Little Rebels Shortlisted Books

The Little Rebels Award recognises children's fiction (for readers aged 0-12) which promotes social justice or social equality, challenges stereotypes or is informed by anti-discriminatory concerns. Ages Birth-12. 7 books Ajay and the Mumbai Sun Fight Back I Am Nefertiti Mayor Bunny's Chocolate Town Needle The Secret of Haven Point You Need to Chill! ***Includes printed reading guides, poster, stickers and bookmarks*** Price includes approx. 15% discount FULL RETAIL PRICE £54.93 (SAVING £7.93) Members Price £47.00 ***Reading resources for the latest shortlist and full details of the Little Rebels Award can be found at littlerebels.org***

Inspired by our involvement with the Little Rebels Children's Book Award which celebrates children's books that "promote social justice and a more peaceful and fairer world". Like the award, this bookpack lifts an appreciation of children's literature out of the next best seller or sparkly series. Instead it takes quiet and patient stock of the books which nudge and provoke, which gently encourage children to notice the world around them, to ask questions and, where necessary, to challenge the status quo. Ages 5-7. 8 Books Members Price £55.00 **Suitable substitutions will be made if any title becomes unavailable**

Inspired by our involvement with the Little Rebels Children's Book Award which celebrates children's books that "promote social justice and a more peaceful and fairer world". Like the award, this bookpack lifts an appreciation of children's literature out of the next best seller or sparkly series. Instead it takes quiet and patient stock of the books which nudge and provoke, which gently encourage children to notice the world around them, to ask questions and, where necessary, to challenge the status quo. Ages 7-11. 9 Books Members Price £58.00 **Suitable substitutions will be made if any title becomes unavailable**

Inspired by our involvement with the Little Rebels Children's Book Award which celebrates children's books that "promote social justice and a more peaceful and fairer world". Like the award, this bookpack lifts an appreciation of children's literature out of the next best seller or sparkly series. Instead it takes quiet and patient stock of the books which nudge and provoke, which gently encourage children to notice the world around them, to ask questions and, where necessary, to challenge the status quo. Ages 5-11. 17 Books Members Price £113.00 **Suitable substitutions will be made if any title becomes unavailable**

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2018 A deft urban thriller set on a Nottingham estate and starring Callum, an aspiring scriptwriter from a single parent (Dad) family, who doubts that a boy from his background ever gets a break. When a series of local thefts occur at the same time that Callum's Dad 'moves in' his Polish girlfriend and her son, Callum turns investigator.... but his own prejudices soon start to falter and, just as quickly, old kinships are broken and new friendships formed. A gripping and soulful story of self-discovery which packs in plenty of thoughtful content and has more than a touch of Ken Loach's Kes (1969) about it. Beautifully drawn, credible, characters include Sergei, a Polish boy who is wonderfully self-empowered and challenges anti-immigrant prejudice head-on; Amelia, a politically aware Black girl, who lives an 'unconventional' life on a narrow boat; self-hating Linford, a victim of domestic violence and a perpetrator of violence himself ...until he is a witness to injustice writ large. These young voices really ring true. Age 10-15, Paperback 318pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2017 "Why does it tick and why does it tock? Why don't we call it a granddaughter's clock?" The day she turns three, Ada begins a lifetime of asking, "WHY?" . For Ada, everything is a potential quiz, riddle and puzzle to be unravelled. Her parents are frazzled. Her teachers are frazzled. But, in the end, everyone recognises that at the core of all this chaos and testing and answering is a budding and brilliant scientist. A book guaranteed to pique children's interest in STEM subjects. Fantastic rhythms and rhymes, scrummy illustrations with fantastic detailing; this is what people mean when they talk about a perfect picture books- a flweless dialogue between text and illustration. From the creators of the much-loved Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect. But, inspired by the stories of Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie, this is perhaps our favouritest so far... You can see 2 of our teen reviewers sharing their own views on Ada Twist here. Age 4-7, Hardback 30pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2014 A dystopian novel set in the UK. The 5 major banks have crashed, money is worthless, law & order are fragile and food is a precious commodity. The options are to go hungry, store food and risk being raided or flee the country. Matt and his family are forced to take that final option and make the dangerous escape to a refugee camp in France. Little Rebels Judge, Wendy Cooling, said: 'This is a frighteningly believable story, a real page-turner with a strong sense of danger always present, and many big issues of a possible future just below the surface. Gillian Cross tells the story brilliantly, never offering the reader a break in the drama, and creating characters to really care about'. On accepting the award, Gillian Cross said, 'we don't write tracts; we don't write propaganda when we write fiction, but we can't help writing things which engage with who we are and how we live in the world'. Age 9-12, Paperback 296pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2021 Super-smart 11-year-old techie coder, Asha Joshi, is recruited by the Children's Spy Agency for a secret mission: to uncover the mighty corporation, Shelly Inc., as it threatens to take sole ownership of the entire Internet. Important topics are tackled along the way including fake news, surveillance, privacy, social media and democracy. All wrapped up in a dizzying, heady adventure with gadgets, drones, bots, farting selfie sticks...and a STEM-savvy Asian girl protagonist. Shortlisted for the Little Rebels Award for Radical Children's Fiction 2021. Age 8-12, Paperback 239pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2023 Ajay and his friends have grown up on the fringes of society, making ends meet on the Mumbai railways. 'All' he wants is to make it as a journalist, but few believe a slum child like Ajay can cut it as a writer. With no one to give him a break, he and his friends come together to pool their meagre possessions and their boundless creativity to launch The Mumbai Sun- a project which leads to a powerful exposé of child labour, social inequalities, corruption, the criminality inherent in so much fast fashon and brazen western hypocrisy. Deft touches to make this narrative utterly contemporary includes the comparison of the unsafe factory conditions in Mumbai to those behind the Grenfell Tower fire. Likewise, villainous 'Mr Z' is a Bollygarch who lives in London, immune to prosecution. These details ensure that political corruption isn't seen as a disease which just contaminates remote, 'over there' places; instead it lives much closer to home. Packed with social justice issues, this galloping-along narrative is also highly readable and centres the optimism, ambition and kindness of young people. There are also, of course, pauses for cricket matches. Age 9-12, Paperback 282pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2013 A smashing, Amnesty-endorsed, story of a family's escape from war and their journey and subsequent adjustment to a strange new country (which might easily be the UK). Realistic and positive and so very needed in this current climate in which children are hearing so many stories of real life refugees filtered through the media. Told in a super child-friendly, comic-style, format. Based on the author's experiences among refugee families. Little Rebels Judge, Elizabeth Laird, said: 'A simple and powerful story, one with which we should all be tragically familiar, with a text and pictures that are rich, appealing and satisfyingly detailed.' Little Rebels Judge, Wendy Cooling, said: 'The text and illustrations work together brilliantly as they invite children to enjoy the story, and to think about the lives of other children.' Age 7-11, Paperback 36pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2021 "It's strange how we'd got used to the war in Syria and thought it wouldn't affect us...But then everyone in Syria thought the war wouldn't affect them- until it did." 13-year-old Sami and his family flee their privileged, comfortable life in Damascus for safety in the UK. Challenges preconceptions about refugees and raises awareness of the multiple obstacles faced by those seeking sanctuary, from grasping opportunists to unyielding and inhumane bureaucratic systems. Debut author. Age 9-12, Paperback 283pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2020 Dimitri has just started at his nursery and, as ever, he's keen to share his love. At story time, he tells Liam he loves him. At playtime, he tells Sophie, Stella and Sue he loves them. At lunchtime, he tells the dinner lady he loves her too. And so the day goes on, with Dimitri's heart bursting with each new encounter. But he can't help noticing that no one says they love him back. Can Mum help him understand the many different manifestations of an overflowing heart? Described by Catherine Barter on the Little Rebels Award website as "A moving and nuanced picture book exploring love, friendship and emotional expression". Age 4-7, Paperback 24pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2021 "I know that I am George. I know that everyone of us is George. I know that every morning when we awake, we are the new kids, born again". An AI named George joins a school as an experiment in integration, prompting a complex but accessible enquiry in to what it means to be human, the limits of free will, the nature of education and the wisdom of children. Age 9-14, Hardback 307pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2018 Clive is very proud of his nurse's outfit and nurse's kit. He enjoys bandaging Amy, sponge washing Penguin, feeding pasta to baby and checking inside Crocodile's mouth. Meantime, Anisa is busy driving her ambulance and Wilfred is happily wrapping up his own patients in a soft, pink-hearted, blankie. The latest addition to this fresh, every-delightful, series about Clive and his friends who role play, happily free of gender stereotypes and limitations. A gentle humour, as always, courses throughout. Age 1-3, Boardbook 12pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2020 Two parallel lives which echo and weave in and out of each other: Semira and her mother live in present day England, their immigration status insecure, their living conditions unsafe; Hen, a child living in Victorian England, is suffocating under the conventions of her family but is introduced by her magical Aunt Kitty to new forms of self-expression and freedoms: animal rights activism, the struggle for women's suffrage and women's and girls' first forays into cycling. Discovering Hen's diaries, Semira is emboldened to embark on her own flights of freedom, discovering her skills as a cyclist but also discovering the strength and courage to take herself and her mum to a place of refuge. On being shortlisted for the Little Rebels Award 2020, Gill Lewis describes her protagonists as "two girls trying to find their place in the world and their own voices too". Age 9-13, Paperback 223pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2021 "It's not lying! It's simply taking the truth and twisting it. Adding a bit of spin. That's what news is all about these days." From Sly Fox spinning the news in Spinocchio to Wolf overcharging his three tenants in The Three Little Pugs, this collection of subversive fairy tales is a treat for both children and adults with its howls of protest. Age 7-12, Hardback 167pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2023 "It was the same old story- make up hateful things about the people you don't like so you can attack their identities and create division and fear." After a terrorist attack at a K-pop concert in the Midlands, local racial tensions simmer and, ultimately, spill over. Aaliyah feels as if a spotlight is hovering over her. Determined to face down the bullies and counter the ugly stereotypes circulating about Muslims, she proudly puts on her hijab and speaks up. When her school then bans religious symbols, she feels painfully exposed. But she soon discovers she is not alone. Many of her friends are also being policed in their expression of religious and cultural identities, from being asked to remove rainbow badges to being sent home because of wearing braids. And this becomes a unifying force, galvanising them to organise, speak out, stand up and...sit down... in protest. The 2nd novel from the winner of the Little Rebels Award for Radical Children's Fiction 2021 (with Boy, Everywhere). Could it be that wining the edgiest children's book award in town prompted Az Dassu to foreground political activism in her second novel? We like to think so! The power of young people's voices in the novel is striking. Not only does Dassu challenge racist and religious stereotypes, just as important to her is countering stereotypes of who makes up the far right. A nuanced work in empathy. Some great backnotes include a glossary of Sikh and Muslim terms, a section on allyship, a list of central themes and an author's note on the research carried out. Age 9-14, Paperback 370pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2019 It's 1783 and 12-year-old Nat's mother and sister have just been forcibly removed from the Jamaican plantation where they're enslaved. When Nat's mistress tells him he'll be accompanying the master to England in order to look after a precious cargo of pineapples, Nat holds on to a tiny shard of hope- he's heard that there are no slaves in England; that you are free the moment you set foot on English soil. But it turns out that his new destination offers nothing even resembling a taste of freedom... An essential and accessible read, layered with historical material. "A short, powerful and richly imagined historical novel exposing the UK's often overlooked participation in the slave trade" (Catherine Barter, reviewing for the Little Rebels Award website). Age 8-12, Paperback 149pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2021 "Chirton Krauss was a good child, the very goodest. He did everything he was told, when he was told...Myrtle was not a good child, everyone told her so. And Myrtle never forgot to remember this". An always-good child and their never-good sibling cast off their labels to do something more and to be something more. Challenges the expectations and labels of others and celebrates the power to self-define. Age 5-8, Hardback 30pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2015 Oscar loves spending time with his Grandma but lately she has been getting forgetful and soon she has to go into a care home. A child-friendly exploration of what dementia is. Includes factual information to help children talk about their feelings and find new ways to enjoy the changing relationship. Little Rebels Judge, Elizabeth Laird, said: 'This tender, lovely story perfectly celebrates the close bond that many grandparents have with their grandchildren, and it handles with great sensitivity the adjustment that children have to make when a beloved grandmother's increasing dementia means that she has to go into a care home'. Ages 4-7, Paperback 28pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2022 "Hey you. Welcome to the world". Feel affirmed, feel bold, feel wonderful as this author and multiple illustrators accompany you on your journey through the world...from babe in arms to questioning teenager to empowered grownup. Feel yourself held and gently guided as you navigate choices, resist, persist and thrive. A tribute to growing up Black. Age 4-8, Paperback 42pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2023 Nefertiti is joining a new band, drumsticks in hand. Spotting her nervousness, Dad waves her off with his usual affirming refrain, "You are Nefertiti!", which always makes her feel a good 10 feet tall. So, when the music teacher struggles to pronounce her name and then shortens it to 'Nef' for her own convenience, Nefertiti begins to ...shrink...becoming smaller with every 'Nef'! Finally, when she is bug-sized, she reaches up to whisper into Priya's ear. Can her classmates explain to the music teacher where the cure to Nefertiti's shrinking condition lies? A clever story abut micro aggressions told through a very simple and effective metaphor. Age 4-7, Paperback 28pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2021 "It isn't rude to be nude. Everyone has a bum". A highly body-positive and inclusive celebration of nudity, showing all types of bodies in all of their diversity. Perfect for countering body-shaming and mixed cultural messages about how we view our bodies. Debut creator. Age 3-8, Hardback 30pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2021 "This memorial's really important to me. It's hard to explain why. Jean, Mary, those women...They didn't sound dangerous at all to me, they sounded scared. Different and scared". Addie has immediate experience of living in a society which tries to make her fit its ideas of 'normal'. So when she hears about her own local history of women accused of witchcraft, she is stirred and angered. Determined to restore and reframe those lost voices, she starts a campaign to build a memorial in her Scottish village. Debut author. Age 9-12, Paperback 186pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2019 A king, troubled by a lifelong fear of the dark decides to, quite simply, ban it. To get the people on side, there will need first to be some scaremongering and rumour-spreading, so much so that the citizens come up with the idea themselves to enforce a darkness ban. With a large artificial sun mounted in the sky and a troop of officious Light Inspectors in place, how will the town survive under an all-light environment? "A witty picture-book with a lot of contemporary relevance, which skewers government propaganda and the misuse of power" (Catherine Barter, reviewing for the Little Rebels Award website). Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2016 Superhero Origami Girl is back and this time she is on a mission to save a local bookshop. Foreman delivers us all of the defining ingredients of a 'radical' children's book; this could have been written for the Little Rebels Award with its themes of: capitalism threatening a local community and independent businesses, the complacency of governments in the face of large corporations, the possibilities of people power and local community action. Age 4-7, Hardback 22pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2020 There was once a farm where all the animals lived and worked in a mutually supportive democracy. But, one day, the geese (and ducks) decide that they simply do not have enough room for the other animals. Surely, they muse, life was pleasanter and greener and rosier before their patch got quite so... busy? And so the ducks, under the instructions of the geese, bring down the footbridge which links their island to the mainland. But, as time passes and labour is meager and 'community' even thinner, their lives become all the poorer and their patch of land becomes vulnerable and exposed. Can the bridge be built back up? A modern parable fusing Animal Far with Brexit! Both author and illustrator have described this book as one they hoped would counter the messages of hatred so prevalent post-Referendum. Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp Click here to access the teaching sequence of activities for this book from Andersen Press, designed in partnership with CLPE.

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2017 A bold, stark and subversive retelling of Red Riding Hood. Little Red is hooded and booted, alert and on guard, strategic and cunning, brutal when needed and… utterly fearless. Includes a perfect refrain for children to join in with: "Which might have scared some little girls. But not this little girl." A simple palette of monochrome, cut across by dashing red, this is by a very talented new artist who won the 2015 Macmillan Prize for Illustration. 'Brilliant, modern day, twist to a classic fairy tale. Everything about this book is strong- a fearsome hero for all children who hear this tale' (Meryl, EY Consultant & Trainer, LL reviewer). Age 3-6, Paperback 24pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2015 Raffi is a small boy with hair a little longer than most and clothes brighter than most. Shy and quiet, he dislikes noise and ball games- and is often teased at school. When he discovers sewing and knitting, the teasing simply goes up a notch. Can Raffi find a way to enjoy and celebrate his 'difference'? Might his classmates even, finally, see him as a little enviable? Little Rebels Judge, Wendy Cooling, said: 'Craig Pomranz was inspired by a true-life incident to tell this story, one of diversity and celebration of difference...When Raffi discovers knitting and sewing his life turns around. At first he's teased but his enthusiasm helps him to ignore this and when he rises to the challenge of a cloak for the school play, other children treat him with a new respect and realise that his difference is something special. This is an inclusive book, illustrated to complement the brilliance of Raffi's ideas'. Age 4-7, Paperback 40pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2018 If Malala had a magic pencil like the boy in the TV show she used to watch, she'd use it to "draw a better world, a peaceful world....erase war, poverty and hunger....draw girls and boys together as equals". Told in her own words, this is the story of Malala Yousafzai's childhood in Swat Valley, Pakistan. How she loved school and worked hard until the Taliban took control and banned girls from attending. How she dared to speak out against the regime and became a target. How she has continued to speak out, inspiring adults and children all over the world. A wonderful, age-appropriate picture book. Beautifully illustrated and wonderfully empowering. Age 5-9, Paperback 38pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2023 Mr Bunny is back! And this time he has his eye on Coop Town's mayorship. And if that means a campaign of audacious lies, fearmongering and smearing opponents like nice and sensible chook, Debbie, then who's he to hold back? All boring Debbie has to offer is creating change through teamwork and cooperation. But Mayor Bunny promises to rebuild CoopTown in... chocolate! Until he doesn't. We last saw Mr Bunny in Mr Bunny's Chocolate Factory (also for sale here) which was also shortlisted for the Little Rebels Award- in 2018. It's hoppingly fabulous to see him back, reaching out for another grasp at power and, inevitably, tripping up... An ode to democracy and sounding a death knell for fake news and electoral corruption. "Made me smile. Maybe a copy could be sent to Boris- for his children of course!" (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, Letterbox Library reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2018 A fun, anarchic picture book about a fat cat, or rather Mr Bunny, and his chocolate egg factory run by chickens and a quality control unicorn. When ever-greedy Mr Bunny decides production must go up and up and up, the machines are stretched to breaking point, the choc-egg-laying chickens are overfed to the point of sickness, bad eggs begin to turn up in the production line and customers start to complain...all of which merely prompts Mr Bunny to cancel all employee holidays. The tired and poorly chickens finally go on strike, leaving Mr Bunny with a dilemma. Will the Big Chick Protest win the day? Unchecked capitalism, workers conditions, ethical and cooperative working practises all made immediately accessible through a highly comic narrative which never minimises the issues at play. Reminiscent of the protesting moo-cows of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (2000). Age 4-7, Paperback 30pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2015 Nadine and her family flee the civil conflict and rebel army in Goma to start over in the UK. But school is a strange and frightening place to Nadine- until a teacher finds her a special picture which reminds her of home. Little Rebels Judge, Kim Reynolds, said: 'This short book conveys some of the sense of strangeness, fear and unhappiness children like Nadine experience. It also provides an optimistic ending of a kind that can help children believe it is possible for situations to improve- a vital source of inspiration for little rebels in the making'. Reading Age 7+ Interest 8-12, Paperback 47pp

Winner Little Rebels Award 2023 Charlene loves to knit. It stills her mind. It soothes her racing heart. Especially when she has to bear her foster sibling's taunts. Especially when she longs to see her baby sister again. Especially when all of the systems seem set against her. But it's not long before the click! click! just isn't enough to contain her... It is an incredible feat that this award-winning author, famed for her satisfyingly weighty, thrillers (Orangeboy, Eight Pieces of Silva etc.), has been able to condense her passionate commitment to wide-ranging social justice issues and her intricate plots into such a slim, super-pacey novella. As ever, Lawrence's tightly observed characterisations show her compassion and respect for young people. The sometimes-infuriating, always-engaging, Charlene lies at the heart of this story, a blazing force of pent up frustrations, seeded in her by the institutions which have failed her as often as they have supported her. And so, in amongst the wise and caring actions of adults* such as foster carer Annie, social worker Vera, teacher Ms Nzegwu and lawyer Shelley, there are also the adults who underestimate her, ignore her, write her off, criminalise her and who simply don't pay her the attention she is due. We clearly see here how readily young Black girls are put at risk of adultification by our justice and welfare systems. And while, as readers, we long -like the adults in her life- for Charlene to sometimes, just sometimes, preserve herself and smooth the way by saying 'sorry', we also applaud the clarity and wit with which she exposes the hypocrisy of the (predominately adult) people around her, signed up members of the sorry-not-sorry club. A brilliantly accomplished, heart-tripping, contemporary novella which will let the young people in your life know they have been heard. [*How Lawrence is able to portray both young people and middle aged women with equal measure of authenticity, warmth and respect earns my admiration every time]. Reading Age 8+, Interest Age 11+, Paperback 128pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2019 There is a family of rats newly arrived in the tower block. The bunnies are hoppingly-excited. But the other residents have their concerns. Vern the sheep thinks they will be dirty; Matilda the pig thinks they will smell; Astrid the polar bear knows about their 'reputation' for stealing. It might be wise to knock on the new neighbours' door and find out what's what... "An irresistibly smart and funny picture-book which satirizes contemporary fears and preconceptions about 'newcomers'" (Little Rebels Award website). Age 4-7, Paperback 31pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2022 Bea and her family are struggling to survive. Civil war rages between an authoritarian state and rebels, a.k.a. 'Free Kingdom'. The Daily Truth spouts fake news; street posters scream, 'Never Question Authority'; supermarket shelves are bare; power cuts are frequent; the military patrol the streets; society is breaking down. In this country, you try to pick your time to run; you become a refugee overnight. Will Bea's family get to safety in time? (Graphic novel). Age 9-13, Paperback 202pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2022 Albion (formerly England) is a far right country on the brink of war with Europe. There are curfews; supporters brandish their AAA tattoos (Albion-American-Alliance); traitors are imprisoned; girls are chaperoned; people from minority groups leave or are 'disappeared'. For their own safety, Dad sends 10-year-old Alan and his little brother to No-Man's Land, a neutral territory run by women. Can they build a sanctuary? Age 9-12, Paperback 263pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2020 Private Fazal Khan leaves his home in India to join Company 32, supporting the British in World War II, including the beach battlefield at Dunkirk. Initially proud to enlist, Fazal begins to question his own loyalty when he starts to encounter hostilities well inside of enemy lines. 1.5 million Indians volunteered towards the UK's efforts during World War 2, forming what is still the biggest volunteer force in modern history. And yet, barely any of those stories are ever heard or told. Now or Never forms part of an important new series -Voices from Scholastic UK (edited by Tony Bradman)- designed to uncover and amplify Black and Minority Ethnic lives in UK History. On being shortlisted for the Little Rebels Award 2020, Bali Rai said about his historical novel "A lot of these stories are unknown...those unheard stories need to be brought to the fore...it's dreadful that we don't understand UK History in the correct way". Age 9-14, paperback 202pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2017 Ossiri is a Traveller girl, one of the Tattin Folki who toil day in and day out, recycling, renewing and selling on all manner of goods. When Ossiri discovers her inner musician, she decides to craft herself a special instrument out of scraps. Music to her own ears, her family aren't quite so convinced by her melodies...But then, when the family move on to Lancashire, Ossiri takes her music up on to the peaks where she is greeted enthusiastically by a great big yawning ogre, the Bala Mengro. Indeed this beastie seems to be able to turn her music into gold! The very talented Richard O'Neill, a Romani storyteller, gets this traditional Traveller tale in print and in doing so, not only offers a perfectly formed read aloud but also a casual insight into Travelling culture. "Has all the component of a stompingly good fairytale with its hairy ogre, its pint-sized hero and its journey towards good fortune. I'm a fan! (Now where can I find my own pair of very shiny leather boots!' (Fen, LL reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 28pp

Winner Little Rebels Award 2018 The rowdy, scatty, upbeat voice of 9-year-old Omar introduces the reader to his life in a new school which comes complete with a resident racist bully, a situation which only shifts once the two share an unexpected adventure through the London Underground chased by (probably...) a Zombie. A zany, cleverly challenging, warm-hearted book which is scattered with Omar's own, comic-tinged guide to Muslim life in the UK. A speedy plot carried by a hugely loveable protagonist who embraces a joyful Muslim identity for himself. The first in a new series! Age 7-10, Paperback 211pp **A new edition of the Winner of the Little Rebels Award 2018, 'The Muslims'**

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2014 A street thief in a "mean and hard and ugly city" nearly snatches a woman's handbag...the woman tells the child she can have the bag if she makes a promise in return. It's a promise she keeps and its consequences bring about her own and her environment's transformation. A picture book which explores our relationship with nature and offers a vision of a new harmony. Little Rebels Judge, Kim Reynolds, said: 'This gorgeous picture book features a young urban thief who becomes a guerrilla gardener of mythic proportions. The poetic prose underscores the vital connection between humans and nature and encourages young readers to believe that, despite the gloomy news about climate change, they can make a difference through small actions. Laura Carlin's atmospheric illustrations movingly follow the change from grey, grim cityscapes to vibrant cities in bloom'. Ages 5-8, Paperback 38pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2022 Becky and Josh are almost-twin, just-turned teen, siblings. They have the same anonymous donor and are parented by Mum and Ima. Just lately, Josh has started to wonder about the identity of his donor. Becky, meantime, is starting to question who she is and where she fits in; will the new LGBTQ+ group at school help her figure it out? A coming-of-age adventure in family, friendship and finding yourself- road trip included! Age 9-12, Paperback 289pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2019 "The thing that makes me different from other eleven-year-old boys, apart from my fantastic running ability, is my parents have learning difficulties. It's no big deal for me. Really it isn't. I don't look after them. We look after each other". Welcome to the world of AJ- the world of a young carer whose role intensifies when his much loved grandparent dies, leaving him dealing with his grief and a confusing adult world of bills and payments... A warm, moving and uplifting coming-of-age narrative. Set right next to the Olympic stadium, Stratford. "A sensitive and powerful story which explores the impact of financial hardship and a poorly functioning welfare system on young people" (Catherine Barter, reviewing for the Little Rebels Award website). Age 9-12 Paperback 225pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2023 "Everyone who finds this place and becomes a Wreckling is disabled. If you're not, you're an Outsider, and no Outsider has ever made it past the Boundaries...Haven Point is my home, my life, all I've ever known. From what I can gather from the other Wrecklings, well the world outsider Haven Pont is cruel." Disabled characters steer the narrative in a coastal adventure, complete with mermaids and shipwreck lootings. Eager young readers are rewarded with an intricate but accessible plot and a sizeable cast of memorable characters. There is, of course, Alpha Lux, the protagonist with facial scarring, who washes up on Haven Point's shores as a baby. She is scooped up by the island's only inhabitant, Cap'n, who lives quietly in Old Ben, the lighthouse, his magnificent beard home to a kitten... Over time, Alpha is joined by a steady stream of other disabled characters, together forming a 'found-family' community of Wrecklings who are held together by love and mutual support. Uniquely, they adapt their world to fit each of them and each of their needs, with the minimum of fuss. And there are always a clan of mermaids on hand should they be needed. But this utopia isn't immune to the threats from Outsiders and lately, the community's magical Boundaries are becoming porous... A swashbuckling thrill of a narrative which beats back myths about disabled people, delivers a visionary community (it literally puts a social model of disability on to paper) and offers a sophisticated exploration of separatism. The central, dramatic unfolding also occurs during the blissfully romantic wedding of two women, Laura and Maura. The exquisitely created Wreckling's world won't leave this reader's mind. Written by a disabled author passionate about representation, this is -incredibly- Auton's debut. We cannot wait to see what else she gifts her young readers! Age 9-12, Paperback 378pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2020 "A dreamer. A doer. A real-life go-getter. Most people like good, but Sofia likes better". The Beaty/Roberts team find themselves on the Little Rebels Shortlist for the 3rd time! (see also Rosie Revere and Ada Twist). From her very first toddler years, Sofia has wanted to help people- from shopping for neighbours to walking their pets. And, her political-badges-toting Abuelo is always by her side, keeping a watchful eye. But when Abuelo trips and hurts himself on a pile of rubbish (Mount Trashmore) , Sofia decides to aim her acts of kindness a little higher... a project that takes her to City Hall and beyond... On being shortlisted for the Little Rebels Award 2020, Beaty said of her young activist, "Sofia understands that kindness is the beginning of all bravery." Age 4-7, Hardback 36pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2022 Amrita's sister, Jas, is getting married and the whole family are in full-prep mode. There are outdoor fairy lights to string up and special lehengas to be picked out. But why does Aunty keep murmuring about Amrita's and Jas' dark complexions... recommending they drink saffron and stay out of the sun? Amrita wants to stand tall and beam bright like a sunflower. Best friend, Kiki, wants to dazzle in vibrant colours as well! Will their radiance overcome their elders' prejudices? Age 4-8, Paperback 27pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2019 Yazan is a small child bewildered by the changes around him- his mother has stopped painting, the news blasts out of the TV set constantly, school has mysteriously ended and the days, mostly spent indoors, are becoming yawningly monotonous. But then, one day, without permission, Yazan leaves the house- only to be confronted by a dramatically unfamiliar landscape... A stark, sparse text captures a child's unique perspective on a country at war. "A beautiful picture-book full of heart, and not without hope, set against the backdrop of the Syrian war" (Catherine Barter, reviewing for the Little Rebels Award website). Age 4-8, Hardback 25pp

WINNER Little Rebels Award 2015 Scarlet is used to looking after her little brother so when her mum's depression results in them being split up into different foster homes, Scarlet is determined to get her brother back. Explores mental health and the complexities of the care system (without demonizing any social workers!) Little Rebels Judge, Kim Reynolds, said: 'Scarlet Ibis stands out as a book that not only fulfils the criteria for the award but is also excellently crafted...a story that celebrates the often overlooked courage, loyalty and competence of children. As Gill Lewis acknowledges, some children are already changing their worlds. Scarlet Ibis will encourage others to think about how they might improve conditions for wildlife and vulnerable people, young and old'. Accepting the award, Gill Lewis said, '(The award) reminds me to keep on being a little rebel. Because being a rebel isn't just about challenging the big things...it's also about challenging everyday things; it's about not letting prejudice sneak in...(because) it comes in in celebrity jokes or it rides on the back of politicians tapping into our fears'. You can see her full acceptance speech here: Ages 9-12, Paperback 203pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2022 On the surface, the Pomegranate Institute promises comfort to the recently bereaved, extending people's 'lives' through uncannily true-to-life holograms. But are they simply bringing back to 'life' or are they trading in digital cures and a morally dubious vision of human perfection? When they zoom in on Cora, who is neurodivergent, for their research programme, things take a sinister turn. Can Cora and best friend, Adrien, expose Pomegranate's ambitions in time? Can they quite literally save humanity? Age 9-12, Paperback 310pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2018 Gill Lewis once again manages to combine political and thought-provoking content with an easy, flowing narrative. In what is surely brand new material for children's literature, Lewis explores the environmental impact of grouse shooting-and therefore, in turn, deforestation and endangered hen harriers- and raises the radical possibility of rewilding our landscapes. All this within a cast of characters who straddle our bizarre English class hierarchy from the landed aristocracy who run the grouse-shooting business to the working class gamekeepers and grouse beaters dependent on the land for their work. At both ends of the spectrum, young people- Joe, Minty and Ella- are galvanised and empowered to have a say on the great cost to them all of leaving this 'sport' unchecked. A fantastic tribute to all of the children and young people who ask, 'why?' and then keep asking 'why?' This is the fourth book Lewis has had on the Little Rebels Shortlist. Truly one of the UK's most compassionate and politicised children's authors. Age 9-12, Paperback 259pp **Special offer is £1.99 off, usually £6.99**

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2017 Joe is proud of his Welsh/Italian heritage and the business run by his family in Bryn Mawr, South Wales. Mum is starting to feel less enamoured with Café Merelli's cracked Formica walls and peeling vinyl, none of which is likely to get repaired while the local recession persists. But Joe is full of entrepreneurial spirit. Inspired by his grandfather/Nono's stories of the past and with the arrival of his authentically Italian cousin, Mimi, Joe is eager to learn all the secrets of al dente pasta and to fight to protect Café Merelli's future by reviving it's Italian origins. Along the way, Joe learns some sometimes difficult truths about his own roots and the history and lives of Italian immigrants in Wales. A warm, funny and clever story about identity, belonging and immigration, within a working-class (for once!) community- with a very endearing, chip-loving, opera-adoring child at its centre. (nb: one of the narrative strands is loosely based on the 1940 sinking of the SS Arandora Star which sailed from Liverpool with interned Italians and Germans- 53 of the Italians who died were from Wales). Fab backnotes on opera and some pasta recipes! Age 9-12, Paperback 283pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2022 Joe is playing pirates in the playground. The sharks are being pretty pesky, but at least they're not as bothersome as the other children are with all of their silly questions: "You've only got one leg! What happened?" "Did it fall off in the toilet?" "Was it a lion?" Joe doesn't feel like answering their questions. And he certainly doesn't feel like telling "that" story. Thankfully, Simone is suddenly distracted by a crocodile and then some sharks and, before long, all of the children are busy being fearsome pirates...and making new friends! A flawless picture book whose disabled protagonist has full agency and self-determination. Joe's challenges and, in particular, his decisions to answer questions as and when he wants to feel exceptionally empowering. All this is balanced with an honesty abut children's curiosity and forthrightness and conveyed with a great deal of humour. Witty and thoughtful, this truly is empathy on the page! Described by the author as a story he wanted to write to his younger self. 'This book really makes you think about how Joe must feel every time he is asked what happened to him. It shows in the way he responds verbally and in his body language' (Rosalind, Project Dev. Mgr.- PACEY, Letterbox Library reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 30pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2023 Bill's sister is tired. Tired of all of the silly questions her classmates are asking about her sibling: "Is he lost in the park?" "Was he eaten by a shark?" "Was he taken to Mars by aliens?" Frustrated by their hysteria, she keeps replying, "Hun, you need to chill". Until, finally, she gives them the answer they've been waiting for. Her sibling has transitioned but she is still just as clever, funny, cool and brill. The final double spread of the protagonist and her classmates holding peace-loving and kindness banners is a delight. As the cover states, this is 'A Story About Love'. "I love the message. I foresee lots of fun to be had with everyone repeating the title very loudly!" (Mark Jennett, Equalities Trainer/Consultant, LL reviewer). "Wow, I loved this! Love the illustrations. So much to see/to spot/to discuss. Fun throughout. So supportive for all without preaching" (Meryl, EY Consultant & Trainer, Letterbox Library reviewer). Includes a lovely incidental portrayal of a child with a prosthetic limb. Age 4-7, Paperback 27pp