Children's books: the best new releases for autumn 2026

Meltdown! by Cara Matheson and Mike Byrne | Contributed

Ages 0-5 In I Will Haunt This by Viviane Schwarz and Chris Riddell (Walker Books, £8.99) a little ghost is sad to discover that its vase has broken, meaning it now needs somewhere else to haunt. Shiny things won’t do - it wants something made with love - so a girl helps it find a cosy teapot, and their friendship encourages her creativity. Schwarz’s affectionate story, illustrated by Riddell, offers a gentle alternative for Halloween, with warmth and companionship taking the place of shivers. For children curious about ghosts but wary of frights, here is the comforting possibility that a haunting might bring a friend.

Father and son Dan and Finn Ojari keep little readers guessing with playful rhymes and cheeky surprises in Is This a Plum? by Dan & Finn Ojari (Penguin £8.99). A cake? No, a snake! A spoon? No, the moon! Peep through the clever cutouts, take a guess, then turn the page. And the plum? A bum, of course! A hippo’s, as the picture happily reveals. Expect pointing fingers, shouted answers and lots of laughs. A lovely book for sharing, where getting it wrong is half the fun.

In I, Rock by Eoin McLaughlin and Mark Chambers (HarperCollins, £7.99) Rock wants a party (three billion years old? Imagine the birthday candles!) but Worm is busy and Gary the Dinosaur hasn’t replied. It’s a worry small children will recognise: will anyone come and play? Chambers brings this unlikely birthday boy to life, while McLaughlin’s dry humour gives grown-ups plenty to giggle at too. Also, to be fair to Gary, extinction is a fairly convincing excuse for missing a birthday.

I, Rock | Contributed

At Cilla Chinchilla’s ice cream van, centre of the action in Meltdown! by Cara Matheson & Mike Byrne (Penguin, £7.99), the flavour you choose must rhyme with your name. Pear for Bear, fig for Pig... but what if Pig fancies rocky road instead? Cue a queue of animals and a chinchilla in a flap. Matheson conjures up a humourous rhyming muddle, while Byrne’s comical animal expressions add to the fun. A story with plenty of opportunities for giggles, silly voices and joining in.

Ages 6-9 The delightful Cat School: Odd Cat Out by Rose Robbins (Scallywag Press, £8.99) is the perfect introduction to comics for younger readers and will be particularly enjoyed by children worried about fitting in with friends at school. First, we meet Tangle and Eno as they settle back into a fresh school year. But new student Pelly is finding the new environment overwhelming and isn’t sure that she fits in with the other kittens. Desperate to make Pelly feel welcome, Tangle gets a little carried away with her plans and the friends learn they need to work together to make Cat School a welcoming environment where every kitten can be themselves.

An hilarious pastiche of classic detective stories, J Algernon Pickle in… The Mystery at Odd-Doings House by Alex T Smith (Hachette Children’s Group, £7.99) is a gleeful whodunnit, lavishly enriched by Smith’s ever-spirited illustrations. With Aunt P’s delicious heart-shaped box of chocolates missing from “the very safe safe”, Jacob Oolong must engage “(Probably) The World’s Greatest Detective” to solve the mystery. Enter stage left none other than J Algernon Pickle himself – a dapperly-dressed beaver. But with all the inhabitants of Odd-Doings House acting suspiciously, the investigative duo must use their finest sleuthing skills to solve the crime before Aunt P’s birthday is ruined. A first-class mystery, perfect for reading together.

Jack Meggit-Phillips brings us some characteristically gruesome hilarity in the deliciously menacing Jekyll vs Hyde: The Potion of Doom (Farshore, £7.99), illustrated by Holly Swain. Heartily spoiled since the very day of his birth, our anti-hero Henrik finds the prospect of inheriting the ramshackle Jekyll Manor intriguingly inviting. But when he finally tracks down the legendary potion, hidden within the manor’s secret lab, Henrik uncovers a side of himself that even he finds shocking. There are hard lessons to be learned and perhaps, most unexpected of all, friendships to be made. Perfect for fans of Malamander and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Ages 9-12 An indispensable tome for every curious child, How to Do (Almost) Everything (What on Earth! £25.00) is jam packed with top tips, interesting facts and practical guides. With the assistance of Laurie Avon’s vibrant illustrations, author Becky Baines presents us with a plethora of fascinating things to learn: How to read the rocks; How to ride a skateboard and even How to choose your dream job. This fabulous compendium provides oodles of activity inspiration for the school holidays.

Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares | Contributed

Readers in search of uncanny goings-on during spooky season will adore Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares (Scholastic, £9.99) the captivating new graphic novel from John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs. Hopping aboard a mysterious train on the way to visit her mum in hospital, Wilomina finds herself transported to a realm of the weird and wonderful, filled with ghouls, dragons and a curious talking cat. As an ever-encroaching black fog starts to transform her into a terrifying werepire, Wilomina must wrestle with her inner demons whilst puzzling her way both to safety, and her mum. A surreal and vibrant feast for the imagination.

With the leaves of autumn falling, it’s the perfect time to delve into the mystical realms of Helen Parry’s A Scrap of Moss and Magick (David Fickling Books, £7.99). Although for Thirza using her magic feels as beautiful as “the song of a skylark”, she is forbidden from showing her talents and must unquestioningly follow the bidding of her Master. But as she uncovers her intended role in a dastardly plan, Thirza must unleash her powers, become master of her own fate, and save her beloved friend. An enthralling debut, brimming with magic, courage and heart.

War (Hachette Children’s Group, £16.99), is the latest gripping collaboration from the award-winning team of Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin and Giovanni Rigano. In this powerful, absorbing story, we accompany Kat’s sudden transition from an ordinary teenager to desperate survivor and would-be rescuer, when war comes all too forcefully to consume her home city. Rigano’s stunning artwork elevates this formidable graphic novel, bringing Kat’s story to life and generating true empathy within the reader. An incredibly readable title that is sure to prompt thought-provoking discussion.

Discover great Scottish reads with a book subscription Scottish Book Trust has launched a new monthly book subscription devoted to Scottish reads. Each month you will receive one new surprise paperback by a Scottish author or with a Scottish setting, as chosen by our experts. Every subscription supports Scottish Book Trust’s vital work changing lives with reading and writing.  There is a full range of book subscriptions in Scottish Book Trust’s online shop. The charity asked best-selling authors like Val McDermid, Sara Sheridan, Chris Brookmyre and Jenny Colgan to curate a selection of books around their favourite theme. A beautifully wrapped mystery book is delivered every month with an exclusive postcard from the curator, who explains why they chose this book.  It’s a perfect gift for a book lover, or for someone getting started on their reading journey. Shop Scottish Book Trust’s subscription boxes and full range of gifts at shop.scottishbooktrust.com.

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