Best Books for Christmas Journey to the heart of the jungle in this unforgettable adventure from the bestselling author of The Last Bear. Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, this is perfect for readers 8+. A Waterstones Best Children’s Book of the Year Shortlisted for The Children’s Wainwright Prize for Fiction 2025 and The Week Junior Book Awards 2025

Silver Trevelon’s parents aren’t happy.

They haven’t been happy since the nursery they decorated started gathering cobwebs, waiting for the baby brother or sister that never came. So when Silver’s dad is invited to paint at a turtle rescue centre in Costa Rica, she hopes it’ll be just the adventure the family needs. Under the hot tropical sun, Silver settles into life at the animal centre.

She even witnesses a rare sighting of a leatherback turtle nesting on the beach. But when the turtle’s eggs are stolen, events take a dark and dangerous turn. Can Silver and her new friends track them down before it’s too late? It’ll mean journeying into the heart of the jungle …

‘This dramatic story is her best yet’ Daily Mail

‘A poignant, rich and thrilling adventure’ Guardian

‘The “eco-adventure” has become a booming genre in children’s fiction – and Hannah Gold is its queen bee.’ Daily Telegraph

‘A thoughtful, eco-thriller adventure’ The Observer

‘Hannah Gold’s Turtle Moon is a classic‘ TLS

Can she win his trust … and win the race? April Wood is no stranger to adventure.

After all, she lives in the Arctic and her best friend is a polar bear. But when April finds herself volunteering for the Polar Race – a long-distance dog sled race across the frozen tundra – even she wonders if this may be an adventure too far. April will need all the help she can get if she’s to make it to the finish line.

And competition is fierce – with experienced dog sledders, including new boy Finn, who will go to any lengths to win. But April has something the other teams don’t: Blaze, a solitary husky with a troubled past, who may just prove to be her secret weapon… With illustrations by the award-winning Levi Pinfold, The Lone Husky is a breathtaking adventure that will take readers on an unforgettable journey through the Arctic and reunite them with some beloved characters.

Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea.

Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help. Can Rio draw on their special connection to somehow find and save his whale . . . ?

Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold

• WINNER OF THE 2022 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD
• WINNER OF THE 2022 WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE
• SHORTLISTED FOR CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2022
• SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2022

“This is an important first novel, important for us, for polar bears, for the planet.

It is deeply moving, beautifully told, quite unforgettable.” Michael Morpurgo. There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to this remote Arctic outpost for six months.

But one endless summer night, April meets one. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life…

This moving story will win the hearts of children the world over and show them that no one is too young or insignificant to make a difference. The Last Bear is a celebration of the love between a child and an animal, a battle cry for our world and an irresistible adventure with a heart as big as a bear’s.

‘A dazzling debut . . . A magical, confidently told story – with beautiful illustrations by Levi Pinfold . . . I predict a roaring success’ The Times