Steve Roud was Local Studies Librarian for the London Borough of Croydon and served as Honorary Librarian of the Folklore Society for over fifteen years. He has been researching British folklore for over thirty years and is the joint author of the Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore, plus other books on traditional drama and folk song, and the Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland, which won the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award in 2004. His publications include London Lore (2008) and The Lore of the Playground (2010). He also compiles the Folk Song Index and the Broadside Index, two internationally acclaimed computer databases of traditional folk and popular song. He lives in Sussex.

Steve Roud

PublicationStatus

Brand

Format

AgeRange

Series

Imprint

CategoryLabel

Bill Crisafi

Life lessons for rebellious souls 
 
Join the darkly charming and wickedly funny Glam Reaper and friends as they stumble, slay and soul-search their way to ‘the afters’. 
 
Full of universal struggles and fierce friendship this is your rebellious roadmap to healing, thriving, and defeating your personal demons once and for all. Here you’ll find kindred spirits, uplifting incantations, and rituals for rising into your power. 
 
The perfect potion for dark days.

The Glam Reaper’s Guide to Slaying

life lessons for rebellious souls

Mackenzie Crook

What if you had the chance to tell your hero just how much they meant to you? 
 
If Nick Drake came to my house 
and knocked upon the door 
I’m sure I’d be more happy 
than I’ve ever been before… 
 
In If Nick Drake Came to My House, Mackenzie Crook – the creator of Detectorists and Worzel Gummidge – explores the power of art to impact our lives, expressed through verse and image depicting an imaginary visit from the late, great singer-songwriter. A tender homage to a classic book by Joan Gale Thomas, Crook’s first book for adults is infused with his characteristic warm humour, both in the short yet powerful story and his own beautiful illustrations. It’s a book for anyone who has ever wished they had the chance to tell their hero how much they meant to them.

If Nick Drake Came to My House

Sarah Brown

Gil McNeil

From inspirational mums who are not afraid of anything - except spiders - to magical mums, reluctant mums and mums behaving badly, this is a wonderful collection of fiction and memoir from some of Britain's best-loved writers. 
 
With touching and amusing anecdotes from celebrity mums such as Nigella Lawson and Arabella Weir, as well as original illustrations from the likes of Shirley Hughes and Quentin Blake, this rich treasure trove with proceeds going to children's charity PiggyBankKids reflects many voices from across the generations and is a glorious celebration of motherhood.

Mums

A Celebration of Motherhood

Keep Calm and Carry On was a World War 2 government poster discovered in a dusty box nine years ago. Though it never saw the light of day in 1939 (it was only supposed to go up if Britain was invaded), it has suddenly struck a chord in our current difficult times, now we are in need of a stiff upper lip and optimistic energy once again. Gordon Brown had one up in 10 Downing Street and James May wears a Keep Calm T-shirt on the telly - it is suddenly everywhere. The book is packed full of similarly motivational and inspirational quotes, proverbs, mantras and wry truths to help us through the recession, from such wits as Churchill, Disraeli and George Bernard Shaw. Funny, wise and stirring - it is a perfect source of strength to get us all through the coming months. 
 
'A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain' Mark Twain 
 
'It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose your own' Harry S. Truman 
 
'An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today' Laurence J. Peter 
 
'Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine' Lord Byron 
 
'Better bread with water than cake with trouble' Russian Proverb

Keep Calm and Carry On

Good Advice for Hard Times

Guy Adams

With season 2 now released, don't miss out on getting the perfect gift for any Stranger Things fan in your life. 
 
Grab your Eggos and prepare to enter Hawkins, Indiana – just don't forget your fairy lights 
 
If you devoured Stranger Things and you're looking to fill the demogorgon-sized hole in your life, then look no further than Notes From the Upside Down. This fan handbook is here to tell you more about the origins of the show, including the mysterious Montauk Project conspiracy theory, get you clued up on the inspirations behind the characters, and assess the show's DNA. 
 
If you've ever wondered why Spielberg is such a huge influence, which Stephen King books you need to read (HINT: pretty much all of them) and how State Trooper David O’Bannon earned his name, then this book is for you. 
 
Guy Adams is a superfan and this is his amusing and informative guide to everything you're going to need to know to understand Stranger Things.

Notes From the Upside Down – Inside the World of Stranger Things

An Unofficial Handbook to the Hit TV Series

Eugeniu Croitoru

Debabrata Nath

Be Like Bill is not only the biggest internet sensation of 2016 but he’s also the smartest too. He understands what it takes to remain polite and civil in a world where people think it’s ok to post photos of themselves sporting a silly duck face on Instagram, that not using their indicators while driving is acceptable and spending more time on their smartphones than talking to their partner is the right thing to do. 
 
Bill has observed a lot of things about the modern world and through his Be Like Bill Facebook page (OfficialBLB) he’s been setting an example to millions of fans of how they might like to 'reconsider' some of their behaviour, using his own unique humour. And now, he’s brought his very best and funniest memes together to make his own pocket-sized guide to modern life – much of which has never been seen before. 
 
Read his book and be like Bill.

Be Like Bill

Geoff Tibballs

'I won't lie to you, fatherhood isn't easy like motherhood' - Homer Simpson 
 
Fathers come in many guises - wise or silly, strict or kind. They can make you laugh and they can make you cringe. They can drive you home and they can drive you mad ... 
 
In Just Like Dad Says, wise and witty words from the likes of Billy Connolly, Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Milligan and Homer Simpson cover everything from the joy of being a new dad to waving kids off as they - finally - leave home. 
 
Old and new, laugh-out-loud funny or wickedly dry, Just Like Dad Says is the best ever collection of quotes by and about Dad. 
 
'My father only hit me once - but he used a Volvo' - Bob Monkhouse 
 
'Even very young children need to be informed about dying. Explain the concept of death very carefully to your child. This will make threatening him with it much more effective' - P.J. O'Rourke

Just Like Dad Says

A Book of Dad's Wit

Cherry Lam

Begin your new cosy, creative hobby to unlock childlike joy! 
 
Charming scenes to colour in at home printed on high quality paper. 
 
40+ bold and easy colouring images feature cosy vibes, cute characters and peaceful settings. With single-sided pages to avoid bleed-through, all you need are your favourite pencils or markers to get started. 
 
Whether you are part of the colouring community on TikTok or looking for a fun activity away from screens, Cosy Calm is ideal for anyone seeking moments of artistic mindfulness. Escape the chaos of everyday life, relax, and colour with an array of drawings designed to inspire inner calm and a cosy feeling. 
 
Suitable for children.

Cosy Calm

Cute and Relaxing Colouring Book

Zayneb Haleem

Reflect and be inspired by this beautiful collection of illustrations, accompanied by prompts and quotes from the Qur'an 
 
Life is full of highs and lows, but every journey begins with a single step. 
 
In this stunning illustrated book from artist Zayneb Haleem comes a visually moving companion for Muslim readers. Combining scenes and words, this thoughtful book encourages you to celebrate how far you have come, appreciate where you are right now, and look forward to the path that lies ahead of you. 
 
With quotes from the Qur'an woven throughout and prompts included to help set you in the right direction, this is a celebration of our own wonderfully individual journeys. 
 
Bringing Zayneb's unique, soft and atmospheric style to the page, Dear Moon is a gift for a lifetime that can be cherished by those of all ages.

Dear Moon

Be inspired by the beautiful wisdom of the Qur’an

Matt Sewell

In this beautiful follow-up to Our Garden Birds, Our Songbirds and Our Woodland Birds, street artist Matt Sewell captures the world’s most evocative bird: the owl. In his much-loved pop-art watercolours and accompanied with his whimsical descriptions, Matt Sewell expresses the individual characters of owls as never before. 
 
From tiny Elf Owls to huge Eagle Owls, from the mysterious creatures of the night to an impossibly fluffy baby owl, they are undoubtedly one of the world’s most intriguing feathered friends. These wise, magical birds are otherworldly in their striking colours and stature, and it's not just birdwatchers who are obsessed. With 50 hand-selected, hand-painted owls, this is a delightful gift which appeals to owl lovers, bird-watching enthusiasts, children, adults and art and design fans alike.

Owls

Our Most Enchanting Bird

Marianne Cotterill

James Merrell

A house without a dog is not a home. 
 
Meet Gaspard the Dalmatian who hates the London rain but loves a good sing along to The Antiques Roadshow; jet-setting Rufus and Marni, two wire-haired dachshunds who can often be found sniffing out vintage finds in Brooklyn’s flea markets; or Jack Russell Ollie who enjoys the views of the Eiffel Tower from his gorgeous Parisian apartment. 
 
 Featuring big dogs, small dogs, countless rescue dogs and even a few champions, these stunning photographs celebrate the joyful, cherished, chaotic, but never dull life that’s lived with dogs. Each image perfectly capturing that unique relationship between us humans and our beloved pets.

Dogs at Home

Michaela Coel

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER - A SUNDAY TIMES FILM & TV BOOK OF THE YEAR 
 
'Razor-sharp and as funny as I May Destroy You ... A gifted writer' Sunday Times | 'A remarkable talent' Guardian | 'A perfect truth-teller of our time' ELLE | 'Leaps off the page' Observer | 'Comic and devastating' New York Times | 'A magnificent thinker' gal-dem | 'A must-read' Metro | 'Your self-help bible' Sunday Times 
 
***A BEST AUTUMN READ in Vogue, Vulture, Time Magazine, Observer, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle and LitHub *** 
______________________________________________ 
From the brilliant mind of the creator and star of I May Destroy You and Chewing Gum comes a passionate declaration against fitting in. 
 
Michaela Coel's MacTaggart Lecture touched a lot of people with her striking revelations about race, class and gender. But in the end, the person most impacted was Coel herself. Building on this speech, Misfits immerses readers in her deeply personal vision through powerful allegory and anecdotes - from her East London upbringing to her discovery of theatre and love for storytelling. 
 
With inspiring insight and wit, she tells of her reckoning with trauma and metamorphosis into a champion for herself, inclusivity and radical honesty, and in telling her journey invites us to reflect on our own. By embracing our differences, she says, we can transform our lives. An artist to her core, Coel holds up the path of the creative as an emblem of our need to regard one another with care and respect - and transparency. 
 
Misfits is a triumphant call for honesty, empathy and inclusion. This timely, necessary book is a rousing coming-to-power manifesto dedicated to anyone who has ever worried about fitting in.

Misfits

A Personal Manifesto

Emma Bunton

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
You have a baby! Isn't it amazing - and also pretty terrifying?! 
 
 I love being a Spice Girl, but what I am proudest of is being a mum. Even though I had all the real-life girl power of the actual Spice Girls on speed-dial, my incredible partner and my mum, I had so many worries and questions I couldn't always ask out loud. What I really, really wanted was one, easy-to-read, honest book that would give me support without judgement - that might even make me chuckle occasionally. 
 
 So, I've written it for you! I've included all my stories about what that precious, exhausting first year was like for me, and I've also asked some brilliant experts for their help too, including a paediatric sleep consultant, a trusted NCT counsellor, a mindfulness coach, and no-less than five amazing midwives and doulas. 
 
 I want you to feel like you've got this. Because guess what mama? You have!

Mama You Got This

A Little Helping Hand For New Parents. The Sunday Times Bestseller

Anne Berest

Audrey Diwan

Caroline de Maigret

Sophie Mas

Four fabulous, smart, savvy French women offer up their highly amusing insider take on Parisian life, love and liberty. Full of personal anecdotes, life lessons and photographs, this is the only guide you'll need to channelling your inner Parisienne and oozing that certain 'je ne sais quoi'... 
 
'This saucy guide to French chic has a charming authorité. It's also curiously persuasive' -- FT.com 
'Lighthearted fun' -- ***** Reader review 
'Full of quirky charm and one-liners' -- ***** Reader review 
'A charming book, truly French' -- ***** Reader review 
'This book just makes me fall in love with Paris even more than before' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put this book down since I picked it up' -- ***** Reader review 
'Better read with a glass of wine than a cup of tea' -- ***** Reader review 
*************************************************************************************** 
How To Be Parisian brilliantly deconstructs the French woman's views on culture, fashion and attitude. 
 
 Bohemian free-thinkers and iconoclasts, Anne Berest, Caroline De Maigret, Audrey Diwan and Sophie Mas cut through the myths in this gorgeous, witty guide to Parisienne savoir faire. 
 
 These modern Parisiennes say what you don't expect to hear, just the way you want to hear it. 
They are not against smoking in bed, and are all for art, politics and culture, making everything look easy, and going against the grain. They will take you on a first date, to a party and through a hangover. They will tell you how to be mysterious and sensual, make your boyfriend jealous, the right way to approach weddings and the gym, and they will share their address book in Paris for where to go at the end of the night, for a birthday, for a smart date, for vintage finds and much more. 
 
 Full of wit and self-deprecating humour, and full of life lessons, photographs and personal anecdotes, How To Be Parisian explains those confusing subjects of clothes, makeup, men, culture and lifestyle as only a true Parisienne can.

How To Be Parisian

Wherever You Are

Begin your new cosy, creative hobby to unlock childlike joy! 
 
40+ vibrant and easy colouring images feature adorable characters, tranquil snowy settings and heartwarming moments. WIth single-sided pages to avoid bleed-through, all you need are your favourite pencils or markers to get started. 
 
Whether you are part of the colouring community on TikTok or looking for a fun activity away from screens, Cosy Chill is ideal for anyone seeking moments of artistic mindfulness. 
 
Suitable for children.

Cosy Chill

Jenny Lawson

Warm, insightful, and witty, the first book of advice from New York Times–bestselling author Jenny Lawson—aka the Bloggess 
 
Jenny Lawson is full of contradictions. She’s a celebrated author but battles self-doubt, paralysis, and anxiety. She’s an award-winning humorist but struggles with treatment-resistant depression. The question she’s most often asked by people is 'How do you do it? How do you keep going even when it feels impossible? How do you keep creating?' This book is her answer. 
 
In How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay, Jenny shares one hundred humorous, heartfelt, and genuine tools and tricks that she relies on to keep her going even when her brain isn’t working properly due to depression, anxiety, and ADHD. She also offers tips to stay passionate and focused on creative endeavors, especially when everything around you is saying to give up.

Showing results for: ‘Steve Roud’

Filters

Category

Publication Date

Format

Series

Imprint

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter