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Extracts

The Attack of the Robot Librarians by Sam Copeland & Jenny Pearson

A selection of children's books that include themes of empathy. They sit on a light red background with a large red shape which features a star pattern inside it.

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Children's reading lists

17 books that demonstrate empathy

My journey to becoming an author: Sam Copeland

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Features

Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything quiz

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Children's quizzes

Do you know the answer to absolutely everything?

A photo collage of authors Romesh Ranganathan, Clover Stroud, Sam Copeland and more in a series of rough concentric circles.

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Reading lists

‘We can do this’: Penguin authors on their home-schooling experience

Main character Charlie from Charlie Changes Into a Chicken

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What to read next

Meet the characters from Charlie Changes Into a Chicken

The Attack of the Robot Librarians

'Will have youngsters giggling and guffawing from first page to last!' Lancashire Evening Post 
 
It's a new year at Little Strangehaven Primary but things are just as weird as last term . . . 
 
Who put laser-eyed robot librarians in charge of class discipline? What's with the new pedal-powered desks? And what does it all have to do with the mysterious goings-on in the cellar? 
 
Spy-detectives Tuchus and Topps reckon it's got to be something to do with Pamela Stranglebum and her sinister company, Minerva Industries. With the help of their Scottish gargoyle chum Gregor, can Lenny and Agatha uncover the truth before it's too late . . .?

This daffy detective romp will have youngsters giggling and guffawing from first page to last!

It's a new year at Little Strangehaven Primary but things are just as weird as last term . . . 
 
Who put laser-eyed robot librarians in charge of class discipline? What's with the new pedal-powered desks? And what does it all have to do with the mysterious goings-on in the cellar? 
 
Spy-detectives Tuchus and Topps reckon it's got to be something to do with Pamela Stranglebum and her sinister company, Minerva Industries. With the help of their Scottish gargoyle chum Gregor, can Lenny and Agatha uncover the truth before it's too late . . .?

The Underpants of Chaos

"I should have realised that there was going to be something SERIOUSLY weird about a town called Little STRANGEhaven." 
 
Something BAD is happening at Little Strangehaven Primary. 
 
What are the peculiar SHIVERS that keep striking the school, bringing Strangeness in their wake - 
from uncontrollable ballroom dancing to an attack by military chickens? 
 
Spy-detective Agatha Topps is determined to find out. She's the only person who doesn't forget the Strangeness as soon as it's over. At least, until new boy Lenny Tuchus turns up and remembers too. 
 
Their spy-detectoring leads them to the Book of Chaos, an ancient text which has been hidden away in the Room of Forbidden and Dangerous Books. Can Agatha and Lenny fight off attacks from evil underpants and Transylvanian gargoyles to stop the SHIVERS before their town is sucked into oblivion? 
 
Because power lies in books - especially this one . . . 
 
The perfect story for 7 to 9-year-olds (or STRANGE adults) and fans of Ben Miller, David Walliams and Tom Fletcher. Packed with hilarious illustrations and easy-to-read text, discover the secrets of Little Strangehaven.

Greta and the Ghost Hunters

The hilarious tale of a family coming to terms with its ghosts - literally. 
 
Greta Woebegone did not believe in ghosts until the day she was knocked over by a car and almost died. Then everything changed... 
 
Now Greta can not only see the spirits that haunt her ancestral home, she can talk to them too - from her grumpy Grandpa Woebegone and Percy the poo-pushing plague victim to the sinister spook in the cellar. 
 
Can Greta help the ghosts avoid being exorcised (a fate worse than undeath)? 
 
Can the ghosts help Greta stop her beloved Grandma being put in a home? 
 
And can they all help each other overcome the pain in their past that's holding them back from the future? 
 
From the acclaimed author of Charlie Changes Into a Chicken comes a touching and side-splitting new story guaranteed to delight readers of nine and up. 
 
'Hilarious, fast-paced and full of heart' - Sunday Express 
 
'Funny, engaging and utterly heartfelt' - LD Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency

L.D. Lapinski - author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency

Greta Woebegone did not believe in ghosts until the day she was knocked over by a car and almost died. Then everything changed... 
 
Now Greta can not only see the spirits that haunt her ancestral home - she can talk to them too, from her grumpy Grandpa Woebegone and Percy the poo-pushing plague victim, to the sinister spook in the cellar. 
 
Can Greta help the ghosts avoid being exorcised (a fate worse than undeath)? Can the ghosts help Greta stop her beloved Grandma being put in a home? And can they all help each other overcome the pain in their past that's holding them back from the future? 
 
From the acclaimed author of Charlie Changes Into a Chicken comes a touching and side-splitting new story guaranteed to delight readers of nine and up.

Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything

'Fresh and funny' - Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week 
 
The hilarious and moving new book from funny fiction superstar Sam Copeland, author of the bestselling Charlie Changes Into a Chicken. 
 
Uma Gnudersonn has a head full of questions: How can I save my home from being sold? Will my dad ever start talking again? And how do alpacas get drunk? But since her mum died, Uma's life has been short on answers. 
 
Then she finds a genius artificial intelligence called Athena who knows everything. 
 
Suddenly Uma has the answer to any question she can imagine - from the capital of Mozambique to the colour of her headteacher's underpants - and she's going to use them to save her home and her father. 
 
Along the way, Uma will have to confront the sinister inventor who will stop at nothing to get Athena back - and face up to the fact that not all questions have answers . . . 
 
'Utterly brilliant' - Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl 
 
'This fast paced adventure is full of warmth and wit' - Sunday Express 
 
'Slapstick, satire, silliness . . . truly cheering entertainment' - Sunday Times Best Books for Children 2021 
 
'Hilarious and full of heart' - Jasbinder Bilan, author of Costa-award-winning Asha and the Spirit Bird 
 
'Original, hilarious and delightfully madcap' - Katie Tsang, author of Dragon Mountain 
 
'Funnier than an alpaca with a well-honed stand-up routine' - David Solomons, author of My Brother is a Superhero 
 
'Fast, funny and full of heart' - Amy Sparkes, author of The House at the Edge of Magic 
 
'A brilliantly funny story . . . I loved it!' - Cat Doyle, author of The Storm-Keeper's Island 
 
'Comedy gold' - Sibeal Pounder, author of Witch Wars

Fresh and funny . . . truly cheering entertainment

This fast paced adventure is full of warmth and wit

This warm-hearted adventure is packed with silliness and madcap antics

Uma Gnudersonn has a head full of questions: How can I save my home from being sold? Will my dad ever start talking again? And how do alpacas get drunk? But since her mum died, Uma's life has been short on answers. 
 
Then she finds a genius artificial intelligence called Athena who knows everything. 
 
Suddenly Uma has the answer to any question she can imagine - from the capital of Mozambique to the colour of her headteacher's underpants - and she's going to use them to save her home and her father. 
 
Along the way, Uma will have to confront the sinister inventor who will stop at nothing to get Athena back - and face up to the fact that not all questions have answers . . . 
 
Praise for Charlie Changes Into a Chicken: 
 
'Belly-busting hilarity' The Guardian 
'The modern masterpiece . . . this savvy, comic tale ticks every box' The Daily Telegraph 
'The best kind of silly' The Observer 
'Laugh-out-loud funny' The Mail on Sunday

Charlie Morphs Into a Mammoth

The third hilarious adventure for Charlie McGuffin, the boy who changes into animals when he gets nervous. 
 
Charlie McGuffin is an actual superhero. He's gained control over his wacky ability to change into animals - he's even able to use it to turn the tables on school bully Dylan. 
 
But there are some things Charlie can't control, like the arguments his parents keep having (which are making him more worried than ever) or the mysterious animal disappearances spreading through town (which might be connected to Charlie himself). 
 
Can Charlie unravel the mystery of the pet-nappings before his biggest secret is revealed to the world...? 
 
Praise for Charlie Changes into a Chicken: 
 
'My body couldn't help but shake with laughter' Maren, age 10 
 
'Belly-busting hilarity' The Guardian 
 
'Cleverly daft storytelling at its very, very best' Maz Evans, author of Who Let The Gods Out? 
 
'The best kind of silly' The Observer 
 
Charlie Changes into a Chicken has been: 
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize! 
Longlisted for the Brandford Boase Award! 
Longlisted for the Blue Peter Award! 
The Guardian and The Telegraph's Book of the Year!

Fresh and funny . . . like a modern-day Dahl

Charlie McGuffin is closer than ever to being able to control his crazy ability to turn into animals, but there are some things he can't control, like the arguments his parents keep having (which are making him more worried than ever) or the spate of mysterious animal disappearances spreading through town (which seem somehow to be connected to Charlie himself) or the fact that he doesn't have a date for the school dance (which is coming up fast). With the support of best friends Flora, Mohsen and Wogan, can Charlie unravel the mystery of the pet-nappings in time to shake a tail-feather at the disco? Or will his hidden adversary reveal Charlie's biggest secret to the world...?

Charlie Turns Into a T-Rex

A Waterstones Paperback of the Year! 
 
What happens when you feel stressed? Maybe you start sweating, or your heart beats faster. 
 
 When Charlie McGuffin gets stressed, something a little bit different happens: he turns into an animal! 
 
Unfortunately, things are getting quite stressful for Charlie: 
 
- His dad's business is in real trouble 
 - He might have to move in with his Aunt Brenda and her seventeen cats (and wooden leg) 
 - And it's getting harder and harder to control his powers 
 
Luckily, Charlie's best friends Flora, Wogan and Mohsen are on hand to help. 
 
If they can break into the fortress-like offices of Van Der Gruyne Industries and recover the McGuffins' stolen gold, maybe Charlie won't have to move away after all. 
 
Can Charlie's friends help him master his powers once and for all, or will he end up stuck as a pigeon forever? 
 
Praise for Charlie Changes into a Chicken: 
 
'Belly-busting hilarity' The Guardian 
 
'The modern masterpiece . . . this savvy, comic tale ticks every box' The Daily Telegraph 
 
'Full of heart and humour, wit and wisdom' Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs 
 
'Wonderfully heart-warming and absolutely hilarious' Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island 
 
Charlie Changes into a Chicken has been: 
 
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize! 
Longlisted for the Brandford Boase Award! 
Longlisted for the Blue Peter Award! 
The Guardian and The Telegraph's Book of the Year!

'The modern masterpiece' - Daily Telegraph 
 
When dad's business takes a sudden turn for the worse, the McGuffin family face the terrible prospect of having to sell their house and move in with Aunt Brenda and her seventeen cats (and wooden leg). 
 
Only Charlie and best friends Flora, Mohsen and Wogan can save the day. If they can break into the fortress-like offices of Van Der Gruyne Industries and recover the McGuffins' stolen gold, maybe Charlie won't have to move away after all. 
 
Trouble is, the pressure is getting to Charlie, making it harder for him to control when he changes into an animal - and harder still to change back. Can Charlie's friends help him master his powers once and for all, or will he end up stuck as a pigeon forever . . . ? 
 
The second book in this middle grade series perfect for David Walliams fans is a hilarious blend of humour and heart, brilliantly illustrated by Sarah Horne. 
 
'So good you'll cluck with laughter' - Pamela Butchart

Sam Copeland

Alex is a normal, everyday kid, living in a normal, everyday city. Axel is a monster-slaying hero, living in a world of magic. But when the two boys mysteriously swap places, each of them ends up being mistaken for the other. 
 
With zero experience of heroism, Alex is thrust into an epic quest to defeat the evil Felonius Gloam, who has stolen the Book of Lifetales and is using it to unravel the very fabric of the world of Aërth. Meanwhile, Axel is faced with double maths, a gran who's six months behind on the rent, and a crucial chess tournament he's got to win &ndash; when he doesn't even know how to play. 
 
Can the two boys complete their Impossible Quests and find a way back to their own lives, or will they both discover they don't have a life to come back to . . . ?

Sam Copeland

Alex vs Axel: The Impossible Quests

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