Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

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Dennis Whelehan

I wish you could change dads, the way you can change library books. I wish there was a Dad Library. 
 
Joseph is fed up with his dad. He forgets to go shopping, he cooks terrible meals, he doesn't help Joseph with his homework and he makes him eat school dinners. 
 
Then Joseph discovers the Dad Library, crammed full with all sorts of wonderful dads. Should he borrow an Organizer Dad, or a Sporting Dad, or a Clever Dad, or an Indulgent Dad? Joseph wants to try them all. But which one will he want to keep?

The Dad Library

Emily Smith

Tim Archbold

When Harry's mum tells him they are going to get an au pair, he isn't quite sure what it means. When he finds out it's a girl to help look after him and baby brother, Fred, he feels a bit suspicious. It might just be a good excuse for the school bully to tease him. However, he soon warms to Astrid when she turns up and especially when she gives him an idea that stops the bully from ever bothering him again. All the same, Harry can't help wondering why Astrid's never heard of tin openers or Coke, and how come her suitcase can move around by itself...

Astrid, The Au-Pair From Outer Space

Jacqueline Wilson

Nick Sharratt

Lizzie refuses to speak. She doesn't want to talk to Rory or Jake, her new stepbrothers. Or to Sam, their dad. Or even to her mum. She's completely fed up with having to join a new family, and nothing can convince her to speak to them. Not football, not pizza, not a new bedroom. That is, until she meets Great-Gran - a member of the new family who is even more stubborn than she is . . .

Lizzie Zipmouth

James's mum is a real computer whizz.  She designs computers that can launch space missions. But she's not quite so good at ordinary, boring mum stuff! James is forever turning up at school without his dinner money or permission forms for outings. Then his mum has an idea - she'll make him a mother-robot. The Robomum is certainly a brilliant machine. She shops, washes and cooks - and quickly learns all James's favourite recipes.  She tests him on his spelling, helps with his maths and makes sure he never forgets his swimming kit.  But when James gets ill, he soon realizes that a computer could never replace his mum when he really needs her.

Robomum

Dick King-Smith

When Mary Mary finds her little brother Billy seemingly floating above his bed, with his nose, tummy and toes touching the ceiling, she is astounded. Never before has anyone in Mary's family been able to fly - even though their name is Bird! 
 
An engaging tale from everybody's favourite animal author Dick King-Smith.

Billy the Bird

"I've got a chicken that wants to be a duck!" 
 
Frank is a funny chick. Unlike all his brothers and sisters, he doesn't want to peck around at anything and everything in the dust. No, Frank wants to dabble about in the lovely duckpond, splashing himself with water. Most of all, he wants to learn to SWIM. Can Jemima, the farmer's daughter, find a way to help Frank? And if Frank CAN swim like a duck, what will happen when he grows up to be a cockerel?

Funny Frank

Muriel lives alone with lots and lots and lots of cats. But Muriel's cats are no ordinary cats - they were once people she knew, now reincarnated in feline form! Muriel shares her house with various (deceased!) members of her family, and one rather special cat - the late Queen Victoria! An unusual tale of animal madness!

The Catlady

Paul May

Eddie's little brother Billy is terrified of everything! Snakes, the dark, toilets, orange peel, moustaches and even soggy toast. When they move to the seaside, Billy find a new thing to be scared of - seagulls! They swoop down in the playground and pick at leftover crisp packets - and Billy thinks they are the scariest thing he has ever seen. Can Eddie and his stepfather try to work out ways to help Billy get over his fears?

Billy And The Seagulls

Janey Louise Jones

A brand-new story in the best-selling Princess Poppy series with gorgeous coloured pages! 
 
Poppy is really excited because she and Mum are working at Cousin Saffron's sewing shop for the day while Saffron minds Poppy's baby brother and sister, Angel and Archie. She is absolutely sure it is going to be the most brilliant day ever because the shop is so fabulously glamorous and she'll get to chat to customers all day. But things start to go wrong when Poppy gets a bit carried away with all the village gossip she hears! 
 
Find out how Poppy becomes the biggest gossip in the village and whether or not her friends will ever forgive her for spreading rumours? 
 
Join Poppy as she learns that you shouldn't believe everything you hear, and you certainly shouldn't repeat it - especially if it is just village gossip!

Princess Poppy: The Big Mix Up

Chris Priestley

The first day at a new school is often tricky, and if the only person who befriends you claims to be a wizard you simply have to make the best of it! Joe is pretty certain that Billy has, as the teacher says, just got an over-active imagination but when he witnesses some pretty odd events at playtime, he's not quite so sure... 
 
 
This is a really engaging book for newly confident readers, which perfectly captures the way young children speak and behave, in the classroom, the playground and at home. It's a refreshing new take both on bullying and on magic.

Billy Wizard

Ghillian Potts

"You're a frog, Ryan James, you're a frog. Slimy and jumpy, bug-eyed and lumpy . . ." 
 
Abigail is thrilled when she discovers that she's a witch - at last she can get her own back on her bullying classmate, Ryan. 
 
With help from her pet rat, Gnasher, Abigain turns Ryan into a frog, but that's when disaster strikes - she can't change him back! And suddenly Abigail discovers that she's not the ONLY witch in the classroom . . .

A Witch In The Classroom!

Malorie Blackman

Jackson Winstanley Sweettooth (or Jack for short) is a mouse who lives with Matthew and the rest of the Bailey family. He gets the blame for a lot of things - Mrs Bailey thinks he's swallowed her ruby and nibbled at Shani's birthday cake. And Jack's biggest enemy is Beauregard Battersby-Bunge, the pesky ginger cat from next door. But everything gets better when another mouse, Blossom, comes to stay with the Baileys - soon Blossom and Jack are the best of friends!

Jack Sweettooth

Berlie Doherty

At first, Tam isn't at all keen on his baby sister, Blue. All she seems to do is cry. But with a little inventive persuasion from Great-grandpa Tam changes his mind and even goes as far as to admit he might quite like her. But then one terrible night, Blue is stolen and an ugly fairy changeling is left in her place. With his Mum and Dad wrapped up in grief, and his Great-grandpa far too old for adventures, it falls to Tam to venture to the land of Faery, return the changeling and win back Blue. But it is a hazardous journey, and Tam must keep his wits about him as he crosses the Sapphire lake, does battle with the castle nightmares and finally confronts the King and Queen of the fairies.

The Starburster

Samantha Chaffey

A brand-new story in the best-selling Princess Poppy series with gorgeous coloured pages! 
 
Poppy and her grown-up cousin Saffron are in New York for Fashion Week. While they're in town, they'll be hooking up with Bryony Snow, the Editor of Buttons &amp; Bows Magazine as part of their prize for Saffron's Sewing Shop being chosen as the best boutique by the magazine. (read all about them winning this prize in The Big Mix-Up) 
 
They've got an action-packed itinerary including glamorous runway shows, a tour of the city and lots more surprises in store. But when Poppy and her new friends find the supermodel, Tallulah Melage, sobbing in a corner after a row with a world famous fashion designer she realizes that fashion is not all fun and games . . . 
 
Join Poppy and Saffron on their adventure in the Big Apple and find out whether their homespun values and fabulous fashion sense triumph stateside.

Princess Poppy: The Fashion Princess

Helen Dunwoodie

Daisy and Robina are desperate for a  dog. They've tried everything and in desperation they sneak a book about magic out of their older sister's room and try to cast a spell.  Later that day, to their great amazement and delight, a dog appears in their house.  The curious-looking mutt resembles a cross between a poodle and an afghan hound and the girls love their 'afoodle' on sight.  Dad, however, has a more prosaic explanation for the dog's appearance, and what it's doing in their house.  But all the girls want to know is, can he stay?

Dogspell

Dominic Wood

Dominic is an ordinary boy with an appetite for magic and a rather extraordinary sidekick- his magical top hat, the Topper. The two of them live happily, but when Great Aunt Rowena comes to stay things begin to go awry. Rowena has plans of her own for the Topper, and she's not going to give in without a fight. 
This begins a new strand of publishing for Dominic Wood, master magician and TV star. Dominic is an endearing character and his adventures with the Topper are bound to delight young readers. And there's even a magic trick to learn at the end of the book - to keep those young magicians happy.

Dom And The Magic Topper

Catherine Robinson

Noah is pretty happy at school - he's in a friendly class, he's got a best mate, Jack, and he's one of the youngest to be picked for the school football team. Then a broken leg keeps him off school for several weeks and on his return there's been a mysterious change of atmosphere. 
 
A new boy, Basil, has joined the class and everyone is fascinated by him. The only person who seems to be immune to Basil's charms is class-joke, Bertie, known as Pigface. Try as he might, Noah just can't slip back into his normal place - it seems to have been usurped by Basil. His only choice of partner in class, at lunch, in Games and at break is Pigface. 
 
Forced to sample life as an outsider, Noah has a choice - make a desperate effort to get back into the 'inner circle' or get to see life from Pigface's alternative viewpoint.

Pigface

First the fairies took Tam's little sister, Blue. Then they took his Great-Grandpa Toby. Now Tam has to keep a great secret - not only is Great-Grandpa still in Faery as King, but the old King of the fairies, Oban, is now in Tam's world disguised as a boy Tam's age! 
 
At first, it's lots of fun having Oban and his magic around. He manages to charm everybody - even Tam's teacher at school. But then things start to go wrong . . . 
 
When Tam finds the magical Windspinner that Great-Grandpa Toby left for him, Oban can't make the magic work like Tam can and he disappears in a huff and starts causing chaos. The only person who can stop the trouble and call Oban home to fairy land is his mother, the Damson Hag. But she's locked up tight in a golden cage. So Tam sets off on another adventure to Faery - this time with Great-great aunt California at his side - to rescue the Damson Hag and try and return Oban and Great-grandpa Toby to their right homes . . .

The Windspinner

John Dougherty

WHAT A LOUSE! Jim is a head-louse, newly-hatched from a nit on Gregory's head. But as Gregory is a good listener and it's 'in his blood', Jim's breakfast turns him into a good listener too and suddenly school storytime changes from Literacy Hour to Niteracy Hour. And can Jim help Gregory do something about Duncan, the class bully? He's the real louse in the class-

Niteracy Hour

Peter is a young boy, living on a farm. One day, whilst out doing chores for his father, he comes across a strange white stick floating in the stream. He reaches out and catches it - and finds an exciting new friend in the process. Ninnyhammer is the local village simpleton, but Peter knows there's more to him than that - he's a magician and the white stick is his magic wand. Ninnyhammer is so grateful that he starts to help Peter and his family with their struggling farm - making the sow have more piglets, helping the corn to grow faster and the hens to lay twice as many eggs. But Peter wants to do something for Ninnyhammer in return. Can it really be right that his friend has to bed down in a hole with foxcubs? And can Peter persuade his dad to help...?

Ninnyhammer

Alison Prince

Bumble the hamster, so called because of his big bum, belongs to Rosie. He knows it's his job to keep Rosie happy. He entertains her with Pocket Diving, Ear Tickling and Finger Balancing. But when he tries Hide and Seek, Rosie's parents panic and insist Bumble has to stay in his cage. Rosie still feeds him delicious things, but Bumble's getting bored - and fat! 
 
Then mice arrive in the house. Rosie's parents are horrified, Rosie isn't happy - and Bumble is frantic. if things go on like this, he'll lose his job. He has to come up with a plan, and quickly...

Bumble

Great-grandpa Toby is making so much NOISE! And if Tam can hear the clamour coming from his humming machine, the fairies will too. And soon enough, on the night of a blue moon, Great-grandpa Toby vanishes without a trace. While battling nightmarish fairies and decoding the words of the Flame-Reader, Tam eventually discovers his Great-grandpa has been captured by the beautiful Damson Hag, and turned into a nine-year-old boy! Bewitched, fed only with rose petals, and mournfully playing the humming machine to himself, Great-grandpa Toby is tempted to stay in Faery Land and be young for ever... Unless Tam has anything to do with it.

The Humming Machine

You're invited to the ultimate sleepover! 
 
Amy, Bella, Chloe, Daisy and Emily are friends at school and have their own Alphabet Club (just look at their initials!). Daisy is the newest member and is desperate to fit in, even though Chloe is very unfriendly to her at times. 
 
When the girls begin planning sleepover parties for their birthdays, Daisy is dreading her own - she doesn't know what her friends will make of her older sister . . .

Sleepovers

Honey is very excited because her mum and dad are coming to stay in Honeypot Hill for a whole month. When they arrive life becomes a whirlwind of special treats for Honey and Poppy. But nothing is as exciting as the mystery of the imprisoned princess and her lost jewels that they uncover at Cornsilk Castle.

Princess Poppy: The Hidden Jewels

A brand-new story in the best-selling Princess Poppy series with gorgeous coloured pages! 
 
Poppy and Honey are going on holiday to France to stay with Honey's parents in an enormous castle called Chateau Lafayette. They can't wait. It is the first time Poppy has ever been on an aeroplane and it is also the first time she has ever stayed in a castle. It is all so exciting! 
 
But when they arrive everything is not quite as it seems - there are locked doors, their things are mysteriously moved, a swing in the grounds is swinging with no one on it, they find a map of secret passages and they're sure they've seen a ghost in the woods. 
 
Join Poppy and Honey on their spooky French adventure and find out who is haunting their holiday!

Princess Poppy: The Haunted Holiday

I want to sail the seas,' said Jackson. 'I want to see the world . . ." 
 
Jackson is a very unusual rabbit - a rabbit with a dream. He spends his days watching the tall sailing-ships coming and going. He LONGS to go to sea too. So one day - with his girlfriend, Bunny - Jackson stows away on the Atalanta and sails off in search of a new life . . .

All Because of Jackson

All Because of Jackson - Jackson is a very unusual rabbit - one who dreams of going to sea. So one day he stows away on the Atalanta and sails off in search of a new life . . . 
 
The Catlady - Muriel lives alone with lots and lots of cats. But Muriel's cats are no ordinary cats - they are people she once knew reincarnated in feline form! 
 
The Guard Dog - The story of a ragged little pup with a grand ambition - to be a guard dog. The other pups laugh at him. Could such a small and scruffy dog really guard a home? 
 
Hairy Hezekiah - Hezekiah lives a quiet life, and seems to be the only animal in the zoo without a friend. So he decides to escape and go on the run! 
 
Horse Pie - Jenny the donkey finds herself unwelcome at the Old Horses' Home, but when rustlers start looking for horses to make into pies, it's up to Jenny to save the day.

Animal Tales

A brand-new story in the best-selling Princess Poppy series with gorgeous coloured pages! 
 
Poppy is very excited because she is hosting her first ever sleepover. Honey, Sweetpea, Mimosa and Abigail are all coming to stay and there are lots of treats in store, including beauty treatments, dance routines, midnight feasts and a nature walk in Wildspice Woods the next morning. 
 
Much to the girls excitement, heavy snow falls during the night and when they wake up, everything is covered by a deep layer of sparkling snow. But they soon realize that the snowstorm isn't just fun and games. Things start to really get serious when Aunt Marigold's General Store runs out of food supplies, the log man can't get through because all the roads are blocked and Honey injures herself. Some of the villagers are even without electricity and phone lines. 
 
Will the Villagers manage to stay warm and fed and will the community spirit of the Honeypot Hill residents shine through and help everyone pull together until the storm is over? And will Poppy save the day? Find out in this brilliant new Princess Poppy adventure.

Princess Poppy: The Rescue Princess

Poor Poppy is feeling very down in the dumps - so much so she doesn't even believe she is a true princess any more. She is envious of her best friend because Honey is being taken on loads of fabulous outings by her parents, Dad is working really hard, Grandpa always seems to be busy with his vegetable garden and Mum is tired all the time because of her big baby bump! To make things even worse, Poppy is convinced that everyone likes Honey more than they like her and that they think she is prettier, including Mum and Cousin Saffron. 
Poppy decides that the only thing for it is to start acting more like her best friend and to try to look more like her too. Poppy is sure that once she has turned herself into a copy of Honey, everyone will like her so much more. 
Find out what happens when Poppy tries to become just like Honey. Will it make her happy or will she realize that everyone is different and that every little girl is a true princess in her own way?

Princess Poppy: A True Princess

Michael Morpurgo

The 'Black Queen' is what Billy calls his shadowy next-door neighbour. She always wears a black cloak and a wide-brimmed black hat. She lurks about her garden, alone except for her black cat. Scarily for Billy, the Black Queen befriends him and asks him to look after her cat while she's away. Billy can't resist the opportunity to peek inside her house. There are chessboards scattered everywhere. Who is the Black Queen and what sort of game is she playing? Billy thinks he knows...

Black Queen

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