Brilliant adventure books for kids

M. G. Leonard says: This a thrilling adventure that quickly takes seed in your imagination and runs wild! The enthralling story is entwined with the magic of the natural world. In Daisy Thistledown, Pari Thomson has created a brave and endearing hero who grows with each new challenge and Elisa Paganelli’s stunning illustrations make this a truly wonderful book.

We say: Daisy Thistledown has escaped from boarding school and is trying to find her missing mother. Her search takes her across London and through a hidden doorway into a world bursting with plants and magic: the Greenwild. But it soon becomes clear that all is not well. Can Daisy revive the Greenwild, save our world, and solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance? A botanical genius, a boy who can talk to animals and cat with an attitude are on-hand to help. 

M. G. Leonard says: In the Adventures on Trains series, Sam Sedgman and I created a drawing detective who uses his skill for observation to solve crimes. In Rob Biddulph’s Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City a uniquely powered pencil turns art into magic wielded by the wonderful Peanut Jones as she sets out to find her missing father. This book is stunningly illustrated. It is a truly immersive and heartwarming story that champions creativity and imagination, and is a great stepping stone between graphic novels and chapter books.

We say: For Peanut Jones, drawing is like magic. But art can't solve all her issues: her dad has disappeared and she is in a dull new school. But one day Peanut finds a pencil turbo charged with super powers. And all of a sudden she is in a new world of colour, thrills and perils, where she just might find out what happened to her dad. 

M. G. Leonard says: This is a personal favourite of mine. It's a shadowy, thrilling, Tim Burton-Esque story about a house full of monsters. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this book down. Kenny is a talented storyteller and it’s rich with gothic detail and invention. This story will be adored by fans of darker tales, who enjoy a fright or two. Perfect for readers who are looking for something original, a little more grown-up, and are enjoying the TV series Wednesday.

We say: Mirabelle has always known she is a monster. When the glamour protecting her unusual family from the human world is torn and an orphaned brother and sister stumble upon Rookhaven, Mirabelle soon discovers that friendship can be found in the outside world. But as something far more sinister comes to threaten them all, it quickly becomes clear that the true monsters aren't necessarily the ones you can see.

M. G. Leonard says: Eva Ibbotson is an unparallelled writer and Journey to the River Sea is destined to be loved and read for many years. The story is the most incredible adventure into the Amazon and is rich with ecological detail. It is soaked with mystery and has a cast of fascinating characters. The story of orphan Maia and her governess Miss Minton’s voyage to Brazil to live with the Carter family is perfect for readers looking for an epic adventure unlike any other. It's an unforgettable and exciting story about bravery and belonging.

We say: Maia, an orphan, can't wait to reach her distant relatives a thousand miles up the Amazon. She imagines a loving family with whom she will share great adventures. Instead she finds two spiteful cousins who see the jungle as the enemy and refuse to go outdoors. But the wonders of the rainforest more than make up for the hideous twins and their parents. And when Maia meets a mysterious boy who lives alone on the wild river shores, she begins a spectacular journey to the heart of an extraordinary and beautiful new world.

M. G. Leonard says: This is the story of a school trip gone wrong. Noah stows away on his big sister’s geography field trip and ends up marooned on an uninhabited island! Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s Noah’s Gold is both funny, intriguing, and at times nail-biting. This book will appeal to those who love to read stories about school adventures. It reminded me of a classic Famous Five style mystery adventure, except bang up to date. The story is complemented by energetic and humorous illustrations by the fantastic Steve Lenton. If you’re looking for a page turner with real heart and a surprising ending, then this is the book for you.

We say: Eleven-year old Noah sneaks along on his big sister's geography field trip, and this turns out to be quite a bad idea. Six kids are marooned on an uninhabited island. Their teacher has vanished. They're hungry. Their phones don't work and Noah has broken the internet. There's no way of contacting home . . . Disaster! Until Noah discovers a treasure map and the gang goes in search of gold.

The co-creator of Adventures on Trains returns with a brand new series – think Indiana Jones meets the time travel of Doctor Who. One night, Sim discovers why he and his mum never stay in one place for very long: she can open doors in time, and the sinister Council of Keys want to find her. Running for their lives and into a time travelling mission to find a lost tomb with a powerful door to Ancient Egypt, Sim and his friends must solve the mystery of the golden heart scarab before the Council finds them. Will their time run out?

Discover an action-packed book with mythical elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The Legend of Viking Thunder by M. G. Leonard is the second book in the Time Keys series which started with Hunt for the Golden Scarab, and is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy time-travel adventures. The story follows Sim and his cousin Jeopardy as they search for Sim's missing uncle, a quest that leads them through a hidden door in time to Viking Norway. The cousins must stop a legendary horn from falling into the wrong hands in a book full of action, time travel, and Viking mythology.

Star footballer and food-poverty campaigner Marcus Rashford brings you this adventure, packed with illustrations by Marta Kissi. When young Marcus kicks his football over the fence, he knows he won't be getting it back. But then a mysterious note arrives from the Breakfast Club Investigators, and soon Marcus finds himself on an adventure with some new pals, trying to figure out the mystery and claim his football back. 

Loosely based on one of Lioness captain Leah Williamson's big inspirations, the Dick Kerr Ladies and their brave protest against the ban on women's football, The Wonder Team and the Forgotten Footballers is a fun adventure that comes from the heart. When Leah unearths a mysterious time capsule in her local park with her two best friends Mimi and George, she opens up a whole new world of adventure. Transported a hundred years back in time, she finds a women's football team in crisis. Can she and her friends lead them back to victory? Fans can follow Leah on her next adventure in The Wonder Team and the Pharaoh’s Fortune.

Comic Lenny Henry has written a suitably laugh-out-loud adventure story for readers of 6 to 8 years, with dazzling illustrations throughout by Keenon Ferrell. Tunde has some problems with the school bully, but when he sprouts wings and realises his true mission is to save the Earth, school becomes the least of his problems. Flying high in the face of danger, Tunde is the boy with wings.

Meet Esha Verma, a genius inventor extraordinaire who is about to be in big trouble! When her absolutely-not-a-genius sister hijacks Esha’s newest invention, a time machine, she catapults herself back millions of years in time and gets lost in the Cretaceous age. Can Esha find her missing big sister and make it back in time to win the legendary Brain Trophy for her incredible time travelling invention?

Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton's bestselling Treehouse books have captivated the most reluctant young readers with their trademark cartoon illustrations and hilarious stories. Now, fans can enjoy their favourite treehouse adventures in colour! Discover their giant catapult, a secret underground laboratory, a tank of man-eating sharks and a marshmallow machine that follows you around. Kids will roar with laughter as they explore the wacky world and amazing inventions on each floor of The 13-Storey Treehouse.

From the co-creator of the beloved Treehouse series comes The Land of Lost Things, the first book in a brand-new illustrated adventure series. Packed with all of the fun and mayhem that Treehouse fans love, young readers will be captivated as they journey through the Land of Lost Things, and meet all of the wild and wonderful creatures that live there.

Marty's mother hoards EVERYTHING – so much so that it's hard to leave the house! Then, on his birthday, Grandad surprises him with a remarkable seed. As the seed grows, it ignites a thrilling adventure for Marty, Grandad, and best friend Gracie. Fueled by love, hope, and dreams, they embark on an extraordinary plan, evoking the spirit of Grandad's past inventions. With each step, they defy the odds and embrace the impossible, bound together by their shared excitement and determination.

On the run after witnessing a horrific crime, young wolfdog Delta navigates her new life in the wild among the thieves and predators that surround the ancient city of Pompeii. With the threat of an eruption looming, Delta must travel back into the city to warn her family of the danger before it’s too late. Will she make it in time, or will the city be lost forever? An enchanting historical adventure set in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, Delta and the Lost City is a chapter book inspired by the legend of the Hero Dog of Pompeii.

When young stargazer Aya is struck by a falling star, she discovers she holds magic powers beyond her wildest dreams. As she learns to use her abilities, Aya realizes that her home of Alferra is under threat from the new ruler, Abnus. Will she be able to harness her magic to save her family, friends, and home from the evil afoot? Inspired by Bengali folklore, Aya and the Star Chase is a glorious adventure story. 

From the creator of the Claude series comes Astrid and the Space Cadets!, the first book in a new adventure series for newly independent readers. During the day, Astrid is just like other kids, but when the sun goes down, she turns into a Space Cadet and blasts off on adventures into the unknown with her best friends Beryl, Professor Quackers, and Zoink aboard the trusty rocket Stardust. Can the explorers avoid the giant snaliens and clean up the Milky Way in time for school tomorrow?

The first title in a magical adventure series, perfect for readers aged 6+, Aziza's Secret Fairy Door is packed with mischief, friendship and magic. A mysterious gift arrives on Aziza's birthday – a secret fairy door that will whisk her away to a magical world with princesses, fairies, unicorns and more! But when the precious jewelled doorknob is taken, Aziza is trapped. Will she ever see her home and family again? Maybe her new friends can help . . .

Meet Mango and Brash, two toothsome alligators who spend their days fighting crime and having lots of fun. Join the duo as they go undercover to find out who has kidnapped Chef Gustavo, and try not to get distracted by eating too much cake along the way. The book that started a seven-book series loved by kids all over the world, John Patrick Green’s InvestiGators is a hilarious, full-color graphic novel perfect for newly independent readers.

Join little unicorns Mini and Hardly as they explore fields full of spiky cactuses, experience thunder and lightning and gallop along the beach together. And, as the pair venture further away from home, they find themselves on an adventure bigger than they could have ever imagined! This stunningly illustrated tale of two tiny unicorns from Catherine Rayner is a must-read for adventurous young readers.

Freya and her mum are taking a holiday in a small cabin, trying to recover from Freya's dad passing away. Freya is unsure about going sledging, but when she meets a magic fox out in the snow, she follows him into the forest and an exciting adventure ensues. Inspired by the Finnish Saami legend of the revontulet – fox fires – which are sparks that fly from a mythic fox to become the Northern Lights, The Fire Fox is gorgeously illustrated and beautifully written. A story about hope and the light of love, it is sure to enthral young readers.

This is a fairytale with a distinctive twist: in Once Upon a Fairytale the reader gets to decide where the adventure leads. The choices are endless – would you like to live in a tree, dine with the fairies or jump on a unicorn and ride through the sky? And which character would you choose? You can be a smart princess, a gingerbread man or a kindly knight . . . This sparkling story encourages the reader to embrace creativity and weave their own tale.

Once upon a golden day, beside a silver brook, Alice and her older sister sat and read a book . . . A retelling of the classic tale told in bouncing verse and splashed with lively illustrations. When a talking rabbit shoots past Alice, she follows him down a hole to Wonderland, where she encounters a host of eccentric and perplexing characters. There's the ever-smiling Cheshire Cat, the Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, and a tea party the like of which Alice has never seen.