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

Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum has a way of attracting danger, lunatics, oddballs, bad luck ... and mystery men. And no one is more mysterious than the unmentionable Diesel. He's back and hot on the trail of a little man in green pants who's lost a giant bag of money. 
 
Problem is the money isn't exactly lost. Stephanie's Grandma Mazur has found it, and like any good Jersey senior citizen she's high-tailed it in a Winnebago to Atlantic City and hit the slots. 
 
With Lula and Connie in tow, Stephanie attempts to bring Grandma home. But the luck of the Irish is rubbing off on everyone. Lula's found a job modeling plus size lingerie, Connie's found a guy, Diesel's found Stephanie. And Stephanie has found herself in way over her head ...

Plum Lucky

Gervase Phinn

A Wayne in a Manger includes some wonderfully funny and touching nativity play anecdotes, including children forgetting their lines, ad-libbing, falling of the stage, picking their noses and showing their knickers. 
 
One hilarious anecdote tells of an innkeeper who generously says there's plenty of room for Mary and Joseph, while another child, jealous of Joseph's starring role, allows Mary to come in but not Joseph, who can 'push off' ... There's the baby Jesus who suddenly pipes up with 'My name is Tammy, are you my Mommy?' and funniest of all, Mary who tells Joseph, 'I'm having a baby - oh and it's not yours'.

A Wayne in a Manger

Christopher Wormell

Philip Pullman

Lyra is studying at Oxford University, she comes across the story of Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnisson's first meeting, many years ago, along with much evidence of the adventure that brought them together . . . 
When a young Texan balloonist, Lee Scoresby, comes down to earth in the harbour of an Arctic town in the North, little does he realise that he is about to be embroiled in an out-and-out political brawl. 
 
Lee and his daemon, Hester, find themselves the target of political factions trying to take over the running (and oil) of the town. And also resident in the town are huge arctic bears, ignored and patronised by the people and treated like second-class citizens. When Lee and Iorek first meet, they cement a friendship that will continue throughout their lives, as the tensions and pressure in town lead to a deadly conclusion . . . 
 
Featuring two of Philip Pullman's best-loved characters, this is an adventure-filled short story that builds on the world of His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust.

Once Upon a Time in the North

Illustrated Edition

Keri Smith

Welcome to the highly inspirational world of Keri Smith. Within the pages of The Pocket Scavenger, readers will be instructed to collect a spectrum of quirky items: something that is miniature, a stain that is green, something from the year you were born, a used envelope, and more.Then, once their quarry is in hand, they'll apply an alteration dictated solely by chance: create a funny character, conceal it, add polkadots, remove a section, add stripes, scribble on top, duplicate it (make a copy), fold, cut into pieces &amp; rearrange, turn into an article of clothing, trace it/use the shape as basis for a new drawing, make it 'pretty', and so on. It's funny, moving, silly and serious. The way you look at things will never be the same again.

The Pocket Scavenger

A mesmerising episode from the universe of His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust, giving us an extraordinary insight into this world and its characters. 
 
When Lyra is studying at Oxford University, she comes across the story of Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnisson's first meeting, many years ago, along with much evidence of the adventure that brought them together. 
 
She discovers that when a young Texan balloonist Lee came down to earth in the harbour of an Arctic town in the North, little did he realise that he is about to be caught in a war between the residents of the town and the huge arctic bears that also live there. 
 
And when Lee meets one of these bears - Iorek - for the first time, they cement a friendship that will continue throughout their lives, as the tensions in the town threaten to erupt ... 
 
Another wonderful tale from a master story-teller, which includes beautiful illustrations and maps.

Perhaps you're a seasoned Wreck-er, having made your way through one or more copies of Wreck This Journal. Or maybe you're new to the phenomenon (little do you know, this experience might just change your life). Whatever the case, you've found the perfect book to inflict damage on... 
 
The revolution is now in colour. Why colour? Because it's dangerous. And if it isn't dangerous, then it isn't worth doing. You are hereby challenged to now try everything you've never done with colour. Everything. Mixing, ripping, spewing, streaming, hurling, blowing up, throwing, dropping, exploding. 
Welcome to an all new-edition of Wreck This Journal, now in spectacular full colour! With a mix of new, altered, and favourite prompts, Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour invites you to destroy with colour. What colours will you use to &amp;*%$ it up?

Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour

Jason Hazeley

Joel Morris

These delightful books are the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. 
 
The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. The subject of the books will greatly appeal to grown-ups. 
 
The eight books in the series feature original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text. The other books in the series are: 
 
- The Ladybird Book of Mindfulness 
 
- The Ladybird Book of Sheds 
 
- The Ladybird Book of The Hipster 
 
- The Ladybird Book of the Mid-Life Crisis 
 
- The Ladybird Book of the Hangover 
 
- The Ladybird Book of Dating 
 
- How it Works: The Husband 
 
- How it Works: The Wife

Can you imagine a world where there aren't just the thirty-two Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups you've seen in your local bookshop or downstairs toilet but hundreds and hundreds more? 
 
If you can't, then this book is here to imagine it for you. 
 
Here is an enormous collection of helpful guides to everything from worryingly high cholesterol to worryingly high mortgages - from teenagers you can't understand to prizewinning novels you can't understand - all presented simply and colourfully, in a way that even the most jaded, exhausted, baffled grown-up can enjoy. 
 
'This is such a good idea I'm currently experiencing all the physical sensations of anger because I didn't think of it, whereas Jason and Joel did, the shits.' Charlie Brooker 
 
'I do not hasten to say that these books are the new Da Vinci Code.' Aisling Bea 
 
'These books are small masterpieces. They make me glad I learned to read.' David Quantick 
 
'HILARIOUS. Beserkly brilliant.' Mel Giedroye

The Wonderful World of Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups

Dan Blaskowitz

Put your general knowledge to the test with this interesting fact book for curious kids and adults alike! 
 
Need an easy gift idea? Looking to impress friends and family with your knowledge of random facts? 
 
Whether you're looking for a funny secret santa gift for work or a small present for kids, Squillions of Amazing Facts to Knock Your Socks Off! is the perfect book for you! 
 
Packed-full of general knowledge and random facts, this mind-blowing book will keep readers of all ages entertained for hours! 
 
Discover the answers to questions that you never knew you needed to know, including:<ul><li>Why were there so many poodles at the 1900 Olympics?</li><li>What did Romans wipe their bottoms with?</li><li>How much saliva does the average human produce in a lifetime? 
… and much, much more!</li></ul>With amazing facts for all ages, discover the perfect gift book for birthdays, stocking fillers and more!

Squillions of Amazing Facts to Knock Your Socks Off!

P. J. Tracy

Caught with his hand in a church Christmas collection just hours after his latest release from prison, lifelong petty thief Emil Rice can't believe his luck when he's spared another festive season behind bars. 
 
Sent instead to carry out community service at a local mental health facility, Emil's plan is to flee at the first opportunity. However this is no ordinary facility - isolated in the middle of the desert, Emil realises he has no choice but to stick it out. 
 
To make matters worse, a number of the inmates immediately take a shine to him - especially eccentric sisters Gloria and Edith. The elderly duo are convinced they're the reincarnation of two of the wise men from the nativity story, and they've waited their whole lives to find the third and final wise man. 
 
And they're convinced Emil fits the bill.... 
 
Warm and wise, funny and festive, this is a wonderful Christmas tale from Sunday Times bestselling author P.J. Tracy

Return of the Magi

A heartwarming Christmas story

Sally Norton

Is that gurgle the best you can do? With five years of pleasure ahead of you, there are 101 amusing and infuriating things for you to get up to . . . 
 
Go ahead . . . 
 
 
· Play your jam sandwich in the DVD machine. 
 
· Worship the cardboard box your most expensive present came in. 
 
· Stick that pea right up your nose. 
 
· Take your place in the middle of your parents' bed. 
 
· Drop that tiny car in the massive ball pit and scream until your scrambling parents unearth it. 
 
 
After all, you're only young once. 
 
Destined to make new parents laugh and/or cry, Sally Norton's hilarious 101 Things to Do Before You're Five coaches babies through the essential skills to be mastered in those pre-school days, while guiding grown-ups through the 'joys' of those first five crucial years.

101 Things to Do Before You're Five

The funny, bizarre and downright yucky things to expect from your little people

Dawn French

This is Dawn French's fabulously inventive take on modern life - the twists and turns, the surprises, the hurts and the delights. Yes, especially those. It's a way for readers to take a lovely ramble through the year together with Dawn. Think of it as Dawn's diary, with places for the reader to personalize the book with their own thoughts and experiences . . . perfection.

Me. You. Not a Diary

The No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller

William Hanson

Jordan North

'Funny, filthy and fantastic. Cackled from start to finish' - Rylan Clark 
 
How do you ask your mate for that &pound;50 back? 
When is OK to trump in front of your partner? 
And what should you do if you've accidentally sexted your boss? 
 
William and Jordan are from very different worlds. 
 
William's an etiquette expert, with his tongue firmly in his teacup and unparalleled knowledge of table linen. Jordan's a TV and radio presenter, the patron saint of Burnley and an expert in all things common. Together they've entertained millions of listeners worldwide with their hit podcast Help I Sexted My Boss. 
 
Now, they&rsquo;ve pooled all of their wisdom on how to get through life&rsquo;s most awkward moments. 
 
From candlelight suppers to picky teas, first dates to flatmate dramas, Help I Sexted My Boss is full of both useful and useless advice. This is your indispensable guide to navigating the trepidation and challenges of modern life. 
 
'Hilarious lads.. and weirdly useful. This generation&rsquo;s Ant and Dec. If one of them was really posh. Great read' - Vicky Pattison 
 
Sunday Times Bestseller, November 2023

Help I S*xted My Boss

A hilarious guide to avoiding life's awkward moments

Featuring dozens of new activities as well as some of the most popular prompts from the original, Wreck This Journal Everywhere will have you travelling the city streets and country byways, filling the pages with man-made and natural objects, recording what you see, drawing, doodling - and destroying pages as you go. Perfect for sliding in your pocket or stuffing in your bag, Wreck This Journal Everywhere is the ideal creative companion!

Wreck This Journal Everywhere

James Patterson

'A fast, funny and heartfelt read' - Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The Let Them Theory 
 
'Hilarious and sharp... Everything (and more) about being a dad' - Ron Howard, Academy-Award winning filmmaker 
 
'A beautiful reminder that the most important stories often start at home' - Viola Davis, EGOT-winning actress and producer 
 
The quick and accessible guide to being the best dad you can be from the Sunday Times bestselling author, the perfect gift for dads new and old. 
 
James Patterson did the parenting homework so you don't have to - at least not as much. He talked to lots of experts, and lots of dads, and lots of experts who are also dads. He read everything he could. Then he wrote and rewrote this book for dads everywhere. 
In 1 hour...You can be a better dad to your kids.Somebody who keeps learning and growing and loving your family.You can be a hands-on teacher. Somebody who gives hugs and changes nappies.You can be a dad who is more present.Somebody who’s a good storyteller and a good listener.You can be a better husband or partner.Somebody who can say, “I was wrong” and “I love you.”Dad, your new life begins in 1 hour.

The No. 1 Dad Book

Be the Best Dad You Can Be

A new edition of Keri Smith's bestseller, with updated material 
 
Think of Wreck This Journal as the anarchist's Artist's Way -- the book for those who've always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it. 
 
For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book featuring a subversive collection of suggestions, asking readers to muster up their best mistake - and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them). 
 
Through a series of creatively and quirkily illustrated prompts, acclaimed artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in "destructive" acts - poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting with coffee, colouring outside the lines, and more - in order to experience the true creative process. With Keri Smith's unique sensibility, readers are introduced to a new way of art and journal making, discovering novel ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.

Showing results for: ‘Steve Roud’

Filters

Category

Publication Date

Format

Series

Imprint

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter