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Library Notes

The Boy Who slept Through Christmas – Matt Lucas

Dive in to this funny and debut heart-warming magical (and musical!) adventure from star of stage and screen, Matt Lucas – a festive modern classic for young readers of 8-12!

‘Nearly as good as one of my books’ – David Walliams

Leo LOVES Christmas.

And this Christmas needs to be absolutely perfect, because it’s the first one without Mum. Only it all keeps going wrong!

The fairylights are in a tangle

The Christmas cards aren’t finished

The tree isn’t decorated

And the Christmas cakes have all been destroyed!

Soon Leo decides he’s had enough – he makes a heartfelt wish that it would all GO AWAY.

Then Leo wakes up on what SHOULD be Christmas Day – and it’s gone!! All of Christmas! But Leo isn’t going to let it escape that easily . . .

Join Leo as he sets out on a mission to undo his wish and get Christmas back in the brand-new festive classic by bestselling author Matt Lucas.

Home Alone meets A Christmas Carol in a hilarious adventure with a big dollop of festive magic. Funny, sensitive and emotional in all the best ways, this warm and seasonal family story touches ever so gently on childhood grief but is wrapped up in a chaotic and heart-warming adventure.

Listen to over 20 original songs, written and recorded by Matt to accompany the story, bringing the joy of a musical to book form!

The One and Only Ivan – Katherine Applegate

Now a major motion picture available on Disney+!

Inspired by a true story, this is the beautifully written tale of how a mighty gorilla wins his freedom. A winning blend of humour and poignancy that will appeal to fans of Michael Morpurgo.

This #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Award-winning novel is coming to the big screen this summer, with a star-studded cast including Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Bryan Cranston, and more!

Ivan is an easy-going gorilla who has spent his life performing for the crowds at the Exit 8 shopping mall. He rarely misses life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly thinks about it at all. But everything changes when a baby elephant called Ruby arrives and Ivan realises he must find a new life for them both.

Told from Ivan’s perspective, this is a stand-out novel with a pertinent message, ideal for readers of 9+.

Junipers Christmas – Eoin Colfer

A brand-new Christmas classic adventure about the science behind the magic of Christmas, set in North London and the North Pole - from the bestselling author of Artemis Fowl A New York Times Bestseller IT ALL STARTED IN CHRISTMAS PAST . . . It's been ten years since Santa Claus performed his Christmas duties, but when Juniper Lane discovers the mysterious Niko, who lives in her local London park surrounded by Christmas trees and reindeer that can fly, she steps into a Christmas story like no other. When Juniper's mum goes missing and the park comes under threat from an ambitious park keeper, Juniper enlists Niko, who is surely Santa Claus, to help. As the countdown to Christmas begins, Juniper must find her mother, restore the festive spirit, bring to life the true magic of the season and learn to ride her very own reindeer. A brand-new festive classic, Juniper's Christmas is a rip-roaring magical adventure filled with heart and humour - where one girl's love might just be strong enough to save her family and Father Christmas himself.

The Christmasaurus – Tom Fletcher

Bestselling author Tom Fletcher has re-invented his beloved Christmas story The Christmasaurus as a rhyming picture-book adventure for younger readers to enjoy - now in paperback!

Santa and his reindeer live as north as you can go,

in a place that's full of magic (and quite a lot of snow!).

But Santa and his reindeer do not live there on their own,

for there's a special dinosaur that also calls it home . . .

The Christmasaurus wants more than anything to be able to fly and help pull Santa's sleigh across the sky on Christmas Eve. But flying turns out to be much harder than he thought, even with Santa's help! One special Christmas, however, he falls down a chimney and meets a dinosaur-obsessed little boy who teaches him the magic of believing . . .

With Shane Devries' breathtaking illustrations, a pitch-perfect, read-aloud rhyming text and two magical surprise gate-fold pages, The Christmasaurus Picture Book is the perfect Christmas gift.

Keeper of the Lost Cities Series. Books 1-9. Shannon Messenger

The series follows the journey of Sophie Elizabeth Foster, who seems to be different from other humans. Not only is she a genius, but she also has an ability that no one else has: the ability to read minds. That is, it’s an ability she thinks no one else has. However, when she meets a teal-eyed boy who tells her that she is not a human, but rather, an elf, her world turns upside down. This abnormal girl travels through a journey of pain, discovery, and love. The only question is, does she have what it takes to make it out of there alive?

As she pushes through the hardships that the Neverseen, a rebel group of elves, send her way, she meets new people, sees new things, and forms new heartfelt relationships. Her friends and family help her along her journey.

After manifesting five abilities throughout the books, one might assume that she would easily be victorious. But the Neverseen always seems to be one step ahead, or many. A witness to many kidnappings, and experiencing one herself, Sophie thought she was prepared for everything. But with twists at every step, she questions if things could get any worse, which always seems to happen. Experiencing betrayals and losses she never thought possible, Sophie still pushes through the hardships.

With the help of her friends, family, and creators, the Black Swan, Sophie pushes through each battle she faces. The question that spreads among the fans of the New York Times bestselling series is, who will emerge as the victor? The Moonlark and the Black Swan, or the forces of evil? Read through this thrilling, heart-stopping book series to find the answers!

The Heart is the Strongest Muscle - How to Get from Great to Unstoppable.

Tia Toomey – crossfit 6-time fittest woman on Earth

The legendary six-time CrossFit Games champion and Olympic athlete shares lessons from her inspiring story of leveling up her performance, embracing failure, and fiercely taking on impossible goals.

Tia Toomey, the world's fittest woman, has won the CrossFit Games an incredible six years in a row and is undeniably a true warrior. She has also trained for the Winter Olympics in bobsledding, competed in the Summer Olympics in weightlifting and was a Commonwealth Games gold medalist. She is, in short, one of the most accomplished and dominant athletes in human history. But for Tia physical fitness is only a small part of overall strength. More important is building mental toughness.

In THE HEART IS THE STRONGEST MUSCLE, Tia shows how she reached elite levels by focusing on her "why." By always having a clear picture of her purpose - what drives her heart - she can push through the toughest challenges. From the early days of her fitness journey to the peak performance that has put her atop the podium in the CrossFit Games, Tia reveals the secrets, struggles, and successes that have made her a killer competitor.

Nothing comes easy, but in THE HEART IS THE STRONGEST MUSCLE, Tia will show you how to build your own unstoppable mindset. Whether you are already a serious athlete or someone looking to conquer a new challenge, you'll be able to use her methods to keep winning.

Two Degrees – Alan Gratz

#1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz (Refugee; Ground Zero) is back, tackling the urgent topic of climate change in this breathtaking, action-packed novel that will keep readers turning pages while making their own plans to better the world.

Fire. Ice. Flood.

Three climate disasters.

Four kids fighting for their lives.

Akira is riding her horse in the California woods when a wildfire sparks--and grows scarily fast. How can she make it to safety when there are flames everywhere?

Owen and his best friend, George, are used to seeing polar bears on the snowy Canadian tundra. But when one bear gets way too close for comfort, do the boys have any chance of surviving?

Natalie hunkers down at home as a massive hurricane barrels toward Miami. When the floodwaters crash into her house, Natalie is dragged out into the storm--with nowhere to hide.

Akira, Owen, George, and Natalie are all swept up in the devastating effects of climate change. They are also connected in ways that will shock them--and could alter their destinies forever.

Bestselling author Alan Gratz is at the top of his game, shining a light on our increasingly urgent climate crisis while spinning an action-packed story that will keep readers hooked--and inspire them to take action.