Packed full of information, this book introduces the age of the dinosaurs, illustrates and describes different species and their survival tactics, and pits dinosaur against dinosaur in staged battles. Age 8+

In 1926, Evie O’Neill arrives in New York where a serial killer lurks amid the flappers and partying; but Evie has a supernatural secret that could catch the murderer – if he doesn’t catch her first. Young adult.

The performance poet and comedian John Hegley presents an A–Z of poems about animals, from Ants to a spotty Zebra, plus a few about people and ‘other creatures’, such as Fishtoes and the Quibble. Age 8+

Having saved the school from a bully, Nick, Molly and Karl find themselves on the wrong side of the new zero-tolerance policy. Age 8–12

Karl is invited to join MLEZ, the secret organization that runs the school. Molly and Nick must save Karl from himself and the school from weird Karl. Age 8–12

Because he’s so short, Nick is stuffed into his locker by Bully-boy Roy. The school counsellor says Roy has issues: Molly and Karl say he’s a mutant troll who must be defeated. Age 8–12

Mr Leakey is a very practical magician who bewitches animals to be his servants, flies around on a magic carpet and often becomes invisible. Introduced and illustrated by Quentin Blake. Age 9+

This 1883 fantasy story by George MacDonald is the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin. Princess Irene and Curdie, the miner’s boy, are reunited in a quest to save the king, Irene’s father. Age 9+

Marco Loristan and his friend Rat, a London street urchin, go on a secret mission for Marco’s father. Travelling across Europe, they deliver the message that triggers a revolution. First published in 1915. Age 9+

Penelope Lively’s amazing animal odyssey follows a group of seven animals, including Stanley, as they explore a flooded, people-less world on board QV66 and search for another animal like Stanley. Age 9+

Sent out of London to avoid a cholera epidemic, a clergyman’s son and daughter become concerned about the children in nearby Drouet’s Academy, a notorious Victorian school for pauper children. Age 9+

In 1485, as Henry Tudor becomes king, a fleeing Yorkist leaves his cosseted 15-year-old daughter Cecily with his elder sister at Mantlemass in the Sussex countryside – to make a new life. Age 9+

Written in 1944, this romantic novel is set in the medieval castle of Windri and its nearby woods – the trysting place of the Knight of the Golden Feather and the unhappy Philippa, betrothed to another. Age 9+

Originally published in 1948, this is the story of one of history’s most famous horses, the Godolphin Arabian, and his 18th-century journey from Morocco to an English racing stable – and triumph. Age 9+

If the alphabet goes from A to Z, what goes from Z to A? Here are more than 300 clever, funny and sometimes quite tricky riddles and brain teasers to work out. The answers are at the back. Age 7+

Sam is scared of dentists, but Mr Murgatroyd can spin a yarn as well as mend teeth: so amazing are his tales of tigers’, whales’ and crocodiles’ teeth, that Sam doesn’t notice his own being fixed. Age 4+

Glumps live in caves where they sit still and think; peebles dance and twirl in the moonlight. This story is about a peeble who wanted to sit still and think and a glump who wanted to dance. Age 3+

This board book explains such interesting stuff as why giraffes have long necks and how elephants drink – plus press-out and slot-together models of a tiger, an elephant, a giraffe and a crocodile. Age 3+ Not Suitable for children under 36 months due to small pieces.

As well as interesting facts about work on the farm and sheep, cows, pigs and horses, this colourful board book has press-out and slot-together models of the four animals. Age 3+. Not Suitable for children under 36 months due to small pieces

This collection brings together short stories and poems by one of the greatest children’s writers. The 15 stories include some of Aiken’s favourites: Humblepuppy, Lob’s Girl and Crusader’s Toby. Age 7+

In another of Carolina Rabei’s acclaimed illustrated versions of poems from Walter de la Mare’s Peacock Pie (1913), children explore the farmyard as the animals bed down for the night. Age 3+

Starting their journey on a farm, two boys – adventurous would-be zoologists – travel the world, looking at wild animals, making informative notes, painting pictures and being very careful. Age 6+. Slightly off-mint.

Downstairs, an old lady clomped about with a wooden stick making the dog upstairs bark, which woke the cat, whose meowing woke the baby, who disturbed the birds in the roof. Will it ever be quiet? Age 3+

Fashion changed slowly in the centuries before the modern era and resulted in some odd and impractical styles, such as the long, pointed men’s shoes of the 15th century or the 19th century’s bustles and crinolines. This children’s history of costume tells the story of fashion from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to the modern era through a series of 325 colour illustrations. Age 8+

Arranged by stories, from the creation to Daniel in the lion’s den, and from the birth of John the Baptist to St Paul’s last letter to Timothy, this is an engaging retelling of the Old and New Testaments, suitable for reading aloud as well as accessible for young readers. The book includes chapter and verse references and numerous ‘Did you know?’ boxes, providing facts about Biblical times and traditions.

Val Biro has chosen eight tales from the Brothers Grimm’s famous collection, including some of the best-known – ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, ‘The Magic Porridge Pot’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel’ – and the book ends with a note about the Grimms and the history of their Nursery and Household Tales.

Retold from original tales by Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, and brought to life in Biro’s colourful, all-action illustrations, here are seven favourite stories: ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘The Ugly Duckling’, ‘Puss in Boots’, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, ‘The Magic Porridge Pot’, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ and ‘Cinderella’.

The Hare and the Tortoise, The Boy Who Cried Wolf and The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs… The popular children’s author and illustrator, Val Biro retells these and 13 more of the best-loved tales from Aesop in simple language for younger children, and with bold, colourful paintings full of amusing detail and expression.

Eight bedtime-length stories are retold for young children in this colourful book: The Emperor’s New Clothes (with a strategically placed dog); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Rapunzel; The Wizard of Oz; Rumpelstiltskin; The Enormous Turnip; Heidi; and Chicken Licken. Age 3+

Retold for young children and illustrated by Estelle Corke, here are eight traditional tales of much-loved heroes and villains: Jack and the Beanstalk; The Gingerbread Man; The Pied Piper of Hamelin; Three Little Pigs; Sly Fox and Red Hen; Town Mouse and Country Mouse; The Elves and the Shoemaker; and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Age 3+

Have fun learning to count with ‘There Were Ten in a Bed’, sing along with ‘Old MacDonald’ or get into a complete pickle with ‘One Finger, One Thumb’. There are more than 100 illustrated rhymes in this Ladybird collection, with some less-familiar verses as well as favourites such as ‘The Owl and the Pussy Cat’ and ‘Old King Cole’. Age 3+

Evil witches, big bad wolves, wicked sisters… Full of children’s favourite villains and the odd fairy godmother and handsome prince, here are eight classic stories, among them Sleeping Beauty, The Ugly Duckling, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Magic Porridge Pot. Age 3+

The Inca system of record-keeping by tying knots in string (quipu) provided the title of this history book for children. Fact boxes, colourful illustrations, jokes and practical activities make for an anarchic approach to topics ranging from Ancient Sumer and Genghis Khan to Darwin and the moon landings. 8–12 years.

In this second book in the Hollow Earth series, the 12-year-old twins with strange powers to bring art to life are struggling to prevent a breach in Hollow Earth, the supernatural location where devils and demons are trapped for eternity. Age 12+

This thought-provoking novel about memory and self-discovery tells the story of an unusual road trip: the travellers are a pregnant teenager facing difficult choices and her great aunt, an elderly lady in the first stages of dementia. Young adult.

Shylo is the smallest, weakest rabbit in his family, but when he overhears a band of rats (the Ratzis) plotting to take a photo of the Queen in her nightie, it’s up to Shylo to be a hero. He must travel to London, alert the secret society of Royal Rabbits who live under Buckingham Palace to protect the royal family, and save the day. Age 6+. Signed by the author.

Jane Rosenberg retells twelve great ballets as fairy tales, through the medium of dance. For the first time, the stories evoke the onstage worlds created in the performance of classics such as Cinderella, Coppelia, Giselle, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Filled with enchantment, these fairy tales are also an introduction to the plot, setting and characters of each ballet. Age 8+

This activity book is great fun, with appealing pictures to colour in and short sentences in big letters describing each scene, from springtime in the park to making snowmen in winter. The activities encourage imagination and can improve dexterity and concentration. Age 2+

Based on Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, this intriguing version of the ancient legends of Camelot tells the stories of the women: Igrayne, the mother of King Arthur; his queen, Guinevere; Nimue, the Lady of the Lake; and Arthur’s half-sisters, Morgause, Elaine and the enchantress Morgan le Fay. The nine stories are illustrated by Christina Balit. Age 9+

First published to accompany an exhibition at The National Gallery, this book reproduces the pictures chosen by Quentin Blake as curator because each one tells a story. They are arranged alphabetically from A Winter Scene by Hendrick Avercamp (1585–1634) to an illustration from Dwarf Nose by Lisbeth Zwerger (b.1954), with comments from Blake’s cartoon family of gallery visitors. Age 5+

Hare got moonlight in his eyes from gazing at the moon, and he got faster and faster by chasing her from hill to hill; Bee was created from the tears of a lonely demon… Ted Hughes's creation tales tell of eleven creatures who didn't follow the normal route of becoming what they wanted to be by patiently practising. This fine, large format edition is illustrated by Jackie Morris. Age 5+.

Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand is passionate about sharing Jewish wisdom in new and inspiring ways. In this storybook for children she retells classic tales from the Book of Kings, Hasidic literature and Jewish folk legends. The stories are illustrated and decorated with Amanda Hall’s brightly coloured paintings and patterns, and also read aloud by Debra Messing on the two accompanying audio CDs. Age 7+

Sarah Rees Brennan’s Gothic fantasy returns to Sorry-in-the-Vale, the sleepy English town first encountered in Unspoken. It is a place of magic where Kami Glass and her friends must confront the sorcerer Rob Lynburn, who aims to return the town to the old ways. Young Adult.

Elmer, the patchwork elephant, and his cousin Wilbur are visiting their Grandpa Eldo. ‘When I was your age’, says Grandpa, ‘I used to follow the river down to the coast and watch the whales go by’, Elmer and Wilbur set off, rafting down the river and out to sea – and they do meet the whales. Age 2+

One day, a princess forgets to lock her songbird’s cage and he flies away. She runs through the castle and he escapes from every room, until the princess reaches the garden and catches him - but will he sing again? In this story about freedom, children open the flaps to let the bird fly free, and there are ten things to find on every page. Age 4+

Noisy Alex and artistic Lulu are quite different, but that doesn't stop them being best friends and there are lots of things they enjoying doing together. This storybook with its quirky illustrations introduces the concept of opposites and the idea that difference is not a barrier to friendship. Age 3+

In his grandfather's failing seaside arcade, a young boy encounters a mysterious Punch and Judy man and a woman who plays a mermaid. In this dark tale, told by bestselling novelist Neil Gaiman and with painted illustration by Dave McKean, the strange and violent puppets unleash nightmarish secrets of the past.

In this madcap race through Paris, an unlucky family tries to make it to the airport through a chain of catastrophe. With no taxis to be found, a crashed pink limousine, an escaped elephant and a diversion down a sewer, will they catch their plane in time? The brightly coloured illustrations and outlandish events are sure to appeal to crazy kids everywhere. Age 3+