Read the latest book reviews of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books this autumn published by the imprints of Hachette Children’s Group including Starboard, Orchard Books and Hodder Children’s Books.
Lumi and the Wolf
Written by Lottie Saahko, Lumi and the Wolf is a moving animal adventure set against the snowy wilderness of Lapland. When Lumi arrives to stay with her aunt and uncle, she is warned about a wild white wolf. But after meeting the animal and discovering that hunters are pursuing him, she resolves to save his life. With the help of local boy Oskár, Lumi embarks on a perilous journey across the snowy fells towards the safety of a national park. As an autistic heroine, Lumi learns to trust her sharp senses, ability to recognise patterns and fierce determination, presenting neurodivergence as an integral part of her strengths. Short chapters, suspenseful storytelling and illustrated forest-diary pages add to the appeal. Parents will value its thoughtful exploration of belonging and self-belief, while children aged 8+ will be swept along by the friendship and adventure. £14.99 published by Starboard.
Magic School for Dogs
Written and illustrated by award-winning creator Pippa Curnick, Magic School for Dogs: Treats, Tricks and Trouble launches a charming new chapter-book series in which family pets have a rather extraordinary secret. When night falls on Barker Street, the neighbourhood dogs leave their ordinary lives behind to attend a school where lessons involve spells rather than conventional tricks. Kind-hearted cocker spaniel Chip is determined to keep up with his studies while avoiding the mischievous magic of the local cats, but things rarely go according to plan. Fortunately, his friends and teachers are on hand to help. Curnick’s full-colour illustrations bring the magical school to life, with spellbooks, potion ingredients, timetables and character fact files adding detail to the world. Parents will appreciate its gentle themes of friendship and perseverance, while young readers aged 7+ will enjoy the enchanting canine cast. £10.99 published by Orchard Books.
Kid Potato: Welcome to my World
Written and illustrated by Neil Coslett, Kid Potato: Welcome to My World introduces an unlikely hero whose only unusual characteristic is that he happens to be a potato. Across five short, gloriously silly adventures, Kid Potato and his friends encounter alien invasions, robot toilets, vanishing pets and epic bowling battles, with plenty of unexpected nonsense along the way. The black-and-white illustrations fill around half the book, making the storytelling particularly accessible to visual readers and children building confidence with longer texts. Its bite-sized episodes offer manageable reading milestones, while the detailed cartoon artwork rewards closer inspection and repeated readings. A snot maze and a draw-your-own activity add an opportunity for creative participation beyond the stories themselves. Parents will appreciate its accessible format for reluctant readers, while children aged 7+ will relish the irreverent humour and wonderfully ridiculous characters. £8.99 published by Hodder Children’s Books.
Kid Potato: Fry and Stop Me
Written and illustrated by Neil Coslett, Kid Potato: Fry and Stop Me brings back the wonderfully peculiar potato protagonist for five more adventures with his friends. This time, Kid Potato faces a succession of absurd challenges, from little-sister tantrums and evil clones to mysterious swamp monsters, super-strong robots and an unfortunate giant-poop costume. Coslett’s expressive black-and-white illustrations are central to the experience, giving the comedy visual energy while helping to keep the reading accessible. The five-episode structure makes it easy to enjoy the stories in shorter bursts, an appealing feature for children who prefer a little reading at a time or are still developing confidence. Familiar characters provide continuity for returning readers, while the fresh mishaps keep the series unpredictable. Parents will appreciate its approachable format, while children aged 7+ will enjoy the cartoon humour and fast-moving escapades. £8.99 published by Starboard.
Unicorn Boy and the Slumber Party of Doom
Written and illustrated by Dave Roman, Unicorn Boy and the Slumber Party of Doom is the second graphic novel adventure for Brian, a shy boy whose unexpected unicorn horn has given him magical powers and an increasingly extraordinary life. After receiving an invitation to a unicorn-only sleepover in an enchanted castle among the clouds, Brian hopes to meet others who understand what makes him different. Yet the glamorous gathering soon reveals a more unsettling side. Roman combines colourful fantasy, comic mishaps and surprising twists with a thoughtful exploration of belonging and the uneasy feelings that can accompany unfamiliar experiences. The graphic novel format gives the story visual momentum, making it an inviting choice for children who enjoy illustrated storytelling. A non-binary character also adds representation without defining the entire adventure. Parents will value its sensitive treatment of difference, while young readers aged 7+ will enjoy the magical mayhem. £8.99 published by Hodder Children’s Books.
The Ickabog
Written by J.K. Rowling and illustrated by Ben Mantle, The Ickabog returns in a striking new edition of this bestselling fairytale, featuring 25 black-and-white illustrations and a new foreword from the author. In the prosperous kingdom of Cornucopia, stories of a terrifying creature said to inhabit the northern Marshlands have long been dismissed as legend. But when fear begins to take hold, best friends Bert and Daisy set out to discover the truth behind the Ickabog and uncover where the real danger lies. Their journey explores the consequences of rumour, dishonesty and misplaced trust, while placing friendship and courage at the heart of the adventure. Mantle’s illustrations bring fresh visual character to the imagined kingdom and its mysterious inhabitants. Parents will appreciate the story’s scope for discussing truth and integrity, while young readers aged 7+ will be drawn into its richly imagined world. £8.99 published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Boss of the Underworld: Shirley vs Seven Deadly Dangers
Written and illustrated by award-winning comic creator Tor Freeman, Boss of the Underworld: Shirley vs Seven Deadly Dangers is the third full-colour graphic novel in the gloriously eccentric series. When Shirley and her cockroach companion George venture into the Under-Under-Underworld to find George’s missing sisters, they must navigate seven increasingly perilous challenges. Freeman’s distinctive artwork and offbeat humour give this subterranean quest its own wonderfully weird personality, with a spirited female protagonist at its centre. The comic-book format makes the action easy to follow, while the fantastical setting and escalating obstacles keep the narrative moving. As well as entertaining confident graphic-novel fans, its visual storytelling offers an accessible route into longer reading for children who find conventional prose less appealing. Parents will appreciate its imaginative heroine, while children aged 7+ will relish the absurdity and laugh-out-loud adventures. £8.99 published by Starboard.
The Cogsworths
Written by Tristan Tales and Luke Pounder, The Cogsworths is an eccentric mystery adventure about three extraordinary siblings whose unusual talents may prove more valuable than they realise. Orion, Scorpius and Lyra live in a ramshackle workshop home on the outskirts of Blissburg, having rarely ventured beyond its walls. When their inventor mother disappears under mysterious circumstances, the siblings are drawn into a world of suspicious characters and a sinister plot threatening their seemingly perfect town. With steampunk influences, short chapters and interior illustrations, the story combines an accessible reading experience with a twist-filled mystery. Its celebration of individuality and sibling relationships gives the adventure an emotional dimension beyond its surreal humour and action. Parents will appreciate its positive message about difference and family loyalty, while children aged 9+ will enjoy piecing together the clues. £8.99 published by Starboard.
Christmas with the Famous Five
Written by Chris Smith and based on the characters by Enid Blyton, Famous Five: Christmas with the Famous Five brings festive mischief and mystery to one of children’s fiction’s best-loved adventure groups. The collection features an original seasonal story in which Timmy the dog may be called upon to save the day after Christmas presents disappear from Kirrin Cottage, alongside a brand-new mystery featuring the New Famous Five, in which Santa goes missing before the Christmas Eve parade. Recipes and festive activities add variety, making this a seasonal collection to dip into throughout December rather than simply read from beginning to end. The combination of Blyton’s familiar characters and Smith’s contemporary contribution offers both nostalgia and a fresh adventure. Parents will enjoy sharing a much-loved literary world, while young readers aged 7+ will relish the mysteries and Christmas cheer. £12.99 published by Blyton Books.
Bletchley Park Puzzles and Brainteasers for Kids
Written by bestselling social historian Sinclair McKay, Bletchley Park Puzzles and Brainteasers for Kids introduces children to the fascinating world of wartime codebreaking through more than 80 puzzles and challenges. Inspired by the top-secret work carried out at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, the collection includes logic and mystery puzzles, crosswords, word games, number challenges and cryptic clues. Alongside the activities, readers discover the history of codes and ciphers, from ancient Greek and Roman methods to the Enigma machine, as well as the mathematicians, poets, chess champions and musicians who helped break enemy codes. The blend of historical context and problem-solving gives the book substance beyond its entertainment value, encouraging logical reasoning, perseverance and curiosity about the past. Parents will appreciate its educational depth, while children aged 9+ will enjoy testing their codebreaking abilities. £7.99 published by Wren & Rook.
Where’s the Santa Poo?
Where’s the Santa Poo? A Festive Search and Find gives the traditional Christmas activity book a decidedly cheeky twist. Santa Poo has scattered his merry mess across a series of snowy scenes, leaving children to hunt for the hidden surprises among twinkling lights, bulging stockings and festive sleighs. Featuring five new characters and detailed, full-colour illustrations, this 40-page search-and-find book invites close observation and repeated exploration. The playful premise is firmly aimed at younger readers with an appetite for toilet humour, while the visual challenges offer an enjoyable alternative to screen-based entertainment during the Christmas holidays. Its large-format pages make it easy to share with siblings or friends, turning each search into a little competition. Parents will appreciate the simple, engaging activity, while children aged 5+ will delight in its mischievous festive silliness. £7.99 published by Orchard Books.
