A photo of author and illustrator Nadia Shireen on a blue, red and white background, alongside a picture of Charles Schulz and his Peanut creations as well as Nadia's book Barbara Throws a Wobbler and The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

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Barbara Throws a Wobbler and Other Stories

Brought to you by Puffin. 
 
The next audio collection from Nadia Shireen features more of her best loved stories, including Barbara Throws A Wobbler, as well as brand new story Geoffrey Gets the Jitters. Presto visits the funfair to try out his conjuring skills, Rolf learns how to be a wolf, and Yeti makes a new friend 
 
With original sound design, this is a fun and heart warming listen. 
 
© Nadia Shireen 2011, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2023 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

The next audio collection from Nadia Shireen features more of her best loved stories, including Barbara Throws A Wobbler, as well as brand new story Geoffrey Gets the Jitters. Presto visits the funfair to try out his conjuring skills, Rolf learns how to be a wolf, and Yeti makes a new friend 
 
With original sound design, this is a fun and heart warming listen.

Geoffrey Gets the Jitters

Selected for the UKLA Book Awards Shortlist for 2025. 
Shortlisted for the Oscar’s Book Prize, 2024. 
 
From the creator of Barbara Throws a Wobbler - the ultimate story to chase (and laugh) your worries away 
 
‘A wise and comical look at anxiety and how to banish it ... With funny pictures and a guide to different kinds of worries, this is soothing for all ages’ - The Times 
 
Geoffrey's got the jitters! It started last night when he was thinking about school - a funny, wiggly feeling in his tummy that grew and grew. But when Geoffrey's tummy jitters started talking to him - that's when he knew they were out of control. Geoffrey had to do something... 
 
Through a laugh-out-loud story and loveable character, Nadia Shireen shows how to understand and dispel anxieties, one jitter at a time. 
 
Selected as one of The Sunday Times Best Children's Book of the Year. 
Selected for Book Trust’s Great Book Guide 2024-2025

A wise and comical look at anxiety and how to banish it ... With funny pictures and a guide to different kinds of worries, this is soothing for all ages.

‘Complete with comic deep-breathing advice and a Very Useful Guide to Worries, this follow-up to Barbara Throws a Wobbler confirms Shireen as a hilarious, kindly and invaluable source of “feelings” advice for preschoolers

Nadia Shireen’s hilarious Geoffrey Gets the Jitters depicted the fears of its titular hero as wibbly-wobbly worms that Geoffrey eventually learned to tackle with deep breaths and big chats. The back page’s “Very Useful Guide”, examining types of worry from the Frazzle to the Fret, probably ought to go on the fridge to help the anxious of all ages through the festive season

From the author of Barbara Throws A Wobbler comes an equally brilliant look at childhood anxieties as Geoffrey feels wriggly jitters in his tummy as he worries about everything — including being stomped on by dinosaurs. Luckily, he learns a few tricks to chase them away. Comes with a giggly guide to different jitters

Daily Mail Children’s Books of the Year

Nadia Shireen enjoyed making homemade magazines and comics as a child. She studied law at university and then worked in magazine journalism; it was during this time that she started to draw again. After a lifetime of doodling in the sidelines, Nadia decided to pay some attention to drawing and in 2007 was accepted onto an MA course in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Her debut book Good Little Wolf received a mention in the Bologna Ragazzi Opera Prima Award and won the UKLA Book Award. Nadia has been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. She lives in London.

The Adventures of Billy and Other Stories

Brought to you by Puffin. 
 
Puffin presents The Adventures of Billy and Other Stories. 
 
Introducing a brand-new audio bundle from much-loved author Nadia Shireen! Featuring the brilliantly funny stories Billy and the Beast, Billy and the Dragon, Billy and the Pirates, Bumblebear and The Cow Who Fell to Earth. 
 
Join Billy on her missions to defeat the Terrible Beast, to save Fatcat from a fire-breathing dragon and to escape Captain Howl and his gang of pirates! 
 
Also listen along to the heart-warming tales of Norman the honey-loving bear whose bee disguise is very convincing and the little lost cow who crash lands to earth in this zany, intergalactic farmyard tale. 
 
Featuring an array of fun and immersive sound effects! 
 
©2022 Nadia Shireen (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Introducing a brand-new audio bundle from much-loved author Nadia Shireen! Featuring the brilliantly funny stories Billy and the Beast, Billy and the Dragon, Billy and the Pirates, Bumblebear and The Cow Who Fell to Earth. 
 
Join Billy on her missions to defeat the Terrible Beast, to save Fatcat from a fire-breathing dragon and to escape Captain Howl and his gang of pirates! 
 
Also listen along to the heart-warming tales of Norman the honey-loving bear whose bee disguise is very convincing and the little lost cow who crash lands to earth in this zany, intergalactic farmyard tale. 
 
Featuring an array of fun and immersive sound effects!

Billy and the Pirates

Join Billy and Fatcat on their quest to escape Captain Howl in their third thrilling adventure, filled with singing mermaids and sticky toffee eating sharks. 
 
Ahoy there! It's time to sail the ocean blue with Billy and her trusty feline friend, as they embark on a noble seafaring adventure. 
 
Billy and Fatcat find a mysterious message in a bottle at sea. When suddenly something terrible happens: they bump into a pesky pirate and his smelly crew. Oh no! 
 
Fortunately for our courageous twosome, they're no strangers to peril: they always have a trick (or treat) up their sleeves. 
 
Nadia Shireen is back with her third instalment from our favourite heroine and hangry cat. 
 
Explore the other titles from Billy and Fatcat: 
Billy and the Beast 
Billy and the Dragon

Join Billy and Fatcat on their quest to escape Captain Howl in their third thrilling adventure, filled with singing mermaids and sticky toffee eating sharks. 
 
Ahoy there! It's time to sail the ocean blue with Billy and her trusty feline friend, as they embark on a noble seafaring adventure. 
 
Billy and Fatcat find a mysterious message in a bottle at sea. When suddenly something terrible happens: they bump into a pesky pirate and his smelly crew. Oh no! 
 
Fortunately for our courageous twosome, they're no strangers to peril: they always have a trick (or treat) up their sleeves. 
 
Nadia Shireen is back with her third instalment from our favourite heroine and hangry cat. 
 
Explore the other titles from Billy and Fatcat: 
Billy and the Beast 
Billy and the Dragon

Barbara Throws a Wobbler

From the creator of The Bumblebear and Billy and the Beast comes a hilarious story of one big bad mood - and how to make it go away...

Barbara is in a very bad mood. She won't admit it, but she is. 
 
She has a problem with a sock, and at lunchtime there's a strange pea... And even though she's at the park with her friends, it all just gets a bit much. Suddenly Barbara's WOBBLER is out of control! 
 
But what if Barbara and her Wobbler can work together, so she can be cheerful again? 
 
Winner of the UKLA Award and shortlisted for the Oscar's Book Prize and the FCBG Children's Book Award, Barbara Throws A Wobbler is a brilliantly funny and sensitive way to understand and deal with tantrums. 
 
 "These are the most brilliant, beautiful and silly picture-books out there at the moment. Little doorways of joy." Caitlin Moran 
 
"This book is AMAZING. It will be a modern classic!" - Richard Osman

The sensational Nadia Shireen returns with Barbara Throws a Wobbler, the hilarious story of a kitten, a sock problem, a strange pea - and a stupendous tantrum. Its guide to bad moods - from the huff to the seethe - is worth the cover price by itself; this is the sort of book that will make both children and adults laugh, and provide the perfect vocabulary to defuse (some) tense toddler situations.

This is such a funny book, and a powerful way for young children to talk about their big emotions. It’s especially useful at Christmas, a time of year that brings out the Barbara in all of us

the i's Twelve Best Ever Books To Buy For Christmas

Nadia Shireen's hilarious tale ... With illustrations the colour of bright, shiny jelly beans and a witty text that culminates in a genius guide to bad moods, Shireen's latest gem ought to come on prescription.

The Observer Best Children's Books of 2021

Just the picture book to use if you have ever witnessed a small person's meltdown... A fun way to learn about feelings

Top talent Nadia Shireen really understands what makes little children tick, and Barbara Throws a Wobbler gently nudges them to explore their tricky emotions ... If only real-life tantrums were equally hilarious.

Not only will this book get kids talking about their emotions and how to handle them, it'll have everyone in hysterics, too. An instant classic, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

For any child or parent that has ever had a fit of anger (so one for everyone, then)... Nadia Shireen is one of those rare illustrator-writers who can do both equally well.

Laugh-out-loud funny (with a great guide to grumpy moods . . .)

"Shireen's latest gem ought to come on prescription" The Observer's Best Children's Books of 2021. 
 
Barbara is having one of those days. She has a sock problem and there's a strange pea. Then, all of a sudden, Barbara's Wobbler is out of control! 
 
But what happens when a bad mood like this comes along? Barbara has a lot to learn about the ways of wobblers in this laugh-out-loud story from Nadia Shireen. 
 
A brilliantly funny and sensitive way to understand and deal with tantrums. 
 
"These are the most brilliant, beautiful and silly picture-books out there at the moment. Little doorways of joy." Caitlin Moran

Billy and the Dragon

A story of empowerment with fairytale twists, bags of humour and an adventurous heroine to boot.

Our fearless heroine Billy is back! But, something TERRIBLE has happened! 
 
Billy's loyal sidekick Fatcat is kidnapped by a fire-breathing dragon. Uh-oh! 
 
Luckily for Fatcat, Billy won't stand for that: off she goes on a brave rescue mission... 
 
Join Billy for another fairy tale adventure with a twist. 
 
'It's a great story for everyone, especially those not used to seeing themselves centre-stage'- The Guardian on Billy and the Beast 
 
'Shireen's latest book confirms her as one of the brightest and best picture book creators working in Britain today... Sensational.' - The Observer 
 
Explore the other titles from Billy and Fatcat:: 
 
Billy and the Beast 
Billy and the Pirates

These are the most brilliant, beautiful and silly picture-books out there at the moment. Little doorways of joy.

Billy and the Beast

Introducing your new favourite heroine: Billy who doesn't blink an eye when faced with peril, or with beasts, or with hangry cats... 
 
A brilliantly funny empowering fable from Nadia Shireen.

While out on a lovely walk in the woods, Billy and her trusty sidekick Fatcat hear a terrible rumble... a terrible rumble coming from a Terrible Beast! 
 
He's making a Terrible Soup out of all of Billy and Fatcat's friends! 
 
Luckily, our brave heroine Billy has a trick or two up her sleeve (or in her hair)... Join quick-thinking Billy on her mission to defeat the Terrible Beast (and save those adorable little bunny rabbits too). 
 
Young readers will adore this hilarious story, packed with playful, energetic and simple to read text. 
 
'It's a great story for everyone, especially those not used to seeing themselves centre-stage'- The Guardian 
 
Explore the other titles from Billy and Fatcat: 
 
Billy and the Dragon 
Billy and the Pirates

It's still all too unusual to see a brown girl star in such a brilliantly funny and very commercial picture book and Shireen has created Billy in fantastic style. She's a very modern heroine, quick-thinking, courageous and resourceful with a stash of handy props in her truly excellent big hair. Children will adore the repetitive read-aloud text, endearing characters and just the right amount of peril for a bedtime story - with a highly satisfying ending. And visually it's a complete treat too: Shireen's typically lively bold graphics brim with energy and expression, aided by really striking design. This might just be my favourite of her fabulous books to date.

While the title may nod to a certain fairytale there's not even a whiff of ballgowns or romance in Nadia Shireen's joyous monster-slaying adventure. Refreshingly, the heroine here is a brown girl with a yellow cagoule, skinny jeans and a fabulously frizzy beehive in which she stashes essentials from emergency doughnuts to useful devices. British author Shireen has created her best character yet in the feisty and fun Billy, who rescues her woodland pals from the claws of a goofy green beast.

Clever Billy outwits a Terrible Beast who wants to eat her woodland friends. The characters are enterprising, the text surprising and the layout engaging, with paths that wind across the page and changes of perspective; and the pictures are humorous, not least the worried face of a fox dangling upside down.

Nadia Shireen's Billy and the Beast celebrates the experience of those often left out of picture books, with its brave brown heroine and the outrageous array of props she stores in her huge cloud of hair. Lively, energetic, full of well-timed humour (and a sidekick called Fatcat), it's a great story for everyone, especially those not used to seeing themselves centre stage.

The Cow Who Fell to Earth

A hilarious, heartfelt tale featuring the cutest little calf this side of the moon, from rising picture book superstar Nadia Shireen – author of The Bumblebear and Good Little Wolf

One night a star CRASH-LANDS right on top of a flock of bumbling sheep. 
 
But the star is not a star... It's a little lost cow. 
 
And all she can say is 'WOOOOOO'. How will she find her way home when nobody can understand a word she's saying? 
 
Packed with bold illustrations and hilarious text, this heartwarming story is the perfect bedtime read. 
 
"I haven't met a child who didn't LOVE these books. Sweet, funny, odd in a life-affirming way." - Caitlin Moran 
 
Discover more titles from the award-winning author: 
 
Barbara Throws a Wobbler 
Good Little Wolf 
Geoffrey Gets the Jitters

Haven't met a child who didn't LOVE these books. Sweet, funny, odd in a life-affirming way. Like children.

There is something so refreshing and slightly cheeky about Nadia Shireen's sense of humour which makes every new picture book from her a real treat...At the heart of this zany intergalactic farmyard tale is a lovely story of home and belonging, and making friends with people that might, at first, look and sound very different from us. This is sure to become a bedtime favourite.

The Bumblebear

A cheeky, sneaky bear hatches a cunning plot to fool the bees and get his hands on some honey... But when he enters the world of the bees he discovers his true destiny!

Norman is a bear. A bear who LOVES honey. 
 
According to Norman, there can never be enough honey! And who has the most honey? The bees, of course! 
 
So, dressed up in his very best bee onesie, he thinks he looks quite convincing as he infiltrates Bee School with his eye on their huge honey supply. 
 
But how long will his disguise last? 
 
And when the hive is endangered, can he finally discover his true destiny and become. . . The Bumblebear? 
 
A rip-roaring, irresistible caper. ? Metro

The Bumblebear from rising star Nadia Shireen is an absolute joy. Norman is a bear who wants to be a bee in order to have easier access to honey so, obviously, he makes himself a bee costume and enrols in Bee School. The little bees grow to love their unusually large bee friend – until clever Amelia bee discovers the truth. Luckily, Norman can save the day. With its bold illustrations and witty humour, this is a book that adults will relish reading aloud time and time again.

Norman the bear loves honey so much that he disguises himself as a bee. A rip-roaring, irresistible caper.

a hilarious tale of a honey-loving bear who disguises himself as a bee to get easier access to the sweet sticky stuff.

Nadia Shireen has penned a delightful, fast paced narrative with a wonderful character - The Bumblebear is a fabulous picture book!

Norman is a bear that loves honey. A lot. But with the pesky bees always hovering round the stash, he needs a cunning plan. Dressed in disguise, Norman sneaks into Bee School – but will his cover-up be rumbled? And will Norman finally learn to be happy in his own fur? Funny and poignant, Bumblebear has a sweet message about acceptance at its heart. You’ll be reading it on repeat this summer holiday.

offers bold, lively artwork, spirited characters and a playful story

Norman is a bear. A bear who LOVES honey. 
 
According to Norman, there can never be enough honey; he needs to get his paws on more, more, more! 
 
And who has the most honey? The bees, of course! 
 
So, dressed up in his very best bee onesie, he thinks he looks quite convincing as he infiltrates Bee School with his eye on their huge honey supply. 
 
But how long will his disguise last? And when the hive is endangered, can he finally discover his true destiny and become. . . The Bumblebear?

Yeti and the Bird

A heart-warming new tale of an unlikely friendship from the award-winning author of GOOD LITTLE WOLF and HEY, PRESTO

Yeti lives all alone in a wintry landscape. 
 
Well, maybe not quite alone, but no one is brave enough to go near BIG, scary Yeti. 
 
No one apart from Bird, who gets lost on her way south. Will Yeti finally find a special friend? 
 
A joyful and hilarious story from award-winning children's author, Nadia Shireen. This bedtime staple is packed with easy to follow text and delightful illustrations. 
 
"The lonely Yeti is an especially brilliant character, and one which is certain to capture children's hearts." - Booktrust 
 
Discover more titles from the award-winning author: 
 
Barbara Throws a Wobbler 
The Cow Who Fell to Earth 
Good Little Wolf

This lovely picture book about friendship is full of character and humour. Award-winning picture book creator Nadia Shireen combines beautifully-designed page spreads, glorious illustrations of forest scenes, and lots of appealing animal characters. The lonely Yeti is an especially brilliant character, and one which is certain to capture children’s hearts.

A touching and gentle story about the value of friendship. Stunning illustrations are full of delightful touches and I enjoyed the elements of humour such as Bird's suitcase.

This is a touching story of an unlikely friendship that has such a beautiful end ... that it gladdens the heart to think that even the grumpiest of the grumps would read this and feel a little tingle of hope that somewhere out there, there truly is a friend for everyone.

What a delightful, warm and quirky story - just what we've come to expect from the creator of Good Little Wolf … This is a wonderful story about seeing beyond our differences that could get children discussing what is important in friendship, as well as how being excluded from groups can make them feel.

Lovely illustrations in this picture book ... 10/10

A beautifully illustrated story about an unlikely friendship

A lovely heart-warming story with some lovely life lessons about not judging people by their looks

A simple tale, told in a gentle way, with lovely illustrations, a good bedtime book

Just as the orange bird brightens Yeti’s world, these two will warm the hearts of young readers. Told with exceptional economy and striking art, this tale of an unusual friendship is a great choice for all libraries.

Shireen writes with admirable restraint and fills in the narrative gaps with engaging illustrations. Her double-page spreads create potent atmosphere with carefully placed strong shapes and forthright color. Spot illustrations effectively convey easy-to-understand action and humor. Striking visuals that combine compelling use of shape, page design and color successfully carry this version of an oft-told story.

A giant white teardrop of a beast, Yeti is the loneliest monster around. Until, that is, a lost tropical bird drops in. It's a joy to witness pensive Yeti making a new friend, as is watching him learn that he belongs somewhere. The striking visual contrast between Yeti and the bird makes every page a treat, enlivening what might otherwise have been a melancholy story. Each page has a strikingly different palette, accentuating a range of feelings from isolation to coziness. Kids who themselves feel lonely or worried will be glad to hug Yeti and the Bird to their chests.

Yeti lives alone in a wintery landscape. Well, maybe not quite alone, but no one is brave enough to go near big, scary Yeti. No one apart from Bird, who gets lost on her way south, makes a special friend, and opens up a whole new world for our Yeti… 
 
A funny, brilliantly original book from Nadia Shireen - winner of the UKLA Book Award, shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, and mentioned in the Opera Prima category of the international Bologna Ragazzi Prize.

Hey, Presto!

Nadia Shireen's lively picture book is sure to bring a smile to children's faces. With delightful illustrations and something of the same quirky humour that characterised her acclaimed Good Little Wolf, this is a fun and engaging story about friendships and working together. Children will love exploring all the colourful spreads of the carnival, featuring all kinds of unexpected circus animals from Alice the Bearded Duck to Nancy the Amazing Fire-Eating Lizard, not to mention a snoozing ice-cream seller and a bison selling balloons

It’s bright, bold and packed with fun illustrations leading children along with a nice tale – and lesson – about valuing friendship.

It's a great book for toddlers and young children who have just started school or pre-school as they will be able to relate to the characters and talk to you about their friends (and "enemies" !) and how they feel about power struggles in the playground. The illustrations are very cute and are packed with details and little visual jokes that will have you pausing on each page before turning over to continue with the story.

The illustrations are brilliant, the characters warm and the visual jokes delightful. While the children will enjoy the story, parents will love the bag of Cold Hard Cash, the penguin motorbike stunt team and other amusements nestling in the background in a very Aardman way. 
 
For those who have not yet read Nadia’s first book Good Little Wolf, do search it out. It’s probably one of the best children’s books created. 9/10

A beautiful book which is suitable for young children. Filled with beautiful pictures which accompany the story perfectly, this book will appeal to both girls and boys of all ages. 
The book has a great message - friends are there in both the good and bad times and should be kept by your sides through thick and thin.

As well as being a lovely story, it's a great life-lesson about getting too big for your boots, not being able to be good at everything and how friendship works...It's got quite a few funny bits in it so everybody gathered round to listen and it's been pulled out several times at bedtime already. 
 
It's a great book for toddlers and young children who have just started school or pre-school as they will be able to relate to the characters and talk to you about their friends (and "enemies" !) and how they feel about power struggles in the playground. The illustrations are very cute and are packed with details and little visual jokes that will have you pausing on each page before turning over to continue with the story.

Nadia Shireen's lively picture book is sure to bring a smile to children's faces. With delightful illustrations and something of the same quirky humour that characterised her acclaimed Good Little Wolf, this is a fun and engaging story about friendships and working together. 
Children will love exploring all the colourful spreads of the carnival, featuring all kinds of unexpected circus animals from Alice the Bearded Duck to Nancy the Amazing Fire-Eating Lizard, not to mention a snoozing ice-cream seller and a bison selling balloons.

Presto is a very talented magician, so when he and his friend Monty join a funfair and start a magic show things look good for our duo. But fame goes to Monty's head, and soon Presto loses his friend and his show! Will true friendship prevail? And will there be a touch of magic in the air?

Good Little Wolf

A wickedly funny tale about the Big Bad Wolf within...

Once upon a time there was a wolf called Rolf - a good little wolf who liked baking cakes and was always kind to his friends. But real wolves aren't supposed to be good - they're supposed to be BIG and BAD. 
 
Can a good little wolf still be a real wolf? 
 
And will Rolf discover there's something big and bad lurking inside him after all? 
 
Discover more titles from the award-winning author: 
 
Barbara Throws a Wobbler 
The Cow Who Fell to Earth 
Yeti and the Bird

A hilarious debut . . . Quirky illustrations and the depiction of an utterly endearing Rolf are just a precursor to the wonderful twist at the end

Enjoyable for those mischievous young listeners who enjoy a good bad ending

Good Little Wolf is a cheeky and amusing read, with plenty to delight its young audience . . . I can't wait to see what Nadia Shireen produces next. If it's as fun as Good Little Wolf, we're in for a real treat

Starring the fuzziest, friendliest wee wolf ever to grace the pages of a picture book, the story turns stereotypes on its head as Rolf fails to howl at the moon, harass little pigs or eat any grannies

The stylised pictures bring the characters beautifully to life and add so much to the story. Large print and just a few sentences on each page make it perfect for new readers, but great fun for all abilities. I love it!

This has the little wolf being good and trying very hard to be bad but just can't do it! He tries to convert the bad wolf! Does he succeed? Let your child decide

Nadia Shireen

Books by Nadia Shireen

Articles featuring Nadia Shireen

‘Don’t get it right, get it writ’: 21 Questions with Nadia Shireen

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