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The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams: Book 1 – The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams by Shane Hegarty ill. Jeff Crowther

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Limpet’s mum is opening an ice-cream shop, full of her favourite new flavours: mushroom and tuna ice cream, anyone? Roast parsnip and gravy?  Limpet’s not sure about this. He likes a nice, safe life. His favourite ice-cream flavour is vanilla. But when wicked Mr Fluffy arrives with his Mega Emporium of Amazing and Spectacular Ice Creams, Limpet knows he’s got to fight back. And there are magic ingredients on his doorstep which can solve all his worries, if only he can get the recipe just right.
Illustrated throughout.

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Happytown Must Be Destroyed by James Harris

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Leeza’s parents are ordinary. Unfit, grumpy, a bit embarrassing. Totally normal, right?
Until today. Today they are jogging. Eating salads and enjoying them. Smiling all the time. They’re happy. Really, really happy. Who could complain about that?
Leeza, that’s who.
Because it looks like someone’s brainwashing everyone in town. Who’s going to save the world? Oh no! It looks like it might have to be Leeza. OK then. Let’s do this. You coming?

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Where Seagulls Dare: A Diamond Brothers Case – Diamond Brothers by Anthony Horowitz ill. Tony Ross

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With thrills and spills, and jokes on every page, a new Diamond Brothers novel…

Private investigators Tim and Nick Diamond haven’t had a case for three months and are down to their last cornflake. So when a glamorous woman comes into their office offering them a pile of cash to find her missing father, they think Christmas has come – only it turns out they are the turkeys! Before they know it, they are caught up in a case involving bike-riding hitmen, superhackers and a sinister far right organisation, the White Crusaders. The Diamond Brothers are in the soup and in it over their heads.

The Offline Diaries by Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth Uviebinene

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A fresh, funny and contemporary story of friendship, told in the captivating voices of Ade and Shanice — two utterly unforgettable Year 8 girls.

Ade is about to start at a new school. She is NOT happy with her stepdad for making them move here. Shanice has been at the school for a year already. Since her mum died, she’s been living with her dad and annoying older brother, spending most of her time outside school in her dad’s hair salon. When Ade and Shanice meet in the salon, and spot each other’s diaries, an instant friendship is formed, and they start to chat online… but offline is a whole other story!

Follow Yomi Adegoke (a British Vogue and Guardian columnist with a debut novel, The List, publishing next summer) on Instagram:

 

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And also follow co-author, Elizabeth Uviebinene (a Financial Times columnist):

Cat Kid Comic Club 3: On Purpose by Day Pilkey

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 19 Apr 2022

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Third  instalment in the graphic novel adventure series from the creator of  Dog Man and Captain Underpants.

The comic club is going in different directions! Naomi, Melvin, and siblings are each trying to find their purpose. Naomi has an idea to get rich quick that causes a lot of commotion and emotion. And when faced with rejections, the friends try and try again to stay true to their vision. To top it off, a surprise visitor comes to class to stir things up. Will a desire for money and power cloud Naomi’s purpose? Is it quitting time? Will the club ever be the same?

 

Nutty Nonsense by Colin West

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 11 Feb 2022

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From the Publisher

The country’s best — and shockingly undervalued — nonsense poet has compiled a collection of his most popular poems and added new illustrations to help out a children’s literature charity (see below). The result is just under a hundred pages of unrivalled entertainment. You won’t find a dud verse anywhere. Here’s one, turned to at random, Hedgehog’s Valentine:

If you’re sickly,
Feeling prickly,
As your trickly
Tears fall thickly,
Don’t act fickly,
Kiss me quickly,
You’ll feel tickly,
Not so prickly,
And partickly
Far from sickly.

For everyone who enjoys their nonsense nonsensical, their rhymes rhythmical (one of the areas in which West is outstanding) and their pictures picturesque, Colin West has dusted down and polished up some of his funniest poems, and added brand new drawings for this collection of Nutty Nonsense. It’s full of amusing characters – step up Norton Norton and his amazing nostrils, accident prone Uncle Harry, and a lighthouse keeper with an enormous family. You’ll also meet fabulous creatures, such as the friendly-looking (but always hungry) Ogglewop, and the fearsome, nocturnal Blunderblat. There’s  the mysterious Wobble-Dee-Woo, a nautical cat named Shivermetimbers, and many more crazy creations.

Published by Poems & Pictures, a small independent publisher of books based in the North of England, established in January 2012.  All profits from sales of the book will go to the Children’s Literature Festivals charity.

Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty ill. David Roberts

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 10 Feb 2022

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“Cleanly rendered illustrations show the family dutifully following orders while things go hilariously wrong. Roberts’s  precise pencil and watercolor illustrations go beyond the entertaining premise to matter-of-factly portray a family at the intersection of a number of identities.” Horn Book
“The colourful illustrations are an absolute joy, and contain so many wonderful details, from stylish clothing to the fabulous facial expressions of the characters.” BookTrust
“Pencil and watercolor scenes by Roberts  emphasize the increasing goofiness of the family’s repeated efforts to get their mess under control, and light rhymes by McGinty  pair smartly with the amusing concept.” Publishers Weekly
“McGinty’s jaunty, rhyming text makes for a fun read-aloud, but Roberts’ brightly colored, energetic illustrations are the real attraction. The increasingly frantic family, with light to dark skin tones, doing silly tasks from a muddled list will incite giggles. The smart and sneaky puss wins the day.” KIRKUS

 

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This riotous romp of a picture book follows a frantic family as they try to get some chores done-with no help from the family cat, who keeps scrambling the list of chores with hilarious effects. Get ready for a rollicking read-aloud with a truly purrfect ending.

It’s cleaning day, but the family cat will do anything to avoid getting a bath. So instead of mopping the floor or feeding the fish, the family is soon busy rocking the rug, vacuuming the lawn, and sweeping the dishes. Bouncy rhyme carries the story headlong into the growing hilarity, until finally Dad restores some kind of order-but will the cat avoid getting his whiskers wet?

Dad and Papa are the heads of this large and loving biracial family, mirroring illustrator David Robert’s own orientation and providing picture book readers with a positive depiction of LGBTQ+ characters in a fun and funny family story.

Alice McGinty is a prolific author of books for children, and David Roberts is well-known for his work on the popular Questioneers series. Together, their upbeat text and energetic art with pops of neon color make for a standout picture book, just right for gifting and enjoying together at storytime.

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Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good by Louie Stowell

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Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month February 2022

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Wry, witty and very funny diary-style story packed with doodles and comic strips about the frustration trickster god Loki feels at having to live trapped in the body of a weedy eleven-year-old boy.

After one trick too many, Loki is banished to live on Earth as a “normal” school boy. Forbidden from using his AWESOME godly powers, Loki must show moral improvement. As he records his lies THE TRUTH in his magical (judgemental) diary, it becomes clear Loki hasn’t a clue how to tell good from evil, trust from tricks, or friends from enemies.

MONSTER! HUNGRY! PHONE! by Sean Taylor ill. Fred Benaglia

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 17 Jan 2022

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Monster is HUNGRY. He wants PIZZA. And he’s got a PHONE! But uh oh… who is he going to call? Hold the line – Monster is in for a wild ride!

A hilarious picture book perfect for anyone who’s ever REALLY wanted PIZZA. With bold, bright illustrations.

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Bunny vs Monkey and the Supersonic Aye-Aye by Jamie Smart

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A new book in the  Bunny vs Monkey series! Some of the comics in this book were originally published as Bunny vs Monkey: The Floating Cow Catastrophe.

There’s a new animal joining Bunny and the gang. Ai – a supersonic, super-fast aye-aye! But how will Ai fit in to the Woods? What mischievous schemes is Skunky cooking up? And will Monkey ever stop trying to hit her with a stick?

Follow Jamie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiefumboo/