Is it just us, or does September always feel like a new start: the new school year, change of the seasons, the chance to curl up with a good book, or settle down inside with a family game or two, while the weather starts to take a turn for the autumnal…

Our new books for September will engage, inform and delight young readers, and entertain the whole family: from silly spells (better get practicing for the Halloween season approaching), to animals (tell stories, learn noises!), to books and games that will better help us understand the world around us. Happy reading…

The Ultimate Spell Caster by Mike Barfield

Wave your wand, and say the magic words…

It’s time to cast an almost never-ending supply of fantastically funny spells with this amazing new flipbook.

With more than 60 million different combinations of the most magically silly spells EVER, will you turn your dad into a flea-infested ferret wrangler or your worst enemy into a batter-coated bubble-snuffer? The spell book will decide!

Noisy Animals by Kenji Oikawa

Does a duck roar? Does a dog hiss?

You’ll find 25 animals and birds, and 25 cards showing the sounds that they make in this informative and fun game of matching pairs.

Have fun making the sounds and learning about the calls and cries of the animal kingdom – and when you’ve matched all the cards, you can turn them over and use them again to play a memory game.

The Element in the Room by Mike Barfield

Did you know that without the ‘lead’ in your pencil, there would be no life on Earth?

Just about everything in the universe is made from only 92 elements – and from aluminium to zinc, many of them are hiding in your very own home!

This funny and fascinating guide illustrated by Lauren Humphrey is bursting with brilliant facts about the atomic ingredients that make up everything around us. Join scientific sleuth Sherlock Ohms as he investigates the elements, and help his enquiries with explosive experiments. With brilliant facts, and bright, fun and illuminating illustrations – and special comic story times throughout – this book will help you explore the world around you.

Story Box Animal Adventures by Magma and Claudia Boldt

Create your own tales with some very adventurous animals!

Based on a unique and award-winning format, this game contains 20 story-telling puzzle pieces printed on both sides. Each piece can be interchanged or flipped over to allow for all kinds of plot twists and turns, including three alternative endings!

A polar bear sets sail for the Caribbean and meets animal pals along the way. But can you stop evil pirates from ramming the bear’s boat? And how will the group reach the tortoise’s birthday party while there’s a tornado brewing? Tell a different story each time you play.

A Year in Nature by Hazel Maskell

Illustrated by Eleanor Taylor, A Year in Nature is a beautiful, unique introduction to the seasons. Follow a family of foxes as the tiny cubs grow up through the year, and explore the woodland scenes to discover animals, trees, plants and flowers.

But most special of all – the book opens out into a stunning four-part carousel, revealing intricately detailed pop-up scenes of spring, summer, autumn and winter.

This quintessentially British woodland is vividly brought to life by Eleanor Taylor’s rich, distinctive illustrations.

Wonder Women by Isabel Thomas

Team up some incredible women: try Serena Williams with Simone Biles, match Amelia Earhart with Valentina Tereshkova, join Malala Yousafzai with Emmeline Pankhurst.

Collect illustrated cards illustrated by Laura Bernard of 44 of the most inspirational women of all time and place them into groups including aviation, sport, activism, art, science and fashion. See which of your friends knows the most about awesome women in this fun and informative game based on Happy Families.

Happy reading from everyone at LKP!