The Waterstones Round Up: October's Best Children's Books

The fifteenth fantastically funny Wimpy Kid book sees the hapless Heffleys attempt a cross-country camping trip, but end up getting stuck in a caravan park in a torrential downpour.

From the author of The Christmasaurus, The Danger Gang is a thrilling, funny tale about the new boy in town and the strange green lightning strikes that appear to be transforming his friends.

Nevermoor is under threat from a terrifying new illness and only Morrigan Crow can save the day, in the continuation of Jessica Townsend’s immersive fantasy series.

The former Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner spins a richly evocative Italian adventure filled with talking crows, underground passageways and the terrifying onset of plague.

The Trials of Apollo reaches its pulsating conclusion, with our Greek god hero preparing to do battle with the formidable emperor in a high octane and suspenseful showdown.

Utterly irresistible and hugely imaginative, the first instalment of a thrilling, funny fantasy series finds two misbehaving sisters plunged into a magical kingdom to face a deadly threat.

The crew of the Frostheart have finally pitched up at Aurora - but a warm welcome is the last thing they receive in the pacy, all-action sequel to Jamie Littler’s gripping bestseller.

The bestselling author of The Parent Agency and AniMalcolm tackles the time-slip tale of a lonely girl from 3020 and a boy inventor from the present day in typically hilarious and endearing fashion.

The creator of the side-splitting children’s icon Tom Gates embarks on an anarchic standalone story fizzing with madcap inventions, power-crazed villains and lots and lots of spectacular shoes.

Three festive ghosts visit a grieving boy as one of our most accomplished contemporary children’s authors reimagines A Christmas Carol with exquisite tenderness and heart.

A pair of squabbling siblings carry the fate of two worlds on their shoulders in Abi Elphinstone’s delightfully inventive tropical adventure, complete with mysterious temples, exotic creatures and dark magic.

From the author of the enchanting The House With Chicken Legs comes another inspired twist on traditional fairy tales, as thirteen year old Olia steps through a magical doorway into a land tangled by an evil wizard.

Blessed with the combination of page turning excitement and thoughtful compassion that made her Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-winning The Boy at the Back of the Class so unforgettable, The Night Bus Hero is a compelling fable of bullying and homelessness.

The second part of Colfer’s rollicking Artemis Fowl spin-off sees the precocious twins attracting some very unwanted attention at the hands of a sinister supervillain.

A standalone novella from the incandescent imagination of Philip Pullman, Serpentine takes place after the conclusion of His Dark Materials and finds Lyra and Pan on a perilous journey North in search of an old friend. This book contains content suitable for middle grade readers looking for a more challenging reading level.

A tantalising combination of clique rivalry, murder mystery and secret-society intrigue, The Magpie Society: One for Sorrow is an unmissable high-stakes, high school thriller for all fans of Pretty Little Liars and One of Us Is Lying.

Based on the true story of an eighteenth-century slave uprising, Wheatle’s propulsive novel centres on the teenage Moa and the challenging decisions he must make as a ‘cane warrior’ fighting for freedom from the Jamaican plantations.

A handsome reproduction of a book pivotal to Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series, The Lives of Saints chronicles figures from Sankta Lizabeta to the Starless Saint in richly evocative prose.

Investigating the pressures and challenges that can drive two people down very different roads, Stone’s electrifying novel charts the friendship between two boys from a tough Atlanta neighbourhood.

The dazzlingly prolific Alice Oseman gifts another pitch-perfect novella from her fictional Solitaire universe, as Charlie and his sister Tori try to rescue Christmas from disaster.

From the inspired pairing behind the award-winning The Lost Words comes a luminous hymn to nature and language adorned with Jackie Morris’s exquisite illustrations of beloved woodland creatures.

Curated by the peerless Katherine Rundell and designed with style and grace, The Book of Hopes garners words of possibility and optimism from the finest children’s writers and artists around.

Explore Neverland, Wonderland and many more iconic Disney and Pixar settings in this sumptuously designed, fully illustrated volume that will rekindle countless cinematic memories.

Ranging from the late 1970s to the present day, this definitive history of the LEGO minifigure features over 2,000 designs from cops to ninjas, and comes complete with an exclusive orange astronaut figure.

Combining the storytelling talents of JK Rowling with the artistic gifts of Emily Gravett, this ravishing illustrated version of Quidditch Through the Ages boasts intricate artwork on every page.

Continuing the magical Story Orchestra series with Saint-Saens’s classical masterpiece, this exquisite interactive book features music from The Carnival of the Animals interwoven with a charming reimagining of the musical suite’s story.

Recreating the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat and many other legendary characters in his own distinctive style, former Waterstones Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell delivers a landmark new Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for the twenty-first century.

The bestselling author of Here We Are, Lost and Found and The Fate of Fausto, Oliver Jeffers returns with an enthralling new story about boundless love, the importance of dreams and the power of imagination – all the very best ingredients for building a bright future.

A riotous, pirate-packed adventure awaits in this hilarious tale of eccentric babysitting, flying ships and doughnut feasts, from the superstars of storytelling and illustration.

The extraordinary life story of a true national treasure, the one and only Captain Tom, is introduced to younger readers in this uplifting, beautiful picture book.