TP-14.4

TheWorst Class in theWorld by JoannaNadin (£5.99, Bloomsbury) For any of your pupils who are missing the hubbub of a busy classroom at the moment while we’re all in lockdown, this slice of school life from Joanna Nadin will be most welcome. Perfect for fans of Horrid Henry and Kes Gray’s Daisy books, this new series follows class 4B who are, according to their headteacher Mrs Bottomley-Blunt, the worst in the world. Children will giggle at the boisterous pupils’ exploits and nod knowingly at the little details of school life. Author Nadin is a former broadcast journalist and special adviser to the prime minister and has written more than 70 books. This tale is a celebration of learning and friendship, bolstered by Rikin Parekh’s chaotic illustrations, that will cheer children up and get them looking forward to returning to school – and getting up to mischief with their friends – in the not-too-distant future. Peanut Goes for the Gold by JonathanVanNess (£12.99, Harper) If you’ve indulged in a few episodes of Netflix series Queer Eye during lockdown, you’ll no doubt have fallen a little bit in love with exuberant grooming and self-care expert Jonathan Van Ness. The presenter and podcaster has now penned his first picture book, following the adventures of Peanut, an enthusiastic guinea pig who wants to take up rhythmic gymnastics. The story is simple yet heartfelt, encouraging children to be true to themselves, even when others don’t quite understand them. Van Ness has written the character of Peanut as non-binary and uses the pronoun ‘they’ throughout to refer to the protagonist, making this a gentle way to introduce the idea of gender identity to children. Van Ness says, “Growing up, the things that made me unique were not always celebrated, and I wanted to do something that would inspire kids to celebrate the things that make them special.” UmbrellaMouse to the Rescue by Anna Fargher (£6.99, Macmillan Children’s Books) This is the eagerly-anticipated sequel to Anna Fargher’s award-winning novel The UmbrellaMouse, whichwas written on an iPhone during the author’s daily commute and described by legendary children’s authorMichael Morpurgo as “ambitious and wonderfully-well achieved”. Based on the true stories of the animals caught up in the conflict of the second world war, our hero, youngmouse Pip, is fighting for the French Resistance groupNoah’s Ark, a secret gang of animals operating beneath the feet of human soldiers. She’s determined to reach her ancestral home in Italy - with hopes of finding her long-lost family - but the journey through occupied territory is perilous. Beautifully illustrated throughout with artwork by SamUsher, Anna’s story takes children on a journey through a war that reaches even the smallest of creatures. This classic-feeling novel will appeal to fans of Watership Down and The Animals of FarthingWood. Book CLUB We review five brand new titles that your class will love KS1 KS2 KS2 56 | www.teachwire.net