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One way to allow children a sense of escapism whilst working on improving their literacy skills is through the joy of reading. Reading has never been more important for children and so we wanted to share with you our top ten books to inspire, entertain and subtly tackle some of your children’s anxieties this mental health week.

1.A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth and illustrated by multi award-winning illustrator David Litchfield is a stunning book about a little boy who creates a safe space for his Sadness, where he can visit, protect and communicate with his sadness whenever he needs to. Subtle and yet moving this book is the perfect conversation starter for little ones who may be struggling to accept their sadness.

2. Butterfly Brain by Laura Dockrill and illustrated by Gwen Milward is a delightful and moving exploration of grief and the joy that makes us human. Gus falls back on his chair and cracks his head, but through the crack a beautiful butterfly appears, taking Gus on a colourful journey into his own imagination, helping him to face some memories he has locked up tight.

3. The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas has been one of our most popular titles of 2020, as it takes children on a gentle exploration of feelings through different uses of colour. One day Colour Monster wakes up very confused his emotions are all over the place; he feels happy, angry, sad and scared all at once! But each feeling is easily expressed and managed through the change of Colour Monster’s colours!

4. The Mindful Kids Series by Child and Family Psychotherapist Dr Sharie Coombes is a series of interactive self-care activity books perfect for children ages 7+ to colour and doodle their way to calm and confidence. Tackling issues such as bullying, grief, anxiety and yes too much screen time., these books are the perfect activity books to keep your kids occupied in a mentally-positive way.

5. I Really Want to Shout by Simon Philip and illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti is a hilarious picture book about a little girl and her dog who really, really wants to SHOUT. A feeling all of us have been familiar with at some point in the last year. But with a little help this little girl and her dog learns big lessons about managing her anger, with a funny rhyming text and laugh-out-loud illustrations this is sure to be a family favourite!

6. Sometimes I Feel by Sarah Maycock is a menagerie of feelings big and small. With gorgeous watercolour illustrations Sarah explores our feelings though a collection of animal similes and poetic prose. Even a big bear can feel small sometimes and a mouse can find the inner courage to stand tall.

7. My Hidden Chimp by Professor Steve Peters creator of the chimp management mind model provides you with ten habits to help children to understand and manage their emotions and behaviour. Perfect for parents, teachers and carers Steve provides 10 simple habits that we as adults and children need in our arsenal to deal with everyday life.

8. How To Talk So Kids Will Listen And Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, is an international bestseller, having sold 5 million copies worldwide, providing a practical guide to everyday family life. Learn how to break a pattern of arguments, cope with your child’s negative feelings and resolve family conflicts peacefully. This book has never been more necessary!

9. Nervous Nigel by Bethany Christou is a whimsical story about a small, anxious crocodile who comes to terms with who he really is. A wonderful and light-hearted story about finding the courage to open up to your family and tackle any anxious feelings. If you want to see an adorable crocodile with bunny slipper’s then this is the book for you!

10. All The Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman is an incredible story about the life-saving power of friendship. 16-year-old Mehreen Miah’s suffers with anxiety and depression and in her mind is left with only one option – a suicide pact. A pact made with two other teenagers facing similar serious issues. Ironically the one thing that bought them together is also the thing that gives them a reason to keep on living – friendship. An incredible book shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2020, All The Things We Never Said is a celebration of life and the importance of friendship.

Christmas is Love: For those of you that haven’t seen Emma Dodd’s charmingly sweet artwork before, be prepared for it to pull on your heart strings like your favourite John Lewis Christmas advert. This board book featuring two adorable reindeer explores what the festive season is really all about – love. With rhyming text, adorable illustrations and a heart-warming message, this is the perfect book for your little one’s first Christmas.

The Night the Reindeer Saved Christmas – Keeping on the theme of wonderful reindeers, we highly recommend Raj Kaur Khaira’s debut picture book The Night the Reindeer Saved Christmas. Did you know Santa’s reindeer are all female? Neither did we! Until we read this delightful festive feminist picture book. Who rules the world? Girls! Even in reindeer form.

The Church Mice at Christmas – The 40^th anniversary edition of Graham Oakley’s classic tale The Church Mice at Christmas. Curl up with this cosy story about three mice, who after fruitless attempts to raise money for their Christmas party, decide to dress up as Father Christmas and his reindeer. Little do they know that their actions will lead to the capture of a burglar, and a reward hamper filled with all a mouse could ever dream of – CHEESE!

The Robin & The Fir Tree – This exquisite retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Fir Tree by Jason Jameson is the perfect collectable for any Christmas shelf. With a cover decorated in a dark green arlyn and decadent gold foil it will look perfect next to, or under your Christmas tree as an elegant gift! This lyrical story of friendship and new life is an ultimately uplifting tale about valuing what you have. With illustrations to be poured over on every page and lyrical text, this is a perfect book to read on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Lights: Join one little girl and their father as they drive home for Christmas (queue the Chris Rea music). Lift the flaps and spin the wheels to watch the stars shoot past and the fairy lights twinkle. With gorgeous illustrations by Carolina Rabei and clever novelty elements this book will light up your day!

Santa’s Christmas Handbook: Written by Santa’s elves, with the help of Christopher Edge, this book is Santa’s go-to-guide for delivering presents to all the children in the world in one night. Discover all of Santa’s reindeer tips, present prompts, and useful tools such as Santa Nav! With novelty elements on every spread and a fun board game on the penultimate page, this fun interactive book is one that all the family can enjoy.

Winter Tales: Written by award-winning author Dawn Casey and with beautiful illustrations by Zanna Goldhawk, Winter Tales is a stunning collection of stories from cultures around the world, beautifully brought together with striking gilt artwork. From well-known tales such as The Nutcracker to new narratives like The Children and the Sun, this magical book is one that will be treasured for generations to come as an instant classic.

Fearless Fairy Tales: Written by Konnie Huq and James Kay, Fearless Fairy Tales is a hilarious collection of classic bedtime stories for young readers, all utterly updated for the 21^st Century and the perfect for families to enjoy reading together this Christmas. Meet gold-obsessed Trumplestiltskin, and clever-clogs Sleeping Brainy, and laugh along as stereotypes are turned upside down with boys who aren’t afraid to cry, and girls who refuse to kiss frogs. A brilliant book to inspire a new generation of readers!

The Wind in the Willows – For those of you who watched entranced at the online unveiling of the Fenwick Christmas window! This timeless classic has been reimagined with stunning illustrations by award-winning illustrator Grahame Baker-Smith, making it the perfect Christmas gift for young and old! Rediscover the enchanting adventures of Ratty, Mole, Badger and the mischievous Mr. Toad this holiday season for some much needed fun, and introduce little ones to the magic of this classic tale today!

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Pop-Up Advent Calendar (Disney) – This book really is the gift that keeps on giving! Perfect for fans of Tim Burton’s iconic film, open the book and countdown to Christmas with this perfectly spooky pop-up tree. Hidden in compartments are 25 removable and displayable ornaments, from skeletal reindeer to Santa Jack Skellington! With a retelling of the story and fascinating facts about Skeleton Town and its residents, this fun novelty book will become part of your Christmas traditions for years to come!

We hope you enjoyed our selection of the best books to read this festive season, and whatever you are reading this Christmas we hope it’s a good one!

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Piccadilly Press

A publisher of middle-grade fiction for 5-12 year olds.

Piccadilly Press has been publishing for over 30 years, selling more than 6.5 million books. They have won a prestigious list of awards, including winning the IPG Children’s Publisher of the year. Piccadilly Press became part of Bonnier Publishing in 2012.

Studio Press

Studio Press presents the best trend, brand and celebrity-led publishing to both the children’s and adult market in the UK. Founded in 2015 with the publication of the bestselling Harry Potter Colouring Book, our books seek to capture current trends in social media, gaming, film, art and design. With a diverse range of formats, including fiction, non-fiction, picture books, gift, humour and activity, Studio Press will showcase a range of titles with key partners, including Disney, The Beano and high-profile authors.

Templar Books

Publisher of groundbreaking creativity, paper innovation, stylish design, and contemporary illustration. Home to a diverse range of board books, picture books, novelty and non-fiction for children and toddlers.

Big Picture Press

The Invisible Boy by Alyssa Hollingsworth

The Invisible Boy Reporter Activities

Cloudburst by Wilbur Smith

Cloudburst Teacher Resources

Cookie! by Konnie Huq

Cookie! Teacher Resources

Mark Anchovy: Pizza Detective by William Goldsmith

March Anchovy Pizza Decoding Activity

Potkin and Stubbs by Sophie Green

Potkin and Stubbs Discussion Questions

Potkin and Stubbs Creative Writing Prompts

Hotel Flamingo by Alex Milway

Hotel Flamingo Colouring Sheets

Make your own Hotel Flamingo

The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

A Guide to Growing Dragons

The Boy Who Grew Dragons Activity Pack

]]> https://www.piccadillypress.co.uk/activity-sheets/feed/ 0 https://www.piccadillypress.co.uk/halloween-giveaway/ https://www.piccadillypress.co.uk/halloween-giveaway/#respond Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:02:42 +0000 https://www.piccadillypress.co.uk/?p=20035

 

Simply e-mail us at marketing@hotkeybooks.com with proof of purchase/receipt and your name and address by 23.59 on 7th January. Terms and Conditions apply!

T&Cs

• To receive pre-order prize, a copy of proof of purchase must be emailed to competitions@piccadillypress.co.uk.
• Only one entry per person. No entrant may win more than one prize. Winners must supply a name, address, and copy of receipt purchase/preorder of Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the World.
• This competition is open to UK and Ireland residents 16+, or with parental permission and with the exception of employees of the Promoter, their families, agents and anyone else connected with this promotion.
• Entries must be received by 23:59 GMT on 7^th January 2019. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted or fail to reach the Promoter by the relevant closing date for any reason. Automatically generated entries or entries via agents or third parties are invalid and shall not be considered. Entries become the property of the Promoter and are not returned.
• The prize is a personalised Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the world bookplate by Konnie Huq.
• Prizes are subject to availability and there is no cash alternative. Only the first 50 people will receive this particular prize.  In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the Promoter reserves the right (a) to substitute alternative prizes of equivalent or greater value and (b) in exceptional circumstances to amend or foreclose the promotion without notice. No correspondence will be entered into.
• Entries are subject to verification and will be declared invalid if they are illegible, mechanically MV reproduced, mutilated, forged, falsified, altered or tampered with in any way. Entrants agree to abide by the Contest Rules and the decisions of the independent judging panel, which are final.
• The prize is non-transferable, non-negotiable and non-refundable and the winner may not sell or offer the prize for sale or use it for any further competition, contest or promotion.
• The Promoter will use any data submitted by entrants only for the purposes of running the prize draw, unless otherwise stated in the entry details. By entering this prize draw, all entrants consent to the use of their personal data by the Promoter for the purposes of the administration of this prize draw and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented.
• The winners agree to take part in reasonable post event publicity and to the use of their names and photographs in such publicity or social media.
• Promoter may disqualify any entrant whose entry does not comply with these terms and conditions (in Promoter’s sole opinion) or who, in Promoter’s sole determination, has acted in a manner that is fraudulent, dishonest or unjust to other entrants including, without limitation, tampering with the operation of the prize draw, manipulating or rigging votes, hacking, deceiving, cheating or by harassing or threatening other entrants or a representative of Promoter.
• The Promoter is Piccadilly Press, 80-81 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 9RE
• By entering the prize draw each entrant agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are governed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

1. This competition is open to UK and Irish residents up to the age of 15 with the exception of employees of the Promoter, their families, agents and anyone else connected with this promotion.

2.  If you are under the age of 13 then you MUST have permission from your parents to enter.

3. Entries which are sent via teachers, schools or parents are acceptable

4. If your teacher/school is sending in your entry then they must also have permission from your parents.

5. Only one entry per person.

6. To enter e-mail marketing@bonnierzaffre.co.uk with ‘young reporter’ in the subject line, with your age. If you are under 13 then your parents must e-mail us.

7. Entries must be received by 23:59 GMT on 1^st July 2019. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted or fail to reach the Promoter by the relevant closing date for any reason. Proof of posting or sending is not proof of receipt.

8. The prize is to have your story published in a future Potkin and Stubbs book of the Promoters choosing, along with a bundle of books and a Kindle Fire of the Promoters choosing.

9. The winning story will be subject to a spelling and grammar check should it so require before being published in the book.

10. Prizes are subject to availability and there is no cash alternative. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the Promoter reserves the right (a) to substitute alternative prizes of equivalent or greater value and (b) in exceptional circumstances to amend or foreclose the promotion without notice. No correspondence will be entered into.

11. All entries become the property of the Promoters, who assume no responsibility for lost, stolen, delayed, damaged or misdirected entries or for any failure of the website during the promotional period, for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or entry to be received by the Promoters on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or any website, or any combination thereof including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the promotion the Promoters reserve the right, in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend the email portion of this contest should a virus or bug or other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Promoters corrupt the security or proper administration of the contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of this promotion is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, the Promoters reserve the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. Entries are subject to verification and will be declared invalid if they are illegible, mechanically MV reproduced, mutilated, forged, falsified, altered or tampered with in any way. Entrants agree to abide by the Contest Rules and the decisions of the independent judging panel, which are final.

12. The winner will be notified via email on or after the 14th July 2019. The winner must claim their prize within 5 working daysof the Promoter sending notification. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it will lapse and the Promoter reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner selected in accordance with these rules.

13. The prize is non-transferable, non-negotiable and non-refundable and the winner may not sell or offer the prize for sale or use it for any further competition, contest or promotion.

14. The Promoter will use any data submitted by entrants only for the purposes of running the prize draw, unless otherwise stated in the entry details.  We will process all data received by entrants in accordance with GDPR and Data Protection act 2018 and all other applicable laws. By entering this prize draw, all entrants consent to the use of their personal data by the Promoter for the purposes of the administration of this prize draw and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented. All information and contact details which have been e-mailed to the marketing@bonnierzaffre.co.uk for the purpose of the ‘young reporter’ competition will be deleted upon agreement of the winner. (a) Should a person entering be under 13 the Promoter will e-mail back to check that permission from the parents has been received. Entry will only be considered valid once affirmation of permission has been received. (b) If a school or teacher sending on behalf of a child, then written permission will have to have been obtained from that child’s parents if they are under 13. Entry will not be considered valid until it has been asserted/demonstrated by the teacher/school that this has been obtained.

15. Winners will be chosen by the Promoter in conjunction with the author of Potkin and Stubbs, Sophie Green and Karl Mountford, the illustrator. The promoter will share the top three stories with the authors, but not the personal details which will not be revealed until a winner has been decided on.

16. The winners agree to take part in reasonable post event publicity and to the use of their names and photographs in such publicity.

17.Promoter may disqualify any entrant whose entry does not comply with these terms and conditions (in Promoter’s sole opinion) or who, in Promoter’s sole determination, has acted in a manner that is fraudulent, dishonest or unjust to other entrants including, without limitation, tampering with the operation of the prize draw, manipulating or rigging votes, hacking, deceiving, cheating or by harassing or threatening other entrants or a representative of Promoter.

18. This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat.  You acknowledge that all information and material that you submit to enter this prize draw is submitted to the Promoter and not to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat and you agree that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat shall not be liable to you in any way in respect of this competition.

19. The Promoter is Piccadilly Press an imprint of Bonnier Zaffre, 80-81 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 9RE UK

20. By entering the prize draw each entrant agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are governed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

Piccadilly Press is delighted to announce that Garth Nix will be joining the imprint with a new middle grade novel, FROGKISSER! which will be published in Spring 2017. Emma Matthewson, Publishing Director for children’s fiction at Bonnier Zaffre acquired UK and Commonwealth volume rights including audio and eBook (excluding Canada and ANZ) from Antony Harwood of Antony Harwood Limited in association with Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

FROGKISSER! is a wry take on the classic fairy tale of a princess kissing a frog, with magic and humour along the way. It will publish as a lead title on the Piccadilly Press list, whilst Garth’s Old Kingdom sequel for older readers publishing this Autumn, GOLDENHAND will remain on the Hot Key Books list.

Garth Nix said:

“FROGKISSER! is one of those novels that just bubble out of the imagination and demand to be written all at once and won’t permit anything else to get in the way. I am delighted that my various publishers have all responded to the book with as much exuberance as I felt while I was writing it.”

Emma Matthewson said:

“FROGKISSER! is a wonderfully warm and funny tale brimming with humour, and races along with Garth’s impeccable storytelling. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to publish this younger fiction from Garth on the Piccadilly Press list, alongside his Old Kingdom titles on the Hot Key list.”

Executive Director Jane Harris said:

“Garth is such a fantastic storyteller, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to publish a younger story from him, and with our Piccadilly Press and Hot Key imprints, it is very exciting to be able to cater for our authors who write for children of all age ranges, as we view this as an integral part of our author care.”

The book will publish simultaneously with Allen and Unwin in ANZ, and with Scholastic in the US.

Garth will visit the UK for a promotional tour for his Hot Key Old Kingdom title GOLDENHAND in the Autumn. Pitches are now welcome for events.

For more information, please contact PR Manager Tina on tina.mories@bonnierzaffre.co.uk

From Chris’s initial idea – “a sort of Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang with a bicycle” – to the finished stories, Flying Fergus is entirely a product of teamwork. We spent hours talking about how books and bikes offer a similar escape from the humdrum of daily life – something we had both experienced. We talked about how Chris had got his first bike from a second-hand junk shop, painted by his dad to look like the BMX he’d dreamed of. We talked about how we both wanted to get across a message about achievement being about hard work and teamwork, rather than being born with rare talent and becoming an overnight success. Chris sent me off to research Graeme Obree, the world record-breaking cyclist who built his own bike out of washing machine parts and I suggested ways to use the information I learned. We thought up names, and borrowed some from Chris’s family and cycling friends. We mapped out the almost-Edinburgh city that Fergus lives in, based on Chris’s childhood home. We dreamed up which Wacky Races-style gadgets you’d have on your bike if reality was no obstacle. Together we came up with two worlds, a complete cast of characters and a whole series of adventures centering on one very ordinary nine-year-old boy: “Flying” Fergus Hamilton.

Fergus himself is partly me – a small child who spends a lot of time on their own, reading and imagining a life where they have fantastic adventures – but mostly Chris – a boy who dreams big but works hard, who knows the smallest success can mean bigger things in the long run, and who understands that without an incredible team, success is almost impossible, and certainly not half as much fun.

Joanna Nadin – co-author of the Flying Fergus series

Click here to read an extract from Flying Fergus: The Best Birthday Bike