Seven-year-old Juan lives in Guatemala, a place of stunning beauty and grim economic reality. Abandoned by his mother, Juan lives with his grandmother and shines shoes. He passionately wants to attend school, but fears Grandmother will say no. Finally gathering his courage, he is surprised when she not only agrees to send him to school but also chides him about the importance of standing up for himself. Juan tells this bittersweet story, which reads smoothly and powerfully on several levels, with warmth and dignity.

With its explosive mix of action and adventure, chemistry lessons will never be the same again.

Mayo’s story about the misadventures of a 14-year-old science nut, Itchingham Lofte, whose experiments result in exploding dustbins and “mass puking over teachers”, soon had 150 pupils erupting in spontaneous applause. By the time he wrapped things up 40 minutes later, every child wanted his autograph and the queue snaked around the hall.

The most hotly anticipated children's book of the year is here - Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Delightfully simple but visually impish

Anthony Browne is a sublime master of the visual pun

The Magritte of the pre-schoolers, Browne's illustrations are among the most distinctive and surreal of any children's artist. A beautiful tribute to a very special dad in a dressing gown

A celebration of all things "dad" from the quirky to the moving

It's humorous and charming. Dads and kids alike will love it