St Richard's Wishlist 22-23: Library

The Exiles by Hilary McKay 
The Exiles was the winner of the 1992 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and is the first novel in Hilary McKay's wonderfully witty and warm The Exiles series. Ruth, Naomi, Rachel and Phoebe Conroy love reading and having fun more than anything else. So the sisters are horrified when they learn that their parents are sending them away to Cumbria for the summer, to stay with their fearsome grandmother: Big Grandma. But as the girls search for alternatives to Big Grandma's way of life they slowly start to understand its appeal, just as she starts to understand them. Are the two generations more alike than they think?

Mrs Noah's Pockets by Jackie Morris 
When Mr Noah builds the ark, he makes two lists – one for all the animals who will come on board and one for those troublesome creatures he will leave behind. Meanwhile, Mrs Noah gets out her sewing machine and makes a coat with very deep pockets. Lots of pockets.

Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds by Annabelle Sami
Determined to be the world's greatest detective, Zaiba is always on the lookout for a crime to solve. She knows everything there is to know about running an investigation – in theory... At her cousin's Mehndi party, Zaiba gets her first challenge: to discover the identity of the VIP staying at the same hotel. 

A Kid in My Class by Rachel Rooney & Chris Riddell
This eagerly awaited new collection from an outstanding poet, winner of the CLiPPA Award, is perfectly matched by the amazing wit and inventiveness of the former UK Children's Laureate.

The Mermaid in the Millpond by Lucy Strange
History and myth entwine in this atmospheric tale of freedom and friendship from bestselling author Lucy Strange and acclaimed illustrator Pam Smy. Bess has left the London workhouse behind for a job at a rural cotton mill. But life at the mill is hard and cruel - a far cry from the fresh start Bess hoped for.The only way to survive is to escape, but the mill is like a prison with no way out. Meanwhile, rumours are spreading about a vicious creature that lurks in the millpond. Bess is sure it's all nonsense, until one night she sees something stir in the murky water.But is it really a monster that lives in the depths of the pond? Or a creature trapped and alone, just like Bess, desperate to escape...

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter
Billy Plimpton is an eleven-year-old boy with a big dream. He wants to be a stand-up comedian when he grows up: delivering pinpoint punch-lines and having audiences hang on his every hilarious word. A tough career for anyone, but surely impossible for Billy, who has a stammer. How will he find his voice, if his voice won't let him speak?

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A. F. Steadman
Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you've never seen them before, in this first book in the new bestselling fantasy adventure series for children age 9+, and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Amari and the Night Brothers.

Kerry and the Knight of the Forest (graphic novel) by Andi Watson
It'll just be a quick shortcut, right? After a spirit leads Kerry astray, he finds himself in an enchanted forest filled with mysterious creatures and dark dead ends. The further Kerry travels, the more hopeless his quest seems. . . To get back to his parents, Kerry will have to find his way, figure out who to trust, make some tough choices about the kind of person he wants to be - or remain lost in the woods forever. An adventure about fear, loss, and finding your own way, this enchanting story comes to life with a hero that every reader can relate to.

Wings of Fire 1 (graphic novel) by Tui T. Sutherland & Mike Holmes
Not every dragonet wants a destiny... Clay has grown up under the mountain, chosen along with four other dragonets to fulfil a mysterious prophecy and end the war between the dragon tribes of Pyrrhia. He's not so sure about the prophecy part, but Clay can't imagine not living with the other dragonets; they're his best friends. So when one of the dragonets is threatened, all five spring into action. Together, they will choose freedom over fate, leave the mountain, and fulfil their destiny - on their own terms.

Creeping Beauty by Joseph Coehlo & Freya Hartas
Following on from Zombierella and Frankenstiltskin, this is the third and final book in a deliciously dark trilogy of twisted classics, written in verse by award-winning poet Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Freya Hartas.

Welcome to Our World by Moira Butterfield
Children all over the world are very different, but they also have much in common. In this beautifully illustrated book, young children can learn all about what people in other countries eat, wear and play, and how they speak and celebrate.

Heroes by David Long
Thirty-three incredible stories of animal heroics from the team that brought you Blue Peter Award-winning Survivors.