A selection of fiction books with empowering girl characters on a light blue background with orange squiggles and doodles

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Children's reading lists

12 books packed with girl power

A picture of several piarate-themed books on a green background with light blue squiggles

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What to read next

9 books for fans of pirate stories

10 immersive action and adventure stories

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Extract | The Unlikely Adventures of Mable Jones

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Extracts

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt

Mabel Jones and the Doomsday Book

Would you agree to go on a perilous TOP SECRET mission to save your best friend from the creaking gibbet? 
 
Mabel Jones is on her way to the city of Otom in search of the legendary Doomsday Book - an ancient document that might help her save the hooman race. 
 
But Otom is a dangerous place, packed with soldiers, spies and stinking rebels. Can Mabel escape with the book, or will she fall victim to the dreaded Grand Zhoul . . . ? 
 
The third adventure in the hilarious Mabel Jones series, written by Will Mabbitt and illustrated by Ross Collins.

Will Mabbitt likes to write. He writes on the train, in the corner of cafés, and sometimes, when his laptop runs out of power, he writes in his head. Will has a background in children's media, producing digital content for Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. He lives with his family, cats and a woodlouse infestation in Lewes on the south coast of England.

Would you agree to go on a perilous TOP SECRET mission to save your best friend from the creaking gibbet? 
 
Mabel Jones is on her way to the city of Otom in search of the legendary Doomsday Book - an ancient document that might help her save the hooman race. 
 
But Otom is a dangerous place, packed with soldiers, spies and stinking rebels. Can Mabel escape with the book, or will she fall victim to the dreaded Grand Zhoul . . . ?

I Can Only Draw Worms

This book is about worms. I can only draw worms. 
 
You might think worms are boring - but you'd be wrong. These worms have INCREDIBLE adventures! 
 
I can't draw those bits, though, so you'll have to imagine them. 
 
A hilarious and superbly silly book that will have children in stitches and begging for more.

Will Mabbitt (Author, Illustrator) 
 Will Mabbitt likes to write. He writes on the train, in the corner of cafés, and sometimes, when his laptop runs out of power, he writes in his head. Will has a background in children's media, producing digital content for Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. He lives with his family, cats and a woodlouse infestation in Lewes on the south coast of England.

This Is Not A Bedtime Story

A brilliant new picture book from rising stars Will Mabbitt and Fred Blunt. 
 
Sophie doesn't want a story time filled with cute kittens and birthday parties, she wants rocket-launching helicopters and a giant robot dinosaur! Clever, funny and heart-racingly exciting, this is a book to inspire and delight every little girl and boy. 
 
Bedtime will never be the same again.

Clever, funny and heart-racingly exciting, this is a book to inspire and delight every little girl and boy. And one thing's for sure. Perfect for every child who ever wished their bedtime stories were more EXCITING. Bedtime will never be the same again.

Sophie is bored hearing about fluffy Pink Kitten's perfect birthday picnic with her friends Lulu, Barney Hedgehog and Squeaker Mouse. So when dad starts to read it again, Sophie's imagination takes over... 
 
In Sophie's version, Barney has been kidnapped by a robot dinosaur, so instead of a birthday teddy, Lulu gives Pink Kitten a lightsabre. Then Lulu, Squeaker and Pink Kitten roar off to rescue Barney in Pink Kitten's new car, which magically morphs into a rocket-launching helicopter. But the monster robot dinosaur swallows them all, even the helicopter. 
 
Clever Pink Kitten removes the dinosaur's batteries and saves the day. And Barney of course At the end of the story, Pink Kitten is exhausted. As is dad! 
 
Bedtime stories go bonkers in this inventive, subversive version of a traditionally restful night-time tale. Funny illustrations accompany the witty text, packed with humour and adventure, to amuse children and parents alike.

This is NOT a bedtime story follows Sophie, a little girl who wants 'one last story' before bed. Sophie's Dad obliges and starts to read a story about Pink Kitten, a cute pink kitten. Sophie isn't impressed. Taking it upon herself to add a to the story, Pink Kitten soon becomes a light sabre wielding kitten. A car driving, helicopter flying, robot dinosaur fighting kitten! This is more like it. 
 
The short story Sophie's Dad had intended on has become a completely different story. Sophie and Dad are now inside the story with Pink Kitten and a real life Lion! 
Following one epic adventure Sophie is finally ready for bed. Fighting robot dinosaurs is tiring work after all. 
 
Taylor was in awe as we animatedly read the book aloud and started to point at the pictures letting out a cute 'oooh' as the story progressed. His love for stories is growing and at 14 months old he has started to sit quietly and engage more whilst we read to him. 
 
We both enjoyed this book and I particularly liked how it wasn't aimed at one gender. It shows that Girls don't always want to hear stories about pink kittens and fluffy clouds, they love action and adventure just as much as boys. Encouraging boys and girls to use their imagination and be spontaneous! 
 
Accompanied by a series of beautiful and funny illustrations, which I loved the unique style of, we'll certainly be looking to read more picture books from Will Mabbitt and Fred Blunt. 
This is NOT a Bedtime Story is a fast paced tale of imagination and adventure. Not the sort of book you might want to wind down with before bed but the title did warn you!

Will Mabbitt (Author) 
 Will Mabbitt likes to write. He writes on the train, in the corner of cafés, and sometimes, when his laptop runs out of power, he writes in his head. Will has a background in children's media, producing digital content for Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. He lives with his family, cats and a woodlouse infestation in Lewes on the south coast of England. 
 
Fred Blunt (Illustrator) 
 Fred never wanted to be an astronaut or drive a train when he grew up. Right from the beginning he knew he wanted to draw silly pictures of a living . . . And some decades later he's living the dream! Interrupted only by tea breaks and toddlers, Fred works from his home studio in Swindon, Wiltshire, UK where he lives with his wife and two young children. 
 
Captain Falsebeard is his first picture book.

Mabel Jones and the Forbidden City

Mabel Jones is ready for her second unlikely adventure - another hilarious story by Will Mabbitt, illustrated by Ross Collins. 
 
What would you do if hungry vines emerged from your wardrobe and stole your baby sister? 
 
If you're Mabel Jones and afraid of nothing, you'd follow! 
 
Between Mabel and her goal is a dangerous jungle, filled with deadly monsters and poisoned jelly babies. 
 
Can she defeat the Witch Queen and rescue her sister, or is this the last we'll see of Mabel Jones . . .?

The irreverent wit plus fabulous embellishments by Ross Collins will swash your buckles

Delightfully nasty, bonkers piratical fun. I laughed out loud on the Tube!'

Robin Stevens, bestselling author of Murder Most Unladylike

Think The Mighty Boosh for 8-year-olds with a dash of Lemony Snicket thrown in. Although Mabbitt has a voice all of his own.

Anarchic, adventurous and extremely funny, this is a fantastic debut at the younger end of middle-grade.

What would you do if hungry vines emerged from your wardrobe and stole your baby sister? 
 
If you're Mabel Jones and afraid of nothing, you'd follow! 
 
Between Mabel and her goal is a dangerous jungle, filled with deadly monsters and poisoned jelly babies. 
 
Can she defeat the Witch Queen and rescue her sister, or is this the last we'll see of Mabel Jones . . .?

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones

The first book by brilliant new comic author, Will Mabbitt, shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award. 
 
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When Mabel Jones unknowingly commits 'The Deed' she finds herself swiftly bundled into a sack and carried off to the pirate ship the Feroshus Maggot! 
 
Crewed by the strangest bunch of pirates you would ever want to meet, and captained by the dreaded Idryss Ebeneezer Split (a wolf with a false leg carved from a human thighbone, a rusty cutlass sheathed in his belt and a loaded pistol tucked in his pants with no fear of the consequences), the Feroshus Maggot whisks Mabel Jones off on the adventure of a lifetime.

*Shortlisted for the Branford Boase award 2016* 
 
When Mabel Jones unknowingly commits 'The Deed' she finds herself swiftly bundled into a sack and carried off to the pirate ship the Feroshus Maggot. 
 
 Crewed by the strangest bunch of pirates you would ever want to meet and captained by the dreaded Idryss Ebeneezer Split (a wolf with a false leg carved from a human thighbone, a rusty cutlass sheathed in his belt and a loaded pistol tucked in his pants with no fear of the consequences), the Feroshus Maggot whisks Mabel Jones off on the adventure of a lifetime.

Will Mabbitt

Fred Blunt

A sequel to the acclaimed This Is Not A Bedtime Story by rising stars Will Mabbitt and Fred Blunt. 
 
Sophie doesn't want a fairy tale about drippy princesses and pompous princes, she wants the princess to do the rescuing, with a ferocious, fighting transformer! Together Sophie and her dad revolutionise story time for a second time in this clever, funny and heart-ravingly exciting picture book, sure to inspire and delight every little girl and boy. 
 
Storytime will never be the same again.

Will Mabbitt

This Is Not A Fairy Tale

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