasper, Pom-Pom, the cutest alien in existence, and Bot, the cleverest AI robot that’s ever been invented, Scarlet is thrown into a whirlwind adventure that takes her to the furthest reaches of the cosmos and back again, on a mission to prevent the destruction of planet Earth by an alien species who will do anything for a warm cup of hot chocolate.

A stunning new story of hope, humanity and high-seas adventure for children and adults everywhere from Sir Michael Morpurgo, the nation’s favourite storyteller and multi-million copy bestselling author of WAR HORSE.

“We were the truth of our own story.
Me, and the two tiny people on my shoulder, in the middle of the sea…”

War has forced Omar and his mother to leave their home in Afghanistan and venture across the sea to Europe. When their boat sinks, and Omar finds himself alone, with no hope of rescue, it seems as if his story has come to an end.

But it is only just beginning.

Because in the end, a little hope makes a big difference…