Essex


<p>World Book Day returns on <strong>Thursday 5 March</strong>! Yes we know that can incite mild outfit panic, but World Book Day is much more than a photo op! It&#8217;s also a fresh chance to get kids engaged in the joy reading and the perfect opportunity to explore one of the amazing local independent book shops we have in Essex. We caught up with some of our favourite Essex book shops to see which books they are loving this year, each with inspiring characters that will have your kids turning the pages faster than they can scroll Roblox. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Raed-on-sea-1000x667.jpg" alt="Selection of books from Read on Sea book shop" class="wp-image-27720" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Raed-on-sea-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Raed-on-sea-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Raed-on-sea-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Raed-on-sea.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-on-sea-leigh-on-sea"><a href="https://readonsea.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read on Sea</a>, Leigh-on-Sea</h2>



<p>Manuel Scettri, owner of Leigh-on-Sea book shop, <a href="https://readonsea.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read on Sea</a>, is loving these three titles…</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="666" height="832" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/rosie-revere.jpeg" alt="Rose Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty" class="wp-image-27717" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/rosie-revere.jpeg 666w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/rosie-revere-640x800.jpeg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px" /></figure>



<p><em>Rosie Revere, Engineer</em> by Andrea Beaty Illustrated by: David Roberts. This story is a beautiful example of a story that empowers girls to be active in science and engineering! The beautiful illustrations show Rosie, a seemingly quiet girl by day but a brilliant inventor of gizmos and gadgets by night, as she dreams of becoming a great engineer. Her room is an amazing secret workshop where she constructs ingenious inventions from odds and ends.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="519" height="522" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Frida-Kahlo-pop-up-book-cover.jpg" alt="Frida Kahlo A Pop Up Book by Alice Harman" class="wp-image-27718" /></figure>



<p><em>Frida Kahlo: A Pop-Up Book</em> by Alice Harman Illustrated by: Teresa Bellon. This series of pop up books showcasing various artists, scientists, and personalities, are truly stunning! The pop ups truly bring Frida Kahlo&#8217;s art to life. And as a wonderful bonus they are published by NQ Publishers who are based here in Leigh-on-Sea!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="326" height="500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Flember.jpeg" alt="Flember 5: The Golden Heart by Jamie Smart" class="wp-image-27719" /></figure>



<p><em>Flember 5: The Golden Heart </em>by Jamie Smart. All of Jamie Smart&#8217;s books are fantastic fun, but the Flember series has a perfect combination of illustrations and text for those early readers who still love looking at comic books but want more of a story!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chicken-amp-frog-brentwood"><a href="https://chickenandfrog.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicken &amp; Frog</a>, Brentwood</h2>



<p>Natasha Radford, owner of <a href="https://chickenandfrog.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicken &amp; Frog</a>, Brentwood, recommends these two page-turners ahead of this year&#8217;s World Book Day:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="438" height="500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Gina-Kaminski.jpg" alt="Gina Kaminski Rescues the Giant by Craig Barr-Green" class="wp-image-27705" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/gina-kaminski-rescues-the-giant-craig-barr-green/7644146?ean=9781801046596&amp;next=t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Gina Kaminski Rescues the Giant</em></a> by Craig Barr-Green, is the story of a girl who challenges the traditional narratives. We all know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk right? Well Gina Kaminski, the confident, autistic lead character in this story begs to differ. She thinks the story of Jack is full of holes, and she knows how to fix them, no magic beans needed, but plenty of cake!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="416" height="640" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Silverbrook.jpeg" alt="Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse by Yassmin Adbel-Magied" class="wp-image-27706" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/silverbrook-yumna-and-the-golden-horse-yassmin-abdel-magied/7901587?ean=9781444934625&amp;next=t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse</em></a> by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, is about thirteen-year old Yumna, an ordinary girl who becomes the hero her town needs. When Yumna discovers her friends have developed unbelievable powers she thinks she&#8217;s the only one who&#8217;s not special, but soon learns she&#8217;s the one who holds the power to get to bottom of her town&#8217;s mysterious, and somewhat dangerous, secrets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-red-lion-books-colchester"><a href="https://redlionbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Red Lion Books</a>, Colchester</h2>



<p>At Colchester&#8217;s <a href="https://redlionbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Red Lion Books</a>, the two books they&#8217;ve recommended are full of adventure with some pretty courageous key characters:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="422" height="640" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Fox-goes-north.jpg" alt="Fox Goes North by Jeremy Strong" class="wp-image-27707" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://redlionbooks.co.uk/product/fox-goes-north/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Fox Goes North</em></a> by Jeremy Strong is recommended for ages 7-10 years. In the story, a group of animals, each with their own strengths (and weaknesses), go on an expedition to the see the Northern Lights. This is a touching tale about courage, friendship, art and the journey of a lifetime.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="326" height="500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Bridge-of-storms.jpg" alt="Bridge of Storms by Philip Teeve" class="wp-image-27708" /></figure>



<p>As with all Philip Reeve novels, <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/bridge-of-storms-philip-reeve/7934214?ean=9780702335488&amp;next=t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Bridge of Storms</em></a> is full of thrills. The brave Tamzin Pook and her oddball gang of mercenaries, are at the centre of this epic adventure where they attempt to lead the city of Museion out of danger, all whilst a gang of bloodthirsty raiders are intent on their capture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hart-s-books-saffron-walden"><a href="https://hartsbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hart&#8217;s Books</a>, Saffron Walden</h2>



<p>At Hart&#8217;s Books in Saffron Walden, it&#8217;s the characters from a couple of old favourites they still enjoy reading about:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="326" height="500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/The-Worst-Witch.jpeg" alt="The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy" class="wp-image-27774" /></figure>



<p>Things don&#8217;t often go as planned for Mildred Hubble in <em>The Worst Witch</em> by Jill Murphy &#8211; in fact, she&#8217;s a bit of a disaster area &#8211; but, with the help of her friends, she bounces back from every bad spell or sticky situation. Always well-meaning and willing to have a go (despite her misgivings), Mildred is brilliantly resilient and very relatable. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="260" height="400" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/Twitch-1.jpg" alt="Twitch by M.G.Leonard" class="wp-image-27777" /></figure>



<p>Corvus Featherstone AKA Twitch (from <a href="https://hartsbooks.co.uk/books/twitch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Twitch</em> </a>by M.G.Leonard), is a really kind and compassionate boy, whose love of animals turns out to be a super power. Even though he&#8217;s teased by some of his peers, he stays true to himself and to his passion. Yes, he&#8217;s a bit eccentric, but he&#8217;s also upbeat and awesome!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">In the mood for more?</h2>



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Riveting reads for kids, from a book shop near you!

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