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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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

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

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

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

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

There are six puppies in the pet shop window; five posh pedigree puppies, and a scruffy little mongrel with a grand ambition - to be a guard dog. 
 
The other pups laugh at him. How can such a small, scruffy dog possibly expect to be bought to guard a home? Especially when his bark is the most horrible, earsplitting racket they have ever heard! Will the poor little guard dog be doomed to a lonely life in the Dogs' Home - or worse...?

The Guard Dog

Hezekiah is a very hairy camel. He lives a quiet life in his enclosure at the zoo and seems to be the only animal without a friend. So Hezekiah decides to escape from the zoo and go on the run - crashing through hedges, hiding in toilets and breaking into a safari park! There he meets another hairy character - and finally makes a friend . . .

Hairy Hezekiah

Snail on board! 
 
Siegfried loves to explore. One day his explorations take him on a big adventure - from his home in the grass, to the airport, on to an aeroplane and all the way to America! 
 
There he makes some very important friends, Mr Ambassador and Mr President, finds a new home in a sandwich box - and also meets the lovely Peggy Sue . . . 
 
Another magical, funny story from the master of animal tales, Dick King-Smith.

The Adventurous Snail

Titus is a young corgi puppy, growing up in Windsor Castle. There is lots he must learn - how to sit upright and beg for a custard cream biscuit, how to ask nicely to go outside, and how not to trip up Prince Philip. Soon he becomes a favourite of the Queen. She even breaks a lifetime rule - and lets him sleep on her bed at night! And it is because of Titus that Her Majesty finally does something very surprising . . .

Titus Rules OK

Captain, Ladybird and Herbert - two Shire horses and a Suffolk Punch - are not pleased when Jenny, a retired seaside donkey, arrives at the Old Horses' Home. It's supposed to be a home for horses, and they don't want to share their field with a common little donkey. 
 
Then rustlers are spotted in the area: thieves who like nothing better than to steal horses and ship them abroad - to be made into horse pie! Can Jenny and her friends save the huge heavy horses?

Horse Pie

Boojer is sick of being stuck in a hutch with no company and an owner who hardly ever remembers to feed him. Encouraged by some cheerful mice, he manages to escape. Boojer is only in search of juicy carrots and a friend, but he gets far more than he bargained for...

Boojer

K M Peyton

When Tom's favourite Shetland pony, Storm, is sold to work in the coal mines, he is devastated. The poor little black pony will have to work underground for the rest of his life - never seeing the sky or breathing fresh air! And when there is a terrible accident in the mine, Tom wonders whether he'll ever be with Storm again... 
 
A heart-warming story from an award-winning author.

Pony In The Dark

Spud is a scruffy dog with a big heart - and an even bigger belly. He loves scrounging in dustbins, scaring cats and, of course, scoffing as much food as he can find. But what Spud loves more than anything in the world is his owner, Mrs Piffey, and she loves him too. 
 
But one day Spud overhears Mrs Piffey talking about a mysterious 'turkey' and she suddenly starts wearing dark glasses and strange things called 'bikinis'. Then she disappears . . . 
 
Poor Spud does his best to find her - while being kept in check by Mrs Cats-Home. And of course Mrs Piffey is soon back with a tan - and big box of Turkish delight!

Spud

Lauren and Tashy love their ponies, Humpfrey and Monkey, even if - as rescue ponies - they aren't really very good at anything. Secretly, both girls would love to be able to win rosettes. Then Cobweb appears - a beautiful, silvery, ghost pony from Paradise. And when Cobweb joins the girls on a ride out, some of her magic seems to rub off on to their real ponies and Humpfrey and Monkey can jump beautifully...

The Paradise Pony

Jamie Rix

When a young boy called Phelan Whelan is taken to the zoo by his mum on a hot summer's day, the last thing he expects is for a small hot penguin to stow away in his rucksack. Phelan soon realizes that Whistler the penguin can't live in his house, and together they plan to find a new home for him. Preferably an island somewhere near the South Pole...

One Hot Penguin

Chris Priestley

Imagine being able to wish for anything you wanted! 
Lucy has the surprise of her life when she releases a genie from an old bottle. Wow - unlimited wishes for a year! But wait a minute... Lucy didn't wish for dinosaur bones. And where have all the cats gone? 
 
Why does Lucy's dog Mitch look so full of himself? Uh-oh. It looks like a case of dog magic!

Dog Magic!

Emily Smith

Ben spends the holidays with his nose in the sand and bottom in the air. It's not because he's shy - though some of his classmates do call him the Shrimp. It's because he's got a great idea for his wildlife project. 
 
A competition is on! The class projects are going to be judged by a famous TV wildlife presenter, and the prize is irresistible. Ben would love to win it, but others have their eyes on the prize too...

The Shrimp

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