A timeless classic, a growing up guide and a mining mystery by various authors –  children’s book reviews –

Age 10 plus:

Skellig: the 25th anniversary illustrated edition

David Almond and Tom de Freston

‘The story of Skellig came out of the blue. I had no plan nor plot, but once I began to write, it had a life of its own.’

When David Almond’s timeless and life-affirming tale of love, loss and hope was published 25 years ago, it became an international bestseller and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children’s Book Award.

And to celebrate this magical book – which is adored by generations of children and has inspired a stage play, a movie, a radio play and opera – readers of every age can enjoy a deluxe 25th anniversary edition, spectacularly illustrated for the first time by acclaimed artist Tom de Freston.

And what a moving, mystical and mysterious adventure Skellig is, drawing on elements of the author’s own childhood in Newcastle and written with a rare beauty and lyricism that cannot help but touch the minds and hearts of all those who share the strange journey of a little boy called Michael.

When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister’s illness, Michael’s world seems suddenly lonely and uncertain. One Sunday afternoon, he stumbles into the ramshackle garage of his new home and finds something magical. It’s a strange creature... is it a human, a beast, a bird, an angel? Whatever he is, he’s a being who needs Michael’s help if he is to survive. With his new friend Mina, Michael nourishes Skellig back to health. But Skellig is far more than he at first appears, and as he helps Michael breathe life into his tiny sister, Michael's world changes for ever...

With its messages of love, friendship and trust, a sense of wonder that pervades every page, and now brought to life by de Freston’s stunning and atmospheric black and white illustrations, Skellig is as emotionally powerful and unforgettable today as when Almond sat down to pen his story 25 years ago.

(Hodder Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 13 plus:

Lads: A Guide to Respect and Consent – Step Up, Speak Out and Create Positive Change

Alan Bissett