Journey to space! George and the Blue Moon

Work out your space weight and discover more cool space facts from George and the Blue Moon by Lucy and Stephen Hawking.

Fascinated by the universe? Dream of going to Mars? If you’re interested in space travel, then you’ll want to get your hands on this exciting adventure story by Lucy and Stephen Hawking.

It follows the story of George and his best friend, Annie who have been selected as junior astronauts – part of a programme that trains up young people for a trip to Mars in the future.
But when they arrive at space camp, George and Annie quickly learn that strange things are happening – on Earth as well as up in our skies. Mysterious space missions are happening in secret, and the astronaut training they’re undertaking gets scarier and scarier.

Get set to blast off and be immersed by this exciting space adventure. The book is packed with top space facts from astronauts too!

Did you know? 5 cool space facts:

1. You could jump over really high bars with ease on the Moon or Mercury – but find it hard to even take a step over a bar on the ground on Jupiter!
2. As we speak, there is a Rover the size of a car, which has just celebrated its third birthday on Mars.
3. When you go up into space in a spacecraft, you pass through a line which seems to divide the blue of the Earth’s atmosphere with the black of space. This is called the Karman line and it is about 100km above the surface of the Earth. It marks the start of space!
4. Earth – our blue planet – is exceptional in our solar system as it is nearly three quarters covered by the oceans.
5. How much do you weigh? If you weigh 34 kilos on Earth, here is your weight in kilos on other bodies in our solar system!

• Mercury 12.8 kilos
• Venus 30.6 kilos
• The Moon 5.6 kilos
• Mars 12.8 kilos
• Jupiter 80.3 kilos
• Saturn 36.1 kilos
• Uranus 30.2 kilos
• Neptune 38.2 kilos

So you could jump over really high bars with ease on the Moon or Mercury – but find it hard to even take a step over a bar on the ground on Jupiter.

Find out more about Lucy Hawking on her website and follow her on Twitter @journeytospace.

EXCITING PRIZE! To celebrate the start of National Science Week, join us on Twitter @puffinbooks for a chance to win a family day out at the Science Museum with four tickets to Legend of Apollo and Hidden Universe 3D – and a copy of the book. Four runners up will win a copy of George and the Blue Moon.

To enter, tell us on @puffinbooks Twitter the one thing you’d pack to take to the moon. #GeorgeandtheBlueMoon. Enter between 11-13 March 2016.

Exciting books to read in 2016

The New Year and new school term is all about fresh starts and, of course, deciding what to read next. Whether you’re after action and adventure, stories of friendships or books to make you laugh, these are the big debuts and highlights from Puffin for your reading list this year. Happy reading!

 New books by your favourite authors…

Romans on the Rampage: Jail Break! by Jeremy Strong

Perilus and his family are in trouble again! This is a laugh out loud book that brings Romans to life for young readers. It is a good pick to support kids learning about Romans at school.

Out now

 

 

 

 

The Diary of Dennis the Menace, The Great Escape! by Steven Butler 

The naughtiest boy in fiction returns for another prankster-packed story. In this story Dennis has been packed off to an elite boarding school. Help! Desperate to get back to Bash Street he plots his great escape.

Out in February

 

 

 

Jolly Foul Play by Robin Stevens

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong have returned to Deepdean for a new school term and meet the new head girl and her group of prefects, who are not good eggs! The fourth book in the Murder Most Unladylike Mystery series is another thrilling read.

Out in March

 

 

 

Mabel Jones and the Forbidden City by Will Mabbitt

Mabel fans will be thrilled to hear their favourite heroine is back for a second adventure. Follow her exciting quest as she swashbuckles her way through the jungle to save her little sister from the wicked Witch Queen.

Don’t miss! Look out for the latest Danger book out this year and the exciting new Rick Riordan out in May.
 

 
 

 

Unmissable books to read for the first time or again…

The Butterfly Club by Jacqueline Wilson

New in paperback, is this terrific tale about teeny-tiny Tina, a triplet who is much smaller than her two sisters. A story about learning to be independent. Out now

 

 
 

 
 

 

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Whoopsy splunkers! Read it before you see it. Our delumptious giant is coming to the big screen in July 2016, so now’s the time to read or re-read this gloriumptious story. Out now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney

Out in paperback this month is the ninth Wimpy Kid book. Join Greg for a laugh out-loud story of a family road trip, that of course is packed with disasters, a lost key, a crazed seagull and even a runaway pig. Out in January

 

 

 

 

 

Fortune Cookie by Cathy Cassidy

Grab your tissues, Sweet Honey is the sixth and final book in Cathy Cassidy’s Chocolate Box Girls series. Out in February

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Book 1) by Rick Riordan

Half boy. Half God. All Hero. The first in the Percy Jackson book series is one to read for the first time – or for demigod fans to read again.

Out now

 

 

 
 

 

Debut fiction – new authors to discover in 2016

Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden

The first book in a new series about an orphan boy who discovers he is part of a secret army that protects the world from a race of shadowy monsters.

Out in April

 

The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell

Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems. The story follows  Ivy Sparrow’s magical adventures in Lundinor, a city beneath London where ordinary objects have extraordinary powers.

Out in June

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

‘Annabelle has lived in Wolf Hollow all her life: a quiet place, still scarred by two world wars. But when cruel, manipulative Betty arrives in town, Annabelle’s calm world is shattered…’ This powerful story is set to be a future children’s classic.

Out in July  

Children’s Books and a Giveaway: Give a gift of an all-time favourite

Here at Puffin we all have a favourite book. The one we return to over and over again like a faithful friend. From classic children’s characters like Spot and The Very Hungry Caterpillar to first reads with Tracy Beaker, The Wizard of Oz, and Greg Heffley, the following list has something for everyone’s skip down memory lane. If you haven’t read any of these books yet, you may just find yourself a new all-time favourite!

 

Children’s Books and a Giveaway: Give a gift of happy memories

We’ve put together a list of unforgettable characters, moving stories, and beautifully illustrated books to help you reconnect with the classics. If you haven’t read any of the stories below, Christmas is the perfect time to create new happy memories with these beloved books. As all Puffins know, a good book has the power to stay with you forever.

Children’s Books: Give a gift of a thrilling adventure

If you’re looking for a thrilling page-turner to read beside the Christmas tree this year, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got the perfect books for readers who love scintillating stories that bring them to the edge of their seat. There’s murder, mayhem, magic, monsters, and more in the following reading list. Add some mince pie and you’ve got your reading adventure sorted.

Why not start your action-packed reading journey with the first book in the incredible new series from the author of Percy Jackson, the Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus . . .

Children’s Books: Give a gift of friendship

Books are a perfect place to find a best mate. Whether you’re looking for a friend to round out your show-stopping musical act, a sidekick to help you get through your first love and the scary school dance, or simply a buddy to see you through the everyday, our list of books about BFFs has something for everyone. You never know where you’ll find your next partner-in-crime, so why not bury yourself in the pages of these tales about friendship? With a book by your side, you’re always in good company.

Children’s Books: Give a gift of mystery and magic

Abracadabra! Christmas is a time of magic, but why can’t it also be a time of mystery and adventure? If you think stories about Father Christmas would be much better if there were witches, zombies, and ghosts in every chapter, then these are the books for you. Add these titles to your Christmas list before (poof!) they’re gone.

Children’s Books: Give a gift of this year’s must-read

Puffin has had a big year for books: 2015 saw the release of the second Girl Online novel, the conclusion of Charlie Higson’s The Enemy series, and a striking black edition of the #1 bestselling The Fault in Our Stars, to name just a few. Even though it’s a difficult task, we’ve put together a selection of eight can’t-miss titles for your reading and gifting pleasure. Stop what you’re doing, these are our must-reads!

Children’s Books: Give a gift of wonder

We’ve gathered a list of beautiful books guaranteed to inspire wonder in every reader. From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to creative colouring books, adding any of these treasures to your Christmas list will make for one beautiful book shelf.

Children’s Books: Give a gift of laughter

Christmas is coming, and gifts are on our mind. But what’s the best present for every good Puffin? A book! If you’re making a list, we suggest adding these rollicking reads to the top. We guarantee our selection of hilarious books will have you LOL’ing right through Christmas and into the new year.