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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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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

Follow Tam on three exciting adventures to the land of Faery - where he'll battle castle nightmares, evil creatures and mischevious fairies! 
 
THE STARBURSTER 
At first, Tam isn't at all keen on his baby sister, Blue. But with a little inventive persuasion from Great-grandpa, Tam changes his mind. One terrible night, Blue is stolen - and an ugly fairy changeling is left in her place! It falls to Tam to journey to the magical land of Faery, return the changeling and win back Blue... 
 
THE HUMMING MACHINE 
Great-grandpa Toby is making so much NOISE! And if Tam can hear the clamour coming from his humming machine, the fairies will too. Soon enough, on the night of a blue moon, Great-grandpa vanishes. Tam must venture to Faery Land once more - but what will he find when he gets there? 
 
THE WINDSPINNER 
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 . . . 
 
 
Three enchanting stories from much-loved, Carnegie Award-winning author Berlie Doherty. 
 
 
Young Corgi books are perfect for building reading confidence

The Starburster Stories

Tony Ross

When Tilly's mum goes out to work, Mrs Hardcastle from up the street pops in to look after her. There are two special things about Mrs Hardcastle. The first thing is that she's always dropping off to sleep (she snores too, sometimes). The second special thing is that whenever she goes to sleep, something magic always seems to happen to Tilly Mint! Carnegie Medal winner Berlie Doherty's enchanting Tilly Mint tales are at last available in one complete collection with brand-new illustrations from Tony Ross.

Tilly Mint Tales

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