0747541930 Selfish Crocodile, The Every morning a very large and very snappy crocodile shouts: "Stay away from my river! It's MY river! If you come in my river, I'll eat you all". All the animals are frightened to go in the river until one day the crocodile is ill, and a mouse solves their dilemma. 0753410370 Mrs Hippo's Pizza Parlour Business is poor at Mrs Hippo's Pizza Parlour. William and Mrs Hippo are worried, but when accident-prone Ellie Bear comes to play with William, she takes all their attention! Mrs Hippo decides to take the youngsters out for a ride in her motorbike sidecar, to keep Ellie out of harm's way. After an eventful journey through the town, they end up on the beach, where Ellie writes her name in the sand, and William copies the idea with the message "Mrs Hippo's Pizzas Are The Best!" That night there is a long queue outside the Pizza Parlour, and Mrs Hippo and William have to work hard to keep up with demand... 1405212462 I Wish I Were A Dog Kitty is fed up with being a cat. Dogs seem to have more fun. But Dogs can't climb trees or catch mice. Maybe it's a cat's life after all! Lydia Monks' highly original fable of cat dissatisfaction will have every reader howling with laughter. 0192754246 Thumb It's the first day at a new school for both Sam and Sara. So of course they're hoping to fit in quickly. All they want is a helping hand. Some new friends to keep an eye out for them and help them get ahead. What they're probably not hoping for is a thumb. Actually, a lot of thumbs. And fingers. They're turning up all over Freekham High - in seriously unexpected places. But why? Can Sam solve the mystery of the bothersome body parts? Can Sara keep her cool in the face of the dastardly digits? And most important, can they get through the day without being labelled as losers by their new classmates? 0439993962 Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging Georgia Nicholson is fourteen and lives with her annoying parents, a three-year old sister, her wild cat Angus and has to wear a beret to school. She would, however, rather be blond, have a smaller nose, slimmer eyebrows, and a boyfriend. Originally published by Piccadilly Press. 0744590965 Granny Twelve-year-old Joe Warden isn't happy. He has rich, uncaring parents and is virtually a prisoner in the huge family mansion, Thattlebee Hall. Worst of all, though, is his granny. Not only is she physically repulsive, she's horribly mean. 0192751662 Chains Juliet wants to prove to her father that a girl can be just as good as a boy when it comes to business, and so she changes places with her brother and sets sail on her father's ship on its next voyage to Africa and America. But Juliet's adventure turns into a nightmare when she realizes the full horror of the trade her father is engaged in - the slave trade, at its height in the late eighteenth century. This work features an exciting story dealing with important issue of slavery in context of a very readable, swashbuckling adventure story. 0439981867 Slave Girl Day or two later Freedom is one of the first words I teached myself to write. Down in the Quarters people pray for freedom - they sing 'bout freedom, but to keep Mas' Henley from knowin' their true feelings, they call freedom "heaven". Everybody's mind is on freedom. But it is the word that aine never showed me no picture. While fannin' this afternoon, my eyes fell on "freedom" in a book William was readin'. No wonder I don't see nothin'.I been spellin' it F-R-E-D-U-M. I put the right letters in my head to make sure I remembered their place. F-R-E-E-D-O-M. I just wrote it. Still no picture... 0099487829 The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas What happens when innocence is confronted by monstrous evil? --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Synopsis
It is Berlin, year 1942. When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance. But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

See all Reviews 0141314699 One Small Suitcase For ten months before World War II, thousands of children were bundled onto trains and waved goodbye to their parents as they set off across Germany and Holland to the ferries that would take them to England. This book is based on extensive interviews with those who helped to organize the transports, the families who took the children in and above all, the young refugees as they began their new lives in a strange country. Many were faced with a continuous stream of foster parents and children's homes; many were evacuated and even deported - and almost all never saw their parents again. 0141315180 Anne Frank:Diary Of Young Girl Anne Frank's diary is among the most enduring documents of the 20th century. She documented her life in hiding from 12 June 1942 to 1 August 1944. Initially, she wrote it strictly for herself. Then, one day in 1944, Gerrit Bolkestein, a member of the Dutch government in exile, announced in a radio broadcast from London that after the war he hoped to collect eyewitness accounts of the suffering of the Dutch people under the German occupation, which could be made available to the public. As an example, he specifically mentioned letters and diaries. Anne Frank decided that when the war was over she would publish a book based on her diary. 0237526301 Hana's suitcase In March 2000, a suitcase arrived at a children's Holocaust education centre in Tokyo. It belonged to a orphan girl called Hana Brady. Everyone was desperate to discover the story of Hana - Who was she? What had happened to her? This is her true story. 0340917121 Shadow Life A riveting new perspective on the lives and deaths of Anne Frank and her family.

See all Reviews 0440866626 Hitler's Canary Based on true-life events during the Second World War Hitler’s Canary is a funny, and gripping account of a childhood spent under occupation and a daring rescue.

Synopsis
It's April 1940 and German troops are pouring onto the streets of Denmark. 12-year-old Bamse is ordered by his father to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. But Bamse and his daring friend Anton can't resist playing the occasional practical joke on the invading soldiers. When it becomes clear that the trouble isn't just going to pass them by, the people of Denmark decide to take action and Bamse and his eccentric family are about to take part in one of history's most dramatic rescues - smuggling Denmark's Jewish population, across the water to Sweden, and safety. Many of the characters are based on Sandi's own family, including her father, Bamse, and the book was inspired by the stories he told to her.

See all Reviews 074963331X Story of the Holocaust The Story of the Holocaust describes how over 10 million people - mainly Jews, but also gypsies, Jehovah''s Witnesses, homosexuals, trade unionists and socialists - came to be murdered by the Nazi regime.' 141691062X I Will Plant You A Lilac Tree "Tell me what you remember most about home," Dick asked me one evening. "A lilac tree," I said. "It bloomed every May, around the time of Mama's birthday. The memory is so vivid in mind, I can almost smell the lilacs now." In 1942 Hannelore Wolff's life changed forever. Her father had been arrested and sent to a concentration camp. Six weeks later he was dead, and Hannelore and the rest of her family were deported to the camps and a life of unbearable suffering. Yet despite the horrors she faced in various labour and concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Hannelore met and fell in love with Polish POW, Dick Hillman. After a few months they were separated, but Dick promised Hannelore that he would find her again, wherever she was. He kept his promise, and when both their names appeared on Oskar Schindler's list, Dick and Hannelore were reunited and married. This is their incredible story of courage, love and hope during one of the most horrific times in history. 0744598249 Miaow! From the team who created "Monkey Do!" comes this lift-the-cat-flap rhyming story - each time Clara hears a noise at the back door, she thinks it's her cat but discovers all sorts of visitors instead! 0749655445 Explores the variety of ways in which humans and other animals grow. Age 5+. 1844213587 Barn Owls One of a series that introduces nocturnal animals and examines the key features and life processes of each animal, including nocturnal and daytime activity, and the environment in which the animal lives. Chapter headings are child-friendly questions to help children focus and learn. 1854308661 Super Sid Silly Sausage Dog Sid is a sausage dog without an owner. He longs for someone to love and care for him. Maybe if he shows everyone how clever he is they\'ll want to give him a home! But things don\'t go quite as Sid plans ... 186007264X Tiger-Time for Stanley Join Stanley in his first hilarious series as he learns about the strange relationships between his own pets and their wilder counterparts. Each hardback books comes with a fantastic CD-Tom crammed full of games and activities.

From the Publisher
Tiger-Time for Stanley is a welcome addition to the original and highly successful Stanley Books series. Read as Stanley dreams of wild and ferocious tigers to take him on amazing adventures in the jungle. Guaranteed to have kids of the 3-6 year old age group hooked, the hardback version of this book also comes with a CD-ROM. 0140555560 Knock Knock Who's There?* Firstly at the door is a great big gorilla with fat furry arms and white teeth. Next time there's a wicked old witch at the door, then a creepy ghost, then a fierce dragon. Each time there's a knock at the door, there's a different monster, but each time they're wearing the same tartan slippers.

From the Author
It's fifteen years old and still going strong!
This was my second book, published in 1985. It's still amazingly popular and is a 'core' book for many schools. When I visit schools and libraries I perform it with masks, sheets and dragon smoke! 0192723839 Hungry Hen An outstanding new picture book with an extremely simple text - full of humour with a brilliant twist at the end. Hungry Hen eats and eats and grows fatter and fatter. High on the hill the fox watches and grows thinner and thinner. Until one day he can stand it no longer, but things do not turn out as expected! 0431001480 Bengal Tiger An introduction to tigers for young readers. It is part of a series which explores the behaviour and lifestyles of different animals, all of which are in danger. The series explains the concepts of endangerment, extinction and animal protection at a very simple level. The book features a general introduction to animals in danger, before focusing on tigers. It follows the tiger through its daily life, looking at its appearance, behaviour, habitat and special characteristics. It then explains why the animal is in danger, what the danger is, and what measures are being taken to restrict or prevent the danger. Care is taken to show the difference between danger from humans and the environment, and the "natural" danger animals face in the wild. 043101681X Bug Books: Snail Key Stage 1 work on life processes should be related to pupils' knowledge of animals in the local environment. Children should understand that animals move, feed, grow, use their senses and reproduce; that living things can be grouped according to observable similarities and differences; and that there are different kinds of animals in the local environment. This look at snails is one of a series focusing on familiar minibeasts. It covers size, appearance, birth and reproduction, growth, feeding, predators, life-span, movement, and different types. The book includes simple questions based on the information provided. 0431030715 Animal Young Mammals Part of a series of books that provides an introduction to animal classification. This text explores mammal young, providing information on birth, growth, feeding, learning, hunting, habitat and behaviour. Domestic and wild mammals are compared and contrasted. 0431063133 In The Town This series uses colour photographs to explore different themes relevant to early topic work in the classroom. Each title includes a glossary to explain new or difficult words and a simple index to introduce referencing skills. 0431164673 Let's Go By Train Little Nippers features a collection of first information books for young learners offering quality non-fiction supported by clear photographic images. Capture the young learner's imagination with these "real" books designed with their needs in mind. Let's Go By explores journeys, the different methods of transportation available and the appropriateness of each method for different types of journeys. They are also useful books for developing mathematical skills. 0439010179 The Paperbag Princess Princess Elizabeth is beautiful and rich and about to marry Prince Ronald. That is, until a dragon destroys her castle, burns all her clothes and carries off her prince! But Elizabeth's not easily beaten and sets off to get Ronald back. 0439978092 The Best Loved Bear (Re-issue) There is a best loved bear competition at school and Tim is going to enter his teddy bear, Toby. But Toby is threadbare and very scruffy. He even has a plaster on his nose! Tim starts to worry. What will everyone say when they see such an old and battered bear...? 074454372X Look What I've Got! Jeremy, it seems, has everything, a new bicy cle, a pirate outfit and an enormous bag of lollipops, but he won't share anything with Sam. Selfishness gets its come-uppance in this modern morality tale that is packed with detail. 0749735597 Mr Wolf's Pancakes Mr Wolf fancies some tasty pancakes but he doesn't know how to make them. Asking his neighbours is no use - they're a mean and horrible lot who refuse to help. Poor Mr Woolf. He has to work it out all by himself. So what happens when these nasty neighbours want to help Mr Woolf eat his delicious pancakes...? 0750238631 From Puppy to Dog Find out how a young puppy becomes a dog with this beautiful colour photograph book.

Synopsis
"How Do They Grow?" is a series that shows how baby animals change as they grow to become adults. Find out abou the life cycle of a dog, from when a puppy is born until it beocmes an adult and eventually has puppies of its own. This guide has minimal text to ensure that the information is conveyed in an accessible and age-appropriate way. It includes a glossary and further information.

See all Reviews 1841383554 My Pet Kitten Looking after a pet helps children to understand the implications of caring for others. 'Ideal for young first-time pet owners. An outstanding series.' - School Librarian 'Very impressive' - Books in Schools * New in paperback, these delightful and informative titles, endorsed by the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals), are designed to teach children about how to choose and look after a pet. * Each book tells about the different breeds of a cat or dog (including the advantages and disadvantages of each) feeding and handling the pet and the animal's life cycle - from birth to adulthood. * A special section for parents explains how they can help their child to understand the responsibility that they have and how to cope with the death of a pet. * Specially commissioned photographs illustrate both the various breeds of pet and the caring instructions. * Each book contains a glossary of difficult words and an index. 1841383902 Ladybirds and Beetles All kinds of minibeasts in their natural habitats Minibeasts are the animals that children interact with the most; they can be found almost everywhere and they are an important part of nature's food cycle. * New in paperback, the Looking at Minibeasts series examines the lives of minibeasts in detail, from eggs and larvae to fully grown adults, through the use of striking and clear photographs. * Instructions on how to create a habitat for minibeasts in your garden or school nature area are included, together with advice on the best ways watch them. * Each book is packed with photographs and illustrations to show all aspects of the life of a minibeast. * In addition, each title has a table of contents, a glossary, an 'actual size' comparison and an index. 1853406414 Baby Elephant Although Ephra was the smallest baby elephant in the herd, she had the biggest ears. The trouble was, she never seemed to use them. Ephra didn't listen to her mother, her father, her aunt, or her gran, until one day something happened. 1854306200 Little Turtle & Song Of Sea This poetic story relates the perilous journey that Little Turtle must endure from when he hatches on the beach to his final arrival at the sea. 1854307843 Where's My Mummy? Little Crocodile has lost his mummy. He asks a monkey if he is his mummy, but little Crocodile can't swing from trees like the monkey can. Little Crocodile can't squirt water like an elephant or roar like a lion. Will he ever find his real mummy? 1870516427 Marty Monster Danny and June are bored, so June dares Danny to go with her to wake Marty Monster. Over shark-infested seas they sail, climbing up the high mountain where the wolves lurk, past the jungles where the wildcats stalk, round the lake where the blubber blob bathes, to the cave of Marty Monster. 1870516613 Feather, The Paula and her dad spend a day together. When Paula finds a feather, her search to find its owner brings the whole world, from the frozen northern landscapes to the warmest tropical paradise, into her day by the river. 0007228082 Pete The Sheep This is a hilarious new story, celebrating style and individuality, from the award-winning creators of "Diary of a Wombat". Laugh out loud at this shaggy-sheep tale, made for shearing! When Shaun the sheep-shearer starts work at a new farm, the other shearers are gobsmacked by his unusual companion. Shaun doesn't have a sheepdog. Shaun has Pete...a sheep-sheep! Much to the other shearers dismay, the sheep take to Shaun and Pete, and in no time they are refusing to be shorn by any other team. So in jealous anger, they turf Shaun and Pete out of the barn to fend for themselves. Luckily, our dynamic duo know there's more than one way to shear a sheep and soon business is booming...in 'Shaun's Sheep Salon'! This brilliantly funny and original story will have children and parents laughing out loud. 014150014X The Princess And The Pea This work contains the tale of a prince, a princess, perfect politeness, pages of love and a peculiarly hard pea. This utterly original interpretation of the classic tale has dazzling illustrations from multi-talented collaborators, award-winning Lauren Child and widely acclaimed photographer Polly Borland. This beautifully presented picture book explores the tale of the down-to-earth princess through a stunning mix of artwork and photography to create a fairy tale to be treasured. 0141500255 A New Home For A Pirate "Shiver me timbers!" Pirate Jed is not happy...Imagine a pirate who feels seasick all the time. That's Pirate Jed. He's fed up with bobbing around on the rollicking, rolling sea and packs up his pirate paraphenalia to go and look for a new home. His adventures take him on a long and winding journey where he ends up helping out lots of others who need help - his pirate hat is the perfect nest for a homeless bird, his cutlass frees a tangled sheep and his handkerchief is a bandage for a dog's poorly leg - and they all join Jed in his search for a new home. Finally they meet Farmer Ted who is fed up with life on dry land and so he and Jed decide to swap. So, with a cheeriyo-ho-ho, Pirate Jed has a perfect new home! 1405000074 Rosie's Hat Because this isn't just any old hat. It can also be a toy for a dog, a hiding-place for a mouse, a frisbee for some children and a nest for some birds. Surely poor Rosie will never find her hat again...or will she? 1405053623 Wolves Rabbit borrows a book about wolves from the library. Straightforward enough. But it's not long before a sinister figure with sharp claws and a bushy tail starts to creep right off the pages. You won't believe your eyes - especially if you're a rabbit. Brilliantly witty, with amazing artwork, two surprise endings, plus fun novelty elements, "Wolves" created a real buzz of excitement among critics and booksellers alike on first publication in 2005. 1405055634 Fox Makes Friends When Fox decides to make a new friend he starts with an apple on a stick. That doesn't work - and nor do a turnip or a pumpkin. But Squirrel and Rabbit have come to help...maybe making friends isn't so hard after all? A warm, appealing story with a strong emotional pull. 0140501177 Meg and Mog The original 'Meg and Mog' story is told here, in which Meg goes to a spell party and accidentally turns her friends into mice. 0744567971 Colours Board Book "Colours" is one of a series of chunky board books full of appealing images of familiar objects - clothes and toys and baby things - accompanied by simple words. 0746058349 Sleeping Beauty This collection of classic fairy tales introduces very young children to these popular stories. This particular story covers "Sleeping Beauty". 0746058373 Little Red Riding Hood Young children should enjoy having the tales in this series read out to them. They are pefect for sharing and the pictures and simple text on every page aim to encourage children to read independently. 0746058381 Goldilocks & The Three Bears Young children should enjoy having the tales in this series read out to them. They are pefect for sharing and the pictures and simple text on every page aim to encourage children to read independently. 0859537978 The Wheels On The Bus Through the use of die-cutting, this book tells the story of the nursery rhyme "The Wheels on the Bus". The holes in the page are designed to draw the reader on through the book. 1405313781 My Busy Day "With My Busy Day you have fun talking through your child's day and you help develop social confidence and friendliness." - Dr Miriam Stoppard. What have you been doing today? Have you been out and about? Who did you see? Choose a play piece to show what you've done today. Learn and discover with your child as you read "My Busy Day" together. It is packed with fun things to see and do, colourful photography on every page and 18 pop-out play pieces for recapping a busy day. It also includes fold out parents' notes and developmental milestones to help you understand and encourage your child's skills. 1844226387 Touch And Say Alphabet Children use all their senses to develop early learning skills at nursery. Tracing tactile letters with little fingers and hearing them repeated in quirky rhymes will gently familiarise pre-schoolers with the shapes and sounds of letters. 1846460336 Night, Night Baby Young babies and toddlers love playing peekaboo, and this gorgeous rhyming book will delight with surprising flaps and entertaining text. 1846463475 Peppa Pig Nursery Rhyme Time Young children learn rhythm and rhyme through repetition. Nursery rhymes are the perfect way to build these skills. Join Peppa, her family and friends in this beautiful nursery rhyme book full of lots of popular rhymes to learn and enjoy. 0746077173 Ted In A Red Bed Newly reissued to coincide with and support the Government's new focus on learning through synthetic phonics in primary schools, these delightful books will enthral, entertain and educate all young learners. They feature the ever-popular illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. They are developed in consultation with educational psychology expert, Dr. Marylynne Grant. 0746077181 Big Pig On A Dig Newly reissued to coincide with and support the Government's new focus on learning through synthetic phonics in primary schools, these delightful books will enthral, entertain and educate all young learners. They feature the ever-popular illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. They are developed in consultation with educational psychology expert, Dr. Marylynne Grant. 074607719X Fat Cat On A Mat Newly reissued to coincide with and support the Government's new focus on learning through synthetic phonics in primary schools, these delightful books will enthral, entertain and educate all young learners. They feature the ever-popular illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. They are developed in consultation with educational psychology expert, Dr. Marylynne Grant. 0746077203 Goose On The Loose Newly reissued to coincide with and support the Government's new focus on learning through synthetic phonics in primary schools, these delightful books will enthral, entertain and educate all young learners. They feature the ever-popular illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. They are developed in consultation with educational psychology expert, Dr. Marylynne Grant. 0746077211 Hen's Pens Newly reissued to coincide with and support the Government's new focus on learning through synthetic phonics in primary schools, these delightful books will enthral, entertain and educate all young learners. They feature the ever-popular illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. They are developed in consultation with educational psychology expert, Dr. Marylynne Grant. 074607722X Fox On A Box Newly reissued to coincide with and support the Government's new focus on learning through synthetic phonics in primary schools, these delightful books will enthral, entertain and educate all young learners. They feature the ever-popular illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. They are developed in consultation with educational psychology expert, Dr. Marylynne Grant. 0007155166 Tales from Percys:Rescue Party Reformatted edition of this core Percy title with a contemporary new cover design. Includes a surprise fold-out page Percy the park keeper is having a day off. It is a perfect day for doing nothing. But Percy's peaceful picnic is disturbed when a little rabbit meets with a nasty tumble into an old well. All the animals gather together with a huge rope to help pull the rabbit out. But all they tug from the well is the branch of a tree. But the rabbit has already found her own way out...through an passage under the ground and she's at the end of the line with the other animals lending a hand! 0099439328 Comet the Fairy Dog Internationally-acclaimed author/illustrator Mary Murphy captures all the excitement of a toddler's first steps towards independence.

Synopsis
'This book is about me, Comet the Fairy Dog. I am bigger than a bee, and smaller than a mouse, and I can fly!' Follow the adventures of Comet the Fairy Dog as he explores the big wide world and learns all about life. How to bake and share, read and make light; how to tell friend from foe; how to fly, and that there's nothing quite like his very own home. Small children will delight in following the trials and tribulations of Comet the Fairy Dog, as he grows up and discovers his world! Praise for Mary Murphy: 'A real feeling for young children and their concerns' - Children's Books Ireland. 'Mary Murphy's illustrations have a child-like simplicity and innocent appeal' - "Junior". 'Simple originality' - "Times Educational Supplement" on "All the Little Ones - and a Half".

See all Reviews 0192763075 Dragon Poems Here is a collection of fabulously funny poems put together by John Foster and illustrated with creative genius by Korky Paul. There are poems by a range of authors about dragons in all sorts of situations - chasing teachers, playing the banjo, feasting, fighting knights, or being taken home as pets. Guaranteed to delight, this is a perfect introduction to poetry either at home or at school. John Foster and Korky Paul's poetry partnership began over 10 years ago, with the publication of "Dragon Poems". The combination of John's inspired and witty selection of poems, with Korky's crazily imaginative and anarchic illustrations, has proved exceptionally popular. 0439982782 Catch! (PB) 'It was a hot sunny afternoon. Mum and Kiona were playing catch.' First Kiona tries to catch a ball - but the ball is too big and she can't slip her arms around it| Then she tries to catch a berry - but it's too small and she can't see it| She keeps trying to catch things, but has no joy till her mum thinks of the perfect thing that Kiona can catch . she can catch a kiss| A critically acclaimed and heart-warming story perfected by Ken Wilson-Max's bright and bold illustrations. 0689874855 Big Pig Big Pig is John Henry's cherished piglet. But there comes a time in every piglet's life when new experiences and places must be faced, so Big Pig is moved out to the pighouse. But Big Pig is cold and lonely, and wants to return home. John Henry does his best to ease the transition for his oversized piglet and Big Pig does ultimately learn to be more independent -'for that's what big pigs do'- but will John Henry learn to live on his own, too? This warm, reassuring tale about growing up will charm children and grown-ups alike! 0744592380 My Friend Bear (NE) Eddy and the bear are both feeling sad. They both wish they had a friend to talk to. All they've got are their teddies, and teddies can't talk. Or can they? A hilarious misunderstanding leads the bear to believe that his teddy is talking to him - which in turn starts up a game of ventriloquism with Eddy and the bear talking behind their respective teddies. Finally, the fear between them has gone and they become firm friends. 0744598354 The Last Noo-Noo Winner of the 1995 Smarties Book prize (0-5 category), this picture book features Marlon, the monster, who loves his dummies, his "noo-noos". Marlon's granny says he's too old for a dummy, and all the other monsters tease him too. One day, Marlon's mum decides to take drastic action. She gathers up all the noo-noos she can find, and dumps them in the dustbin; but Marlon has secret supplies hidden all over the house, down the side of an armchair, at the back of the breadbin, in the toe of his wellington boot. Gradually his supply dwindles until Marlon has only one pink noo-noo left. Then he finds a blue one and plants it in the garden. The other monsters lie in wait for Marlon with a home-made noo-noo snatcher, and a fierce tug-of-war ensues. Neither side, it seems, is going to give way, when suddenly Marlon decides to let go, and all the other monsters fall backwards into the pond. "I've given up my noo-noo", Marlon tells his mum and granny, adding that he's planted one in the garden just in case he changes his mind. "Nonsense", says his granny. "Dummies don't grow on trees". The last picture in the book reveals she is quite wrong - for there is a flowering noo-noo tree! Jill Murphy has written and illustrated "The Worst Witch", "Geoffrey Strangeways", "Worlds Apart", "Five Minutes' Peace" (winner of the Best Books for Babies Award and shortlisted for the Children's Book Award}, "All in One Piece" (commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal), "A Piece of Cake" and "A Quiet Night In" (shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal). 0746046898 Mouse Moves House A story with a phonics-based text to help children who are beginning to read. It is illustrated by Stephen Cartwright. Some pages have pull-out flaps to give readers a chance to guess what will happen next. The inside back cover gives a phonic breakdown of the words in the story. 0747571449 Lonely Giraffe Poor giraffe is feeling left out. His long neck means that he's just too far away from the action. The other animals on the jungle floor can barely hear his distant voice, and when they are up in the trees, the giraffe startles them with his big head so high off the ground. But when the river bursts its banks and only the monkeys and the birds can climb or fly to safety, it's time to forget old prejudices and work together.

From the Author
The Lonely Giraffe was written to illustrate that no one should be an outsider. No matter how tall, or short, or thin, or with purple spots on their faces! Everyone is equal and everyone should be treated with respect. You never know how someone can help you or what good friends they'd make until you make a friend of them. Include everyone in what you do. Not only will you make them feel better, but you'll feel better too! The lonely giraffe was all alone, but when he helped the other animals they realised just what a good friend he made. Maybe it's something that you could try too... Great illustrations show the story in a way that will leave every reader feeling good. A collector's edition that will last a lifetime and be read and enjoyed by every child - young or old - in the world-wide family of readers. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. 0753407213 Brilliant Boats Sailing boats, rowing boats, ferries and motor boats: find them all and how they work in this picture book. Then take a cruise on an ocean liner, crewed by animals, in a jolly, rhyming journey. 0753408341 Tough Trucks Keep on trucking with Amazing Machines Take to the road with our favourite animal characters to discover lots of different trucks: a noisy dustcart, a big cement mixer, a tanker, articulated lorries and more. Then peep inside the cab where the driver sits before popping off for a cup of tea in a transport cafe! This zany picture book is full of rhyming fun to delight all machine-mad children. 1845060903 Rosie's Special Surprise Nosy Rosie liked to know everything about everything, but Daddy Rabbit was planning a special surprise. Nosy Rosie kept trying to guess what it could be, but Daddy Rabbit only smiled and said, "Wait and see." But Rosie couldn't wait, and hopped off to look for it. The scampery, skippity squirrel said it was shaped a bit like an acorn. The burrowy-tunnelly moles said you could go inside it. The flittering-fluttering birds said it was blue...What could the surprise be? 1845063546 Ten Tiny Tadpoles Ten tiny tadpoles wriggling in a line. One went chasing dragonflies, so that left nine! This counting book follows the adventures of these bright, bold, 3D tadpoles with a pop-up page at the end. 0431151261 Each book in this new series explores an aspect of life that young readers will recognize. It explains how people around the world have needs and activities in common, and how these can be similar in different parts of the world. The books include: - Bright, full-colour photographs to support the text - Clear explanations of concepts in accessible text - Glossary, list of more books to read and index 033043733X Cosmo:The Great Witch Escape Cosmo, a witch-cat, is delighted that evil Sybil - the most terrible of witches - is safely in prison. In fact, she's even fitted with a special tag, which means that if she and her cronies try to escape they will be turned into frogs. But then mysterious goings-on are reported in Witch News. Baby witches are being visited by a strange new health visitor - and having their long, curly toenails clipped and stolen! Something sinister is afoot. Could it be that Sybil and her criminal cauldron are at work again? 0552553735 Zeus to the Rescue Another hilarious adventure with the unpredictable and uncontrollable Zeus!

Synopsis
Zeus is back! This time Alex and his friend Charlie have summoned Zeus down from Mount Olympus on purpose because there's a problem that they're hoping he will be able to help with. There' s a new girl in the class called Diana and ever since she turned up, things have just got weirder and weirder. All the girls follow her around like sheep and do whatever she says and their teacher Miss Wise is letting Diana and the girls get away with outrageous behaviour. Zeus doesn't seem very willing to help but then Alex and Charlie discover that Diana is actually Zeus's daughter, the goddess Artemis! It's bad enough having two gods running around on Earth but things start getting really bad when Artemis bets Zeus that he can't get Miss Wise to give him a kiss of her own free will because she's one of Artemis's followers now. If Zeus fails then Artemis is going to turn his High Priest, Alex, into a pig...!

See all Reviews 0746073070 Oliver Moon & Dragon Disaster Enter the world of Oliver Moon, Junior Wizard, in these fun illustrated adventures full of gruesome details, extraordinary characters and a massive dose of magic. Everyone at Oliver's school is really excited about taking part in the annual Festival of Magic parade, but Oliver is stuck with the boring job of picking up the litter. When his little sister Witch Baby hatches a baby dragon at home, Oliver sees his chance to liven his role up. But things don't quite go to plan... 140630185X Judy Moody Around the World Class projects and friendship troubles - school life is humorously captured in the seventh title in this bestselling series. Get in the mood for Judy Moody! Judy Moody has a double! Amy Namey is exactly like Judy - same-same - and she's a member of the "way-cool" My-Name-Is-A-Poem Club. Judy is meant to be doing an Around-the-World class project with Rocky and Frank Pearl. But with so much time spent thinking about Amy, Judy's old friends start to feel left out... 1904442900 The Girl With The Broken Wing This is a sweet and funny story about an unruly angel! The twins are in bed when it happens. They hear a sound like a wet cabbage hitting the wall, then a clattering on the roof tiles, followed a little later by a tapping at the window. It's a girl with a broken wing - and she's come to stay. Who is she? Where has she come from? And more importantly, what does she want? The twins have no idea. Perhaps she's their guardian angel? But would an angel have filthy feet and snore? 074457868X The honour of class P6 is at stake when Ernie Flack and his friend Peanut Jackson take on Fishface Duggan and his gang from P7. Will Ernie's plan succeed? See who comes out on top in this lively school story with lots of illustrations. 1842990519 Young Dracula Part of the BARRINGTON STOKE RELUCTANT READERS SERIES

Synopsis
This book is suitable for reluctant readers of 8-13 with a reading age of eight years. It is printed on cream paper, which is proven to be more restful on the eye. The font is specially designed to encourage a smooth and easy read. There are frequent page breaks, short, headed chapters and illustrations on almost every page. A wide range of specialists, including children themselves, have read and commented on the book prior to publication.

See all Reviews 1842991140 Meet the Weirds This book is suitable for reluctant readers of 13-16 with a reading age of eight years. It is printed on cream paper, which is proven to be more restful on the eye. The font is specially designed to encourage a smooth and easy read. There are frequent page breaks, short, headed chapters and illustrations on almost every page. A wide range of specialists, including children themselves, have read and commented on the book prior to publication. 1842992929 Stat Man Meet Arnie - the original football anorak. There isn't a bit of football trivia he doesn't know. But can he brush up enough on his skills on the pitch to help out his local side? A witty and action-packed story packed with football trivia. 1842993550 Sammy and the Starman Sammy is thrilled when he finds a tiny space rocket in the park. And even more thrilled when he discovers its owner, Jax, a very small and very irritable 300-year-old spaceman. Can Sammy save Jax from the greedy clutches of his nosy neighbour Dennis, and help him get home? 1842993569 The Dirty Dozen Robbie is football mad and desperate to join the coolest team in his neighbourhood, Top Grove FC. So desperate he will use anyone to get what he wants! Can Robbie score a place on the team or will his friends show him the red card? This is an exploration of friendship, fights and footie. 1842993666 Pinchton finally meets the weirdest member of the Weird family... The House Plant. There is something very strange about the plant, it seems to have a life of its own... and when the Weirds enter it into a local flower show, chaos and comedy ensue. This is a hilarious finale. 1842993712 Molly is a total town person. She doesn't want to spend a week in the middle of nowhere, with crazy old Grandad and a whole lot of chickens! But, when Grandad wants to catch a new Gran, Molly is just the girl to help. 1842993755 Hostage NE Part of the BARRINGTON STOKE RELUCTANT READERS series. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Reviews 1842993763 Hat Trick A 4U2Read.OK title. Part of Barrington Stoke's Reluctant reader series for children of 8-13 with a reading age of below 8 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Reviews 1842993801 Part of the BARRINGTON STOKE RELUCTANT READERS series. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Reviews 1405226684 King Of the Cloud Forests Michael Morpurgo is a master storyteller, former Children's Laureate and multi-award winner. This is a fresh reissue of a much-loved story with a beautiful new cover. Escaping from China as the Japanese invade, Ashley and Uncle Sung embark on a perilous journey across the Himalayas. Then Ashley finds himself alone in the hostile mountains, battling for his life. He is just about to give up all hope, when he has a mysterious and terrifying encounter. 0141316357 The Pig Who Saved The World Gryllus, the talking pig is back. Well, strictly speaking, he's a human in a pig's body...it's a long story. After saving the Cosmos once before, Gryllus is a bit tired of being a hero. He wants to return to human form and live a quiet life, preferably working as Chief Pie Taster to the Gods. The only person who can change him back is the demi-goddess Circe - but Circe, along with all the other Olympians, is nowhere to be found. It looks like the Cosmos is in grave danger once again, and a mysterious prophecy seems to suggest that Gryllus might be the pig to sort things out. So, along with Sibyl the ex-priestess, the singing head of Orpheus, and an immortal grasshopper, Gryllus travels to the Underworld and back, and is surprised to discover just who is trying to destroy the Cosmos. 0141319232 The Angel Stone In every generation there are those who believe eternal life is the one way forward for humankind...Manchester, 1605 and Simeon is torn from his mother to sing at the cathedral school. In the here and now of modern Manchester, Kate's father has mysteriously vanished. Suddenly Simeon and Kate's lives are bound together by the power of the cathedral's Angel stone. One of them must make a terrible sacrifice. But who will it be - and at what cost to their future? And their past? 0141320583 Beware! Killer Tomatoes Jack's in trouble, big trouble. Not only is he in hospital with a leg in traction (boring) but he knows the police are coming for him: because of an accident - a tomato-related accident - involving a supermarket pyramid and an old-age pensioner. Whoops! Jeremy Strong knows exactly what makes kids laugh, and he's on top form in this very funny detective spoof. A major rebranding and repackaging programme in 2007 will ensure there's not a child in the country who hasn't laughed their socks off with Jeremy! Rowan Clifford's illustrations add to the fun. 0746076681 My Sister's A Pop Star Sam can't wait for her big sister Danni to come home from touring so their family can get back to normal. Having a singing sensation for a sister is just too weird. But it seems things are only going to get weirder, as Danni's been given her own reality TV series - and they're all going to be filmed. No way does Sam want her life on screen, but the director convinces her to give it a go, at least for five days. Then it's up to her to choose. Can she handle her starring role as a pop star's little sister? 0750240539 My Muslim Year A look at the festivals and special occasions in a Muslim year through the eyes of a child.

Synopsis
'A Year of Festivals' is a series of colour-illustrated books for children that explores the major religious festivals around the world. Each title includes a diary and extracts giving a personal account of a festival from a child's perspective.

See all Reviews 0750240555 My Sikh Year A look at the festivals and special occasions in a Sikh year through the eyes of a child.

Synopsis
This book moves chronologically through the calendar year and looks at the typical events, customs and celebrations celebrated by Sikh children. Festivals such as Vaisakhi, Hola Mohalla, Diwali and personal customs such as praying at the gurdwara are experienced through the use of religious articles, books, buildings, symbols and food. Look inside eight-year-old Amar's diary to read what it's like to be at each event.

See all Reviews 0750240571 My Hindu Year A look at the festivals and special occasions in a Hindu year through the eyes of a child.

Synopsis
This book moves chronologically through the calendar year and looks at the typical events, customs and celebrations celebrated by Hindu children. Festivals such as Divali and Holi, and personal customs such as Raksha Bandhan are explored through the use of religious articles, books, buildings, symbols and food. This book looks inside eight year old Dhara's diary to read what it's like to be at each event. It contains links to the following units in the DfES Schemes of Work: 1A What does it mean to belong? (Year 1, looking at religious symbols, clothes, buildings and festivals), 1D Beliefs and practice -- generic (Year 1), 3A Celebrations - generic (Year 2), 3A What do signs and symbols mean in religion? (Year 3)

See all Reviews 0750240598 My Buddhist Year A look at the festivals and special occasions in a Buddhist year through the eyes of a child.

Synopsis
This book moves chronologically through the calendar year and looks at the typical events, customs and celebrations celebrated by Buddhist children. Festivals such as Hana Matsuri, Wesak or Parinirvanay, and personal customs such as Sangha Day and Kathina are experienced through the use of religious articles, books, buildings, symbols and food. Look inside eight-year-old Carolina's diary to read what it's like to be at each event.

See all Reviews 075024061X My Jewish Year An accessible and appealing introduction to the Jewish faith for Years 1 - 4, this colourful book explores its major festivals.

Synopsis
Following the calendar year, this book explores the ways in which the main festivals that highlight a Jewish child's year are celebrated. The ceremonies, food, clothing, stories and other customs associated with such festivals as Rosh Hashanah, Purim, Pesach, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah are detailed in simple terms and colourful photos. A special feature is eight-year-old Adam's diary which provides a child's perspective on what it's like to be involved in each of the festivals. Relevant to the following units in the RE Schemes of Work: What does it mean to belong? (Year 1 - looking at religious symbols, clothes, buildings and festivals), How do Jewish people express their beliefs in practice? (Year 1), Beliefs and practices (Year 1), Celebrations (Year 2), What do signs and symbols mean in religion? (Year 3), What is Torah and why is it important to Jewish people? (Year 3)

See all Reviews 0750240636 My Christian Year An accessible and appealing introduction to the Christian faith for Years 1 - 4, this colourful book explores its major festivals.

Synopsis
Following the calendar year, this book explores the ways in which the main festivals that highlight a Christian child's year are celebrated. The ceremonies, food, clothing, stories and other customs associated with such festivals as Christmas, Easter, Advent, Lent, Epiphany and Harvest are detailed in simple terms and colourful photographs. A special feature is nine-year-old Jana's diary which provides a child's perspective on what it's like to be involved in each of the festivals. Relevant to the following units in the RE Schemes of Work: What does it mean to belong? (Year 1 - looking at religious symbols, clothes, buildings and festivals), What does it mean to belong to Christianity? (Year 1), Beliefs and practices (Year 1), Celebrations (Year 2), What do signs and symbols mean in religion? (Year 3)

See all Reviews 0140309527 Grey King, The This is the fourth in "The Dark is Rising" sequence. Following an illness, Will is frantic that he can't remember some verses he once knew. But when he is sent to convalesce in Wales, his memory is stirred by mention of the Grey King and by meeting Bran, the strange albino boy. 0141315121 Time Stops For No Mouse Hermux Tantamoq is an ordinary, hard-working mouse, living in an ordinary metropolis. But when adventuress and aviatrix Linka Perflinger walks into his watchmaker's shop, his life becomes anything but ordinary. Linka disappears very mysteriously and Hermux, more than a little in love with her, sets out to find her. Adventure and danger follow as he uncovers a quest for the formula for eternal youth. 0141315148 No Time Like Show Time The third Hermux Tantamoq adventure . Hermux Tantamoq, watchmaker, coffee-lover and accidental hero, is back in Pinchester, trying to return to his normal life. Then he receives a mysterious invitation to the Varmint Variety Theater -from the theatre's owner, presiding genius and all-round impresario, Fluster Varmint. Fluster is in trouble. He needs help of a highly confidential nature. He is being blackmailed. Somebody wants his theater - and worse, that somebody just might be connected with evil Tucka Mertslin. Hermux has only one option - he has to help. But how will our hero cope with the world of showbiz? 0141320532 Mermaid Friends Electra and her school friends are off on an overnight trip to Craggy island. When they arrive, Electra sees some of the older mermaids looking at her and giggling and she is upset to discover they're laughing at the fact that she has legs instead of a tail! The girls are even meaner later on when they tell Electra and her friends that the island caves, they plan to have a midnight feast in, are haunted. The next day the older mermaids swim off to the rocks where a special moss grows that will make their hair shine. But later on, Electra sees that the girls have got stranded on the rocks and their tails are burning in the sun! Even though their teacher told them not to approach the rocks, Electra decides to go and help the girls as she is the only one who can because of her legs! The older girls are so grateful that they show Electra and her friends an underwater grotto, lit up by mermaid fire with tiny pink jellyfish and seahorses where they all have the best midnight feast ever! 0141320540 Mermaid Treasure When Electra hears of hidden treasure in the caves near Mermaid Island she is very excited. She and her mer-friends decide to form a treasure hunters club but their first hunt is abandoned when everyone gets stung by purple jellyfish! On the way home Electra finds a tiny rare dwarf seahorse surrounded by the same jellyfish. She swims in and saves him before he gratefully swims off to his secret seahorse lair. No one wants to explore very far after being stung and Electra gets very frustrated in fact she and Sasha have a big fight about it. Sasha is so upset that she swims off - in the wrong direction! Electra swims after her but before they realise it they're both lost. Luckily the tiny seahorse appears again to lead them back to safety and on the way he leads them to a secret cave with a very special surprise! 0192750194 How To Survive At Summer Camp Stella is determined not to enjoy her summer at holiday camp but finds herself making friends, getting into trouble, and generally having more of a good time than she expected. A new cover for this best-selling book which continues to delight readers everywhere. Jacqueline Wilson is one of the UK's top three bestselling children's authors and has won many prizes and reached phenomenal sales levels. Funky new cover by up-and-coming artist, Melanie Williamson. 0192761250 Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar Presents simple rhymes and poems. 033042632X Mermaid Magic Down in the watery blue depths of the ocean is Tingle Reef - home to young mermaid Rani and a whole host of fishy friends! It's an underwater world of magic and mystery - where Rani's adventures are about to begin...Rani has always known that she's different from the rest of her family. Her flowing red hair and glowing amber eyes stand out from the other mermaids, who have golden hair and eyes like the sea. But Rani's about to find out that she's more different than she realised - she's got magic powers! 0439979455 Jonah Jonah Morrison's mother says she's counting on him to look after his family. But Jonah is eleven, and the only thing he's good at is imagining stuff-lying, some people call it. What can he do to take care of his mother and Quentin? The kids at school are already on his back about his TV show. As if he's really going to host a children's TV series from the belly of a Whale! It's fun to dream- but you can't just get up and do the things you dream about OR CAN YOU? 0439982898 Everything on a Waffle My name is Primrose Squarp. I am eleven years old. I have hair the colour of carrots in apricot glaze (recipe to follow), skin fair and clear where it isn't freckled, and eyes like summer storms. Primrose's parents are lost at sea. Somewhere, she knows they're together-on an island, rescued by a ship, perhaps in the belly of a whale. If they'd drowned, she would know. The other inhabitants of Coal Harbour want Primrose to stop being stubborn and admit they're gone for good. Primrose only finds refuge at the town restaurant, where Miss Bowzer serves everything on a waffle. Not just syrup and jam, but lasagne, fish and chips- at The Girl on a Red Swing, even waffles come on a waffle. And so do good jokes and sage advice, in this quirky novel filled with eccentric characters and bittersweet humour. 0746047673 Stories From Around The World A collection of stories in a miniature format, from different countries of the world to read aloud or read alone. The illustrations reflect traditional art styles from the country of the story's origin. 0747579768 Fish When Ned Finn's little brother Bill eats some of their father's special Fish Crisps, he lands the whole family in rather deep water. Not only does he draw the attention of the local school bully, but Madge Sprod, international spy, is alerted to the existence of the highly sought-after Crisps. Bill even finds himself risking life and fin in an encounter with the local aquarium's resident killer whale! Fortunately, Ned and his sister Stacey, are on hand to try to rescue Bill and the family from some very slippery situations. 1416901914 Pandora The Pirate Princess Portia, the Pirate Princess, and her crew of ladies-in-waiting are back to rescue another princess from a dull and boring marriage! This time it's Princess Pandora who needs their help. She's being forced to marry wimpy Prince Norman of Moronia and is trapped in a tower to stop her running away. Embarking on a perilous mission to infiltrate the castle, Portia and cabin boy, Jim, smuggle Pandora down to her workshop where she knocks up an ingenious invention for their escape! But Count Nasty is lying in wait for Portia and he's determined to get revenge... 1844281302 Woman Who Won Things One lucky morning Mrs Gaskitt opens the post, and finds she's won a prize! Next she kisses the postman! Never mind, though - the postman is Mr Gaskitt doing his very latest job. Meanwhile Gus and Gloria get a new teacher, Mrs Plum, with silvery hair, a big smile and a huge suitcase, who's ever so helpful when things start to go missing in the classroom. And then Mrs Gaskitt finds she's won another prize! 0141304766 Other Side of Truth, The Twelve-year-old Sade and her brother Femi have to flee Nigeria when their mother is killed and their father won't stop criticizing the military rulers. The woman paid to bring them to London as her children abandons them and they are alone in a new, often hostile, environment. 0192753487 Parvana's Journey This sequel by award-winning author, Deborah Ellis, tells the story of Parvana, travelling alone across a war-ridden Afghanistan in an attempt to find her family. Deborah Ellis is the winner of the Governor General's Award in Canada, their equivalent to the Carnegie Medal. 0192753762 Mud City Shauzia is Parvana's friend from The Breadwinner. Now Shauzia has fled from Afghanistan, to a refugee camp in Pakistan. But Shauzia has a dream. She dreams of getting away from the refugee camp and travelling to France. There she knows she would find a better life, away from the war in her home country of Afghanistan. But escape is not so easy. Once she leaves the camp, she has no money, no food - and only her dog Jasper for company. But Shauzia is determined to find a new future for herself. This is another deeply moving story from Deborah Ellis, which casts light for readers on the ongoing human situation in Afghanistan. 0330437437 A Little Piece Of Ground 12 year-old Karim Aboudi and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. Israeli tanks control the city in response to a Palestinian suicide bombing. Karim longs to play football with his mates - being stuck inside with his teenage brother and fearful parents is driving him crazy. When the curfew ends, he and his friend discover an unused patch of ground that's the perfect site for a football pitch. Nearby, an old car hidden intact under bulldozed buildings makes a brilliant den. But in this city there's constant danger, even for schoolboys. And when Israeli soldiers find Karim outside during the next curfew, it seems impossible that he will survive...A Little Piece Of Ground is an exciting, enlightening and important story that brings to life the reality of events reported daily in the news, and will help young readers understand more about one of the worst conflicts afflicting our world today.0011405019212 0439977479 Born Confused Dimple doesn't know what to think. Her parents are from India, and she's spent years rebelling against their traditions. Now everything Indian is suddenly hip - even her best friend Gwyn has a bindi as an accessory. Dimple doesn't feel either Indian or American, she feels both. Mainly, she just feels confused...To make matters worse, Dimple's parents are trying to set her up with a "suitable boy." Their first meeting is a disaster, but then she bumps into him again at a club - where he's the DJ. Suddenly he becomes suitable because of his sheer unsuitability. Trouble is, Gwyn seems to think so too...Born Confused is a touching and funny novel about family, friendship and love, and about bringing together two cultures without falling apart yourself in the process. 0711221405 Starring Grace In this high-spirited storybook, Grace, the heroine of Mary Hoffman's classic picture book, Amazing Grace, joins her friends in a series of dramatic holiday adventures, using her imagination to become just about anything she wants. Grace has made the transition from picture book to fiction book format. In these stories Mary Hoffman tackles the difficult subject of the absent father and Ma's new boyfriend with a great understanding of children's emotional needs. 0744569524 Lady Long Legs Nisba maybe new at Farm Lane School, but she won't be pushed about. Lucy Wells, from the year above, tries to stop Nisba from walking along the green tiles in the corridor. The new girl puts her foot down. She's got long legs and she's not afraid to use them! 0747550867 Refugee Boy Alem is on holiday with his father for a few days in London. He has never been out of Ethiopia before and is very excited. They have a great few days togther until one morning when Alem wakes up in the bed and breakfast they are staying at to find the unthinkable. His father has left him. It is only when the owner of the bed and breakfast hands him a letter that Alem is given an explanation. Alem's father admits that because of the political problems in Ethiopia both he and Alem's mother felt Alem would be safer in London - even though it is breaking their hearts to do this. Alem is now on his own, in the hands of the social services and the Refugee Council. He lives from letter to letter, waiting to hear from his father, and in particular about his mother, who has now gone missing...A powerful, gripping new novel from the popular Benjamin Zephaniah

From the Author
It’s a hard life being labelled ‘political’. It seems that because I’m constantly ranting about the ills of the world I’m expected to have all the answers, but I don’t, and I’ve never claimed to, besides I’m not a politician. What interests me is people. When I hear politicians saying that we are being ‘flooded’ by refugees, I always remind myself that each ‘refugee’ is a person, a person who for some reason has left everything they know and love to find safety in a strange, and sometimes hostile country. I wrote ‘Refugee Boy’ because I realised that every day I was meeting refugees, and each one of them had a unique, and usually terrifying story to tell. I have seen refugee camps in Gaza, Montenegro and other places around the world but when I met Million and Dereje Hailemariam, two teenagers who were being denied asylum in Britain, I knew that I had to write a story that would illustrate the suffering and the struggles that many asylum seekers have to endure. Million and Dereje’s parents feared for the lives of their boys, they did not want them to grow up in an environment where they would witness war on a daily basis. I have also met children whose parents were executed in front of them, or who themselves had been kidnapped and tortured. For ‘Refugee Boy’ I borrowed from the many stories that I have heard and created a story that I believe many refugees would recognise. I would like to know that anyone who reads the book would think before they accuse refugees of looking for a free ride. We all want to live in peace, we all want the best for our families. The Celts, the Angles, the Saxons, the Jamaicans are all refugees of one sort or another. What kind of a refugee are you? And what are you scared of?

See all Reviews 0747575665 When I Was A Soldier This is the story of Valerie as she finishes her exams, breaks up with her boyfriend and then leaves to take up her national service with the Israeli army. Nothing has prepared her for the strict routines, gruelling marches, lack of sleep, poor food, absence of privacy or crushing of initiative. However, the book also depicts the undeniable excitements of the work, including working in a 'spying centre' near Jerusalem, listening in on the communications of the Jordanian pilots. This book offers a glimpse inside another world - of a world where a teenager can worry about what she wears, how much she's eating, whether her boyfriend will call, and at the same time living in a country that is effectively at war. 1860398790 Kaninda is an ex-child soldier from East Africa, orphaned and living in London. When a child from a nearby estate is hit by a car he is drawn into an inter-estate conflict. The story combines current conflicts in London with real war in Africa.' 0007204884 Ingo This is a spellbinding magical adventure. Master storyteller Helen Dunmore writes the story of Sapphire and her brother Conor, and their discovery of INGO, a powerful and exciting world under the sea. You'll find the mermaid of Zennor inside Zennor church. She fell in love with a human, but she was a Mer creature and so she couldn't come to live with him up in the dry air. She swam up the stream to hear him sing, then one day he swam down it and was never seen again. He became one of the Mer people! Sapphire's father told her that story when she was little. When he is lost at sea she can't help but think of that old myth; she's convinced he's still alive. The following summer her brother Conor keeps disappearing for hours on end. She goes to the cove to find him, but instead meets Faro, an enigmatic and intriguing Merman. He takes her to Ingo and introduces her to a world she never knew existed. She must let go of all her Air thoughts and embrace the sea and all things Mer. After her first visit she is entranced - merely the sound of running water makes her yearn to be in Ingo once more. Ingo blood runs strongly in Sapphy and Conor fears she will leave the Air world for good. He pleads with her to ignore her craving for the sea and stay safely in their cottage up on the cliff. But not only is Sapphy intoxicated by the Mer world, she longs to see her father once more. And she's sure she can hear him singing across the water! "I wish I was away in Ingo Far across the briny sea!" 0330418262 Fly By Night This is a breath-taking adventure story, set in reimagined eighteenth-century England. As the realm struggles to maintain an uneasy peace after years of cival war and tyranny, a twelve-year-old orphan and her loyal companion, a grumpy goose, are about to become the unlikely heroes of a radical revolution. Mosca Mye has spent her childhood in a miserable hamlet, after her father was banished there for writing inflammatory books about freedom. Now he is dead and Mosca is on the run, heading for the city of Mandelion. There she finds herself living by her wits among cut-throat highwaymen, spies and smugglers. With peril at every turn, Mosca uncovers a dark plot to terrorize the people of Mandelion, and soon merry mayhem leads to murder ...With an unforgettable cast of characters and an inspiring message at its heart - sometimes the power of words can change the world! 0746070659 The Lurkers This is a disturbing tale of strange and dangerous beings beyond the physical world. When Verity sees a weird semi-visible figure, her brother John tells her it is a harmless Lurker. But Lurkers feed on human imagination and this one is using John to become more solid and independent. When Verity discovers the Lurker's secret plan, she must fight to save her brother's mind. 0747580332 Powder Monkey Sam is desperate to leave his sleepy Norfolk village and see the world. He seizes the chance to crew a merchant ship but soon discovers that a life at sea is harsh and often short. True to his fears, their ship is attacked by a Spanish privateer. About to be boarded, they fear all is lost, only to be rescued by a royal navy ship. Joy is short-lived when Sam realises marines are now boarding instead, and he is about to be press-ganged into the navy. War with France and Spain is raging and he is caught in the middle with a dangerous job as a powder monkey and a brutal crew. An amazingly well-researched adventure giving a glimpse of one boy's incredible life at sea. 1405210567 Firestarter When Reece - strange, blue-haired, fire-obsessed Reece - moves in next door, Keith is worried. Not least because Annie, his three-year-old sister, really likes him. Funny Boy, she calls him. Reece is clearly trouble, but the problem is, Keith feels sorry for him. So he doesn't make him go away. And he doesn't tell his dad what's going on. Not even when Reece burns Annie's doll Raggy beyond recognition. Keith knows he should ignore Reece, but he's like smoke. He pervades everything, every aspect of Keith's life. Then one night Keith wakes up choking on thick black smoke... 1416901574 Susanna Sees Stars Susanna's walking on air. With some nifty self-promotion using a locked box and a key, she has managed to win herself a work experience placement at a celebrity news magazine in New York. It's her foot into the door of journalism as well as an opportunity to indulge her serious celebrity obsession. But the reality of the job is not quite what she expects. The editor, Nell, treats her like a skivvy, personal shopper and all-round dogsbody and the rest of her fellow office workers aren't much nicer. However the job does have a few perks, such as being sent out celebrity-hunting with the hot magazine photographer, and spotting her heart-throb, Randall Sanders. And when she gets the scoop of the summer, finally Susanna has the chance to shine... 190444282X Chasing Vermeer P/Bk A stolen painting. A series of unexpected events. Two smart children. Petra and Calder live in a neighbourhood where strange things have started to happen. Seemingly unrelated events connect, a sharp old woman seeks their company - and a priceless Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two children are drawn into an international art sensation where no one is above suspicion. They must rely on their intelligence and a newly acquired knowledge of the artist Vermeer to crack an art crime that has left everyone baffled. 0006755151 Chrestomanci: Charmed Life pb Welcome to the worlds of Chrestomanci, where magic is as common as mathematics! Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother Eric (better known as Cat) is not so keen, for he has no talent for magic at all. However, life with the great enchanter is not what either of them expects and sparks begin to fly! Winner of the Guardian Award. 014131883X Something Invisible Jake likes thinking, talking, football and encyclopedias. And fish. But he's not so sure about everything else - especially girls, or little sisters, or stepdads. And most of all, he's not sure if he really likes himself. Then Jake meets a girl called Stella and old Mrs Kennedy next door, and he begins to find that he likes a lot more things than he thought. After all, as Mrs Kennedy says: Life isn't a bowl of cherries, but a bowl of cherries is still a bowl of cherries. But it takes a tragedy to force Jake to look at himself and see that, really, he isn't so bad after all. 0192754459 Storm Catchers Fin is devastated by guilt when his sister, Ella, is kidnapped. She is snatched away from the house in the middle of a storm. As the kidnappers make their demands, Fin's guilt is replaced by a fierce determination to find his sister by whatever means he can, and bring the criminals to justice. But as the drama unfolds, a complex web of family secrets is revealed. It emerges that Ella's kidnapping is revenge for mistakes Fin's father made, years before. The consequences will change all their lives forever. 0330415441 Princess Diaries 4 BOOK FOUR IN THE AMAZING PRINCESS DIARIES SERIES THAT HAS TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM. OVER QUARTER OF A MILLION COPIES SOLD! After a boring state visit to Genovia, Mia is ready to concentrate on what really matters - her love life. She intends to spend every minute of the day with Michael Moscovitz. But could it be (oh, please no) that Grandmere doesn't approve of Michael - and has another royal consort in mind?

From the Back Cover
Mia's back from her first royal trip to Genovia. Now she's ready for what's REALLY important: her love life. Mia and Michael are finally an item, but Grandmere seems to have other plans. Just before the happy couple's first hot date, an unmissable royal engagement turns up. Could it be that Michael doesn't measure up - and that (please not!) Grandmere's got someone else in mind for Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopoplis Renaldo?

Look out for Give Me Five - the fifth part of Mia's hilarious diaries.

She's the most unlikely princess ever!

See all Reviews 0330415654 P Diaries:Sixsational (£9.99) The sixth hilarious novel in the best-selling THE PRINCESS DIARIES series which has taken the world by storm! How can Mia bear it? Michael, her one true love, has gone away to college, leaving her to face a new school year all alone (well, nearly). With a potential eco-disaster in Genovia, a new English teacher who can't stand her, and a totally transformed Boris to get used to, life for the world's most reluctant royal is looking like it can't get much worse. Until Grandmere and Lilly step in - with a plan to save Genovia and Albert Einstein High. A plan that involves Grandmere showing up at school in her fur cape and tiara! 0385601840 Lola Rose HB When Jayni, her mum and little brother have to run away from her abusive father, it starts off as a big adventure. They slip out at night, go up to London by train and stay in a hotel. They even make up false identities to protect their secret and Jayni becomes the glamorous-sounding Lola Rose. But when the money runs out and reality bites, is it still a game they should play? Another brilliantly crafted story of real family life from the prize-winning, children's favourite, Jacqueline Wilson.

See all Reviews 0439959489 Storm Thief The darkly thrilling new novel from master storyteller Chris Wooding. Orokos is a city of chaos, lashed by probability storms that re-order the world wherever they strike. It covers every inch of the rocky island that it dominates. It has stood for so long that history has forgotten it, and its inhabitants no longer question what exists beyond its walls. Then three of its denizens discover the key to the secret at the heart of Orokos. But there are others, such as the Chief of the Protectorate Secret Police who would do anything to get their hands on that power ...anything at all... 0552547999 Ithaka A fascinating retelling of the classic story of Odysseus from the unusual perspective of his wife, Penelope.

Synopsis
"Ithaka" tells the story of the women left behind after the end of the Trojan War. While Odysseus is slowly making his way home, overcoming terrible obstacles sent by the gods, his wife Penelope does not know whether he's alive or dead. How long will she be able to withstand the pressure of the numerous suitors who seek her hand (and Ithaka) - and will she remain as faithful as mythology states, or might she fall in love with one of them? The vivid colours of life on the abundant island of Ithaka are evoked with magic and warmth, as Penelope and those around her tell their own incredible stories. Interspersed with wonderful verse retellings of Odysseus' adventures, this is a thrilling novel with a contemporary feel.

See all Reviews 0552552771 Girls In Pants Summer is always a special time for the four teenage best friends: Bee, Tibby, Carmen and Lena. They have the time to hang out, get jobs, share secrets, discuss boys - and wear the amazing jeans they call the travelling pants. This year there's an added polgnancy as the girls know this is their last summer together before going off to different universities. With Lena defying her father, Carmen resenting her mother, Bee rediscovering her first love and Tibby trying to escape her family, the air is fraught with tension. Can the strength of their friendship overpower the feuds in their families and leave the girls with happy memories of the third summer of the sisterhood? 0749746238 Caught on a Train Set in the nineteenth century, a boy working in the dining car of the Great Midland West Ireland Railway is asked by the mysterious Mr Cink to judge a story telling contest between some unlikely competitors. Mr Fee tells the story of Micky Mealiffe, who gets his living from the contents of ships wrecked on a rock bar near his home. One day, he meets a Merrow, a race of people living in the sea, who thanks him for all the treasure he's sent him by not protecting the rock bar. Down in his sea house, Micky sees a room full of soul cages, full of the souls of the drowned sailors from the ships. He makes a plan to get the Merrow drunk, and release the souls. Things go according to plan and, never knowing his souls have escaped the Merrow become godson to Micky's son. Mr Smyth tells the story of Jeremiah O'Dwyer and the bewitching of his cattle. Only after following the words of an old woman, does he follow a hare, wounded in the chase, from his field to his neighbour's house. There he finds his neighbour, wounded exactly as the hare had been and the curse is removed from his herd. Mr Cink begins the story of Daniel O'Rourke who got drunk one night and found himself swept on to an island. From there he was rescued by an eagle who stands him on the moon. The man in the moon kicks him off, but he is caught by geese, then swallowed by a whale and washed up on the shore...only to find his wife has woken him with a bucket of water. The dining-car boy cannot decide between the stories, and he is fearful of Mr Cink's reaction in particular. There is something unpleasant, other-worldly about him...Mr Smyth wins when they leave it to chance and Mr Cink is furious. The boy leaves the compartment, and when he returns, all three competitors have vanished into thin air...Perhaps whisked away by malevolent fairies? Could Mr Cink be one himself? We'll never know... 1844287742 Cooking Up A Storm What's cooking? Find out in this cool cookbook - written by a teenager, for teenagers! A kid's gotta eat - and what better way to make sure that the food on your plate hits the spot than to make it yourself? Fifteen-year-old Sam Stern, with a bit of help from his mum, Susan, is more than happy to share dozens of his favourite recipes for all occasions. There are pancakes for breakfast and easy lunches like soup or salad to pack up for school. Quick meals like spaghetti or omelettes are best for busy school nights; for weekends there are serious dinners like homemade lasagne or whole roasted chicken. And don't forget fancy, mouth-watering desserts; addictive but healthy snacks; and even special menus and suggestions to help keep your brain boosted during dreaded exam time. Especially geared toward teen readers, "Cooking Up A Storm" is bursting with over 120 healthy, tasty and simple recipes and food ideas and features a lively commentary from Sam, along with colourful photos of food preparation and the ultimate chef's reward: feasting with friends.