November News

  • Beryl Book Launch

    Saturday, 1st November 2025
    Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff

    Beryl
    Publication:     30th September 2025
    Format: Paperback
    Size: 250 x 200mm
    Pages: 192
    Price: £30

  • On Saturday the 1st of November, we were very excited to celebrated the book launch of ‘Beryl’ by Joanna Quinn and Les Mills at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. Published in September as a behind-the-scenes, in–depth look into the creative process behind Beryl films, the event certainly brought this unconventional heroine to life. Laughter filled the cinema as we watched Beryl attempt to film a wedding in Family Ties, celebrate her birthday in Girls Night Out and portray ultimate female empowerment in Body Beautiful.

    A lively Q&A followed, allowing fans to learn even more about the author’s collaborative process and their inspiration behind the beloved character, their early days of illustrating Beryl and even about the wider team that voiced characters in the films.

    Later, we got an exclusive and fascinating tutorial on illustration from Joanna – complete with hilarious anecdotes! – and finally, there was an opportunity to chat with the authors as they signed books. If you missed out on the event, both signed and unsigned copies are still available.
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  • Searchlight: Carrion Crow

    Publication: 13 November 2025

    Format: Paperback

    Size: 198 x 129mm

    Pages: 128

    Suggested Age Range: 9-11

    Price: £6.99

  • The news is reporting that a fourth member of the alien family, believed to be the father has handed himself over to ANT. Could this be Dad? Or is it a trap?
    The twins teleport to the ANT headquarters in the fictional location of Molshtock to see what they can find out. It is in there, in the brain museum, that Zane comes across the amazing stuffed carrion crow along with Dad’s incredible message.

    Find out more about this series here.

    Praise for the series:

    ‘7-11-year-olds who enjoy science-fiction, books about family, fitting in and a good balance of dialogue and narrative will relish this. ... A really enjoyable class read.’
    English 4-11

    ‘Perfect for independent readers between the ages of 7-11 ... this is an exciting middle-grade adventure with a unique mystery that will intrigue science fiction fans.’ Anita Loughrey, Children’s Book Author‘

    A delightful children’s book that will be a perfect addition to my classroom book corner! ... I can’t wait to introduce this book to my class next academic year. The themes of empathy, family, teamwork, diversity, and cultural awareness are beautifully woven into the narrative, providing valuable lessons for young readers.’ London Pageturner

    ‘Anyone with young readers, give this book a look.’ Read with Samantha

  • Ann Bryant is a writer with several internationally successful series from Café Club to Ballerina Dreams. She also writes in the field of music education. Ann is often invited to schools in the UK and abroad to give presentations and workshops.

    Laura Wood is originally from Treviglio, a small town in the north of Italy. She studied illustration in Melbourne, Australia, but now lives and works in Milan with her two cats. Since 2012, Laura has illustrated picture books, junior fiction, magazines and textbooks.
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  • Two New Lost Lines Titles Continue This Celebrated Heritage Series

    Lost Lines of England: Birmingham to Worcester
    Author Roger Norfolk
    ISBN 9781802583489

    Lost Lines of England: Matlock to Buxton
    Author G. P. Essex
    ISBN 9781802583472

    Publication: 27 November 2025
    Format:     Hardback
    Size: 200 x 150mm
    Pages: 64
    Price: £9.99


  • Lost Lines of England: Birmingham to Worcester     by Roger Norfolk takes readers on a richly illustrated journey along one of the West Midlands’ most historic railway routes. From Birmingham Snow Hill to Worcester Shrub Hill, the line has long been a vital artery connecting the industrial heartlands of the Black Country with the wider world.

    Roger Norfolk has published many books and books and articles on railways and their history and has featured as the driver of the Flying Scotsman on the BBC 4 TV documentary Flying Scotsman From the Footplate.


  • Matlock to Buxton brings to life one of the Peak District’s most dramatic and storied railways. Opened in 1849, the line once linked Derbyshire towns to Manchester, carving its way through limestone gorges and over soaring viaducts. Celebrated as a marvel of Victorian engineering, the line carried royal trains to Chatsworth House and, in the 1960s, the luxury Midland Pullman, the fastest train on Britain’s network at the time.

    G. P. Essex is a writer and photographer based in Shropshire. He has contributed one previous title to the Lost Lines series, Wye Valley, and has published other works on transport history through Albion Books.  
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  • The Academy of Barmy Composers: Romantic

    Publication: 28th November 2025
    Author:     Mark Llewellyn Evans
    Illustrator:     Karl Davies
    Format: Paperback
    Product: 210 x 148mm
    Pages: 80
    Age Range: 7-9

    Take a look at the full series here.

  • Jack and Megan meet a new neighbour in town who offers them some gingerbread, but this meeting turns sinister when the neighbour turns out to be a witch who is trying to send them both to Valhalla!

    But, Jack and Megan soon realise the witch is sending them on a great quest to save the legendary Romantic composer, Wagner, from the Ring of Fire in Valhalla. Will Jack and Megan get to Valhalla and save Wagner? And if they make it there, will they be able to make it back home? On the way they are helped by many of the eras famous composers including Humperdinck, Verdi, Bizet, Tchaikovsky and Puccini.

  • Mark Llewelyn Evans is the founder and creative director of ABC of Opera Productions, which tours UK-wide introducing children to the stories and glories of the opera through music and storytelling. Mark is a professional opera singer who has sung the principal baritone roles for many of the opera houses and lives in Llantrisant, Wales. Mark was the winner of the Amati Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs’ Award 2019.

    Karl Davies is an exciting new children’s book illustrator whose work brings the cast and characters of the ABC of Opera vividly to life. Karl is a landscape artist and lives in Pontypridd, Wales.
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  • The 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

    Graffeg authors Jackie Morris and Nicola Davies have been nominated for the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

  • This global award is given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature. With a prize of five million Swedish kronor, it is the largest award of its kind. Above all else, it highlights the importance of reading, today and for future generations.

  • A total of 263 candidates from 74 countries and regions have been nominated for the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, including 78 candidates new from previous years. The list includes authors and illustrators, as well as storytellers and reading promoters. The laureate will be announced on 14 April 2026.