Written by:
Chloe Burridge
Senior Resource Developer
Autumn is always an exciting time to be a book lover as children’s literature festivals in Bath and Cheltenham are in full swing, and there are so many high-quality texts, brilliant authors and new releases to celebrate and share. This month we take a look at a range of recent releases that include some fan favourites and new additions to well-loved series in the hopes of bringing you something to snuggle up with - hot chocolate in hand - ready for the cosy “ber” months to truly begin.
Picture Book:
Unicorn Post
By Emma Yarlett
(Walker Books, 28th August 2025)(Walker Books, 28th August 2025)
Imagine relaxing in your treehouse one moment and receiving a lost unicorn visitor the next! This wonderful picture book brings reminders of the popular ‘Dragon Post’ by Emma Yarlett with the arrival of a magical creature and a problem to solve. The familiar style of this book makes it appealing to younger readers, though it doesn’t follow the exact same plot. Readers will enjoy following the little girl’s quest to find a suitable home for the unexpected unicorn. Along the way, discover the pet shop, the funfair at the fairground and the fairytale castle. With a letter from the farmer and detailed illustrations on the lift-the-flap pages, as well as humorous depictions of the unicorn’s escapades, this is sure to be a hit with any magic-loving, unicorn expert. Centring on the themes of friendship and kindness, this picture book is sure to make a great addition to children’s libraries.
The Dangerous Pet Lovers Guide to Dragons
By Lindsay Hirst, illustrated by Alice McKinley
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 17th July 2025)
This beautifully illustrated picture book is sure to delight younger and older readers with its humour and detail. Lindsay Hirst has created a guide to looking after a pet dragon that any pet lover will relate to, while also bringing to life the imagination of dragon enthusiasts wondering what the realities of having a dragon as a pet might be. Within the pages there are so many fun details in the illustrations that you’ll want to read it again and again, sharing in the magic of the maps, notes and important guidance. The first picture book by Lindsay Hirst and we are already keen for the release of ‘The Dangerous Pet Lovers Guide to Sea Monsters’, set to be released in May 2026. A definite read aloud and share together book, this is the dangerous pet lover’s manual you didn’t know you needed!
Early reader:
Kitty and the Missing Pumpkins
By Paula Harrison, illustrated by Jenny Lovlie
(OUP, Paperback published 4th September 2025)
Looking for a fun and wholesome chapter book for early readers that also signals the changing of the seasons to autumn? This is the perfect pick for you! Kitty and the Missing Pumpkins is now available in paperback and is a great addition to the Kitty series. If you’re unfamiliar with the series, it’s about a girl whose mum is a superhero and who becomes a feline superhero-in-training herself at night! “Girl by day. Cat by Night. Ready for adventure!” This instalment sees Kitty uncover the mystery of missing pumpkins, as well as bringing us an autumn festival, an abandoned house, and a reminder that things aren’t always as they seem. This book is ideal for those children beginning to read chapter books independently, or as a shared story to cosy up with as the leaves begin to fall from the trees.
Novels for older readers:
Skandar and the Spirit War
by A F Steadman
(Simon & Schuster Children’s UK, published 28th August 2025)
The final instalment of the epic series of Skandar and his unicorn companion, Scoundrel, comes to a gripping and emotional finale in this recently released novel. If you aren’t yet familiar with the series, it tells the tale of a boy and his friends who are bonded to blood-thirsty unicorns with elemental magic. This is a carefully crafted fantasy series that is inclusive and advocates for kindness above all. Skandar must build new alliances, master elemental magic and survive sky battles if he is to save the Mainland and the island. The friendships depicted are true and honest, with many chapters that will leave you cheering or reaching for the tissues with a tear in your eye. A dramatic conclusion to this fan favourite. The recent announcement of ‘The First Unicorn Rider’ by A F Steadman, set to be released on 6th November 2025, as well as the inclusion of ‘Skandar and the Secret Element’ in the World Book Day selection means that this series continues its journey into 2026.
Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King
by Katherine Rundell
(Bloomsbury, published 11th September 2025)
Fans of the first book in this series have eagerly awaited the return to the archipelago and will love stepping back into the beautiful world that Katherine Rundell so elegantly portrays. We are immediately greeted by familiar characters like Christopher and Jacques, and introduced to a new strong female lead, Anya. The nod to Shakespeare’s Hamlet is cleverly woven through the narrative, and the development of magical creatures is stunningly realistic. The narrative involves a rescue mission with a sphinx, and a journey to a dragon’s cave as, together, Christopher and Anya fight for justice and the magical creatures. The lexicon of Rundell is as vibrant and broad as ever, and she weaves a careful quest that readers will enjoy. The ideal book to curl up with on a blustery day!
