ReadingSuggestions

KeyStage1

Thereisahugerangeofgreatfictionforthe5-7yearagerange.Thislistsjustafewand

manycrossyeargroupboundaries.Somemaylooktooyoungbutthelengthofabookcan

bedeceptive.Somefeaturemoreillustrationthantext:illustrationcanbeasimportantin

thetellingofastoryaswordsandwillintroducechildrentokeyillustrators.

WithinclassbookcornersatFlitchGreen,KS1booksarebandedtoallowthemtoexplore

bothfictionandnon-fictiontextsatasuitablelevel.AtthecoreofthesebandsistheRigby

StarreadingschemebutthesebookshavealsobeenextendedbytheCollinsBigCatreading

scheme

TherearealsoplentyofseriesthatareperfectforlaterKS1

readers,withvariousgoodauthorswritinginthesameformat,

gettingchildrenusedtobooksthatarenottoolongbutwhichare

ofguaranteedqualitywhichcanbefoundatyourlocallibrary:

BananaBooks,ColourJets(illustratedhere),Jets,SeriouslySilly

Stories,CollinsShiveryStorybooks,CorgiPups,BooksforBoys,

Sprinters,YoungPuffinsetc.

ReadingSuggestions

KeyStage1(ages5-7)

StudentsinYears1and2shouldbepickingfromourbookcornersinordertoprogresstheir

reading.Childrenwillbeplacedwithinacolouredbookband.Readinglotsofshorterbooks

isveryhelpfulfortheircreativeEnglish,astheyexperiencenewvocabulary,charactersand

places.

Pleasedosharebookswithyourchildren–themore'textbased'booksinthislisthavebeen

includedtobereadto,orwithyourchild.Theylovetohearstoriesandafocusonlistening

andcomprehensionwhilereadingwithanadultareimportantskillstoacquire.

Ifyourchildisacompetentreaderorhasreadallthesetitlesthentrythebooksfromthe

Year3list.

AChildofBooksOliverJeffers,SamWinston

Award-winningstorytellerandartistOliverJeffersandtypographicfineartistSamWinstonhavecreatedanextraordinarily

adventurousandoriginalpicturebookwhich,throughwordsandpictures,takeschildrenonajourneyofdiscoverythroughsomeofthegreatestliteratureofalltime.TheimaginativeeponymousChild

ofBooksfloatsacrossaseaofwordsmadefromwordsandlinesfromclassicchildren’sbookstories.Itisajourneythatrecreatesfairytales,forestsandmonstersshowingchildrentheimportance

andpoweroftheirimaginationinrecreatingthem.

SirDancealotTimothyKnapman

LittleSirDancealotwouldfitrightinonStrictly!Thisnimble-toedyoungknighthasanovelapproachtocombat–hedanceshis

enemiesintosubmission,waltzingorjivingwiththemuntilthewords‘discolights’areenoughtogiveanypassingmonsterthe

frights!ThenonedayadancingdragonappearsandchallengesSirDancealottoacompetition–onice.KidswilllovetheideaofStrictlywithdragons,andyou’llbegladtohearthatthetwo

combatantsaredancinghappilytogetherbytheend–nobloodonthedancefloorhere!

GrandpaWasanAstronautJonathanMeres

BestknownforhishilariousWorldofNormbooks,JonathanMereshas

herewrittenaverydifferentsortofbook.GrandpawasanAstronautisfulloffun,indeed,ithasarealsenseofjoy,butit’salsopoignant.Grandparentstakecentrestageinthischarmingtaleasayoungboyand

hisgrandfatherlettheirimaginationstakeflightforanafternoonofspaceexploration.WhatShermanlikestodobestisgazeatthemoonandplaywithhisgrandpa.Afteranafternoondoingjustthat,hegoeshomevery

happy,particularlywhenGrandpagiveshimhisspecialpieceofmoonrock.

TheVeryHungryCaterpillarEricCarle

Thisisamuch-lovedclassicbutasrelevanttodayasitwaswhen

firstpublishedin1969!

PaddingtonMichaelBond

PaddingtonBearfirstmettheBrownfamilyatarailwaystation-

PaddingtonStation,infact.HehadtravelledallthewayfromDarkestPeruwithonlyajarofmarmalade,asuitcaseandalabelreading'Pleaselookafterthisbear'.Withoutfurtherado,Mrand

MrsBrownwelcomedtheadventurousbearintotheirfamily,andinhonouroftheirmeetingplacetheynamedhimPaddington.TheBrownssoondiscoverthatPaddingtonisamostunusualbear,for

ordinarythings-likehavingabath-becomequiteextraordinarywhenabearcalledPaddingtonisaround!

FlatStanleyJeffBrown,ScottNash

StanleyLambchopwakesuponemorningtofindanotice-boardhasdroppedonhiminthenight,leavinghimhappyandhealthy,butonly

halfaninchthick.It'salittleunusual,buthefindshecanflylikeakite,besentonholidaythroughthepostandcanusehisspecialnewskillstocatchsomeartthieves.Still,he'sgladwhenhisbrotherArthurthinksto

usethebicyclepumptoinflatehimbacktohisnormalshape.

LittleBeautyAnthonyBrowne

Thisistheheart-warmingtaleofagorillaandhistinyfriend,fromthemasterpicturebook-maker.Averyspecialgorillaistaughtavery

specialskill:signlanguage.Heappearstohaveeverythingheneeds,butonedayhesignsthatheissaidandneedsafriend.HiskeepersbringhimatinycatcalledBeautyandthetwoofthembecome

inseparable.ButwhenthegorillagetsangryandcausesdamagetotheTV,willhiskeepersthinkhimunfittobefriendswithsuchasmall,defencelessanimal?NotifBeautycanthinkfastandprovewhata

specialfriendshiptheyshare...

Mr.MajeikaHumphreyCarpenter

Asarule,magiccarpetsdon'tturnupinschools,butthisisexactlywhathappenswhenClassThree'snewteacherfliesinthroughtheclassroom

windowandlandsonthefloorwithabump.MrMajeikacanbehavejustlikeanyordinaryteacherifhewantsto,butsomethinghastobedoneaboutHamishBigmore,theclassnuisance,andsoheusesalittlemagictoturnhim

intoafrog.Andtoeveryone'sdelightitlooksasifHamishwillhavetoremainafrogbecauseMrMajeikacan'trememberthespelltoturnhimbackagain!WithMrMajeikaincharge,suddenlylifeatschoolbecomemuchmore

exciting-there'sevenamagic-carpetridetoBuckinghamPalace!

TheDancingBearMichaelMorpurgo

Agentleanddeeplymovingstoryofayounggirlandherbear,toldwithgreatcharmbyamasterstoryteller.Highinthemountains,inatinyvillage,an

abandonedbearcubisadoptedbyalonelyorphanchild.Soontheyareinseparable,belovedbythewholevillage-safe,untilthearrivalofaglamorousfilmcrewwhoneedadancingbear...

TheEnormousCrocodileRoaldDahl

RoaldDahl'sclassicandhilariouspicturebook,TheEnormousCrocodile.TheEnormousCrocodileisahorridgreedygrumptious

brutewholovestoguzzleuplittleboysandgirls.Buttheotheranimalshavehadenoughofhiscunningtricks,sotheyschemetogetthebetterofthisfoulfiend,onceandforall!

TractionManIsHere

MiniGrey

Withanactionoutfitforeveryoccasion,TractionManpatrolsthehouse.Whetherheissavingtoys(inlatexspacesuitandPerspexhelmet,teamedwithRocketBoots);searchingthesinkforthelost

wreckofthesieve(insub-aquasuit,fluorescentflippersandinfra-redmask)orrescuingdamselsindistress(injunglepants,camouflagevestandabandanna),TractionManisneverlessthanstylishlyturned

outandexpertlyaccessorised.Heisthelastwordinheroicfashionflair-until,thatis,thedaythatheispresentedwithanall-in-oneknittedgreenrompersuitandmatchingbonnetbyhisowner's

granny.CanTractionManovercomethehumiliationofhisdesperatelydowdynewlookandrediscovertheactionherowithinorwilltheburdenoftheknittedgreenmonstrositybetoogreat?

BeeguAlexisDeaconBeeguisnotsupposedtobeonEarth.Sheislost.Sheisafriendlylittlecreature,buttheEarthPeopledon'tseemverywelcomingatall.However,sofarshehasonlymettheBIGones.Thelittleonesareadifferentmatter...

BillyButton,TelegramBoySallyNichollsWhenCharliethetelegramboybreakshislegandcan'tridehisbicycle,BillyButtonseeshischance.Hehasalwayswantedtobeatelegramboy,deliveringmessagesalloverthevillageontheredPostOfficebicycle.SoonBillyiszoomingaboutallovertheplacewithnewsofnewbabies,sicksistersandsweetheartscomingtovisit.Heevenhasachancetoputafewthingsrightwithaspecial'extra'telegramortwo...

ChoosingCrumbleMichaelRosenWhenTerri-Leegoestothepet-shopshethinksshe'llbechoosingadog-shedoesn'texpectthedogtobechoosingher!ButCrumbleisnoordinarypetandhe'sgotafewquestionstoask:Howmanywalkswillyoutakemeon?Doyouliketodance?Willyoutickleme?Ilikethatalot.WillTerri-Lee'sdancemovesandanswersbeenoughtoconvinceCrumblethatshecouldbehisowner?

ClaudeattheCircusAlexT.SmithAwalkintheparkleadstoawalkonatightropewhenClaudejoinsacircus,throwscustardpies,andbecomesthestaroftheshow!

FlatStanleyJeffBrownStanleyLambchopisanordinaryboywithanextraordinaryproblem.Onenight,agiantpinboardfallsontopofhimleavinghimcompletelyflat.Atfirst,Stanleyenjoysthebenefitsofhisstrangepredicament-itcanbefungoinginoutofroomssimplybyslidingunderthedoor.Andit'sahootbeingpostedtoyourfriendsinCaliforniaforaholiday.Butit'snotalwayseasybeingdifferent,and,oncethenoveltybeginstowearoff,Stanleywisheshecouldbejustlikeeverybodyelseagain.Buthowwillheeverfillout?JeffBrown'sworld-famouscharacterFlatStanleycontinuestocharmhalfacenturyafterhefirstfoundhiswayintoprint.

FlooftheSommeHilaryRobinson'FloOfTheSomme'paystributetotheremarkablebraveryoftheanimalswhoriskedtheirlivesduringWorldWar1.Mercydog'Flo'hasmoretocontendwiththanracingacrossdangerousbattlefields.Canshereachtheinjuredintimewithherfirstaidkit,andcansheleadstretcherbearer,Ray,tothestricken.Poignant,poetictext,sensitivelywrittenforayoungaudiencewithrichillustrationsthatdetailsignificantlandmarksofabattlewhichisrecognisedasoneofthecostliestengagementsofWorldWar1.

FungustheBogeymanRaymondBriggsLifeinBogeydomisfullofsnot,smells,slime,scumandotherunspeakablethings,andBogeymenliveunderthegroundrevellinginallthenastinessimaginable.Briggshascreatedawholenewworldinthissophisticatedcartoon-strippicturebookforolderchildrenwhichwillenticethemostreluctantofreadersintobooks.

IWantMyHatBackJonKlassenInhisbestsellingdebutpicturebook,thisisthestoryofabearwho'shathasgone.Andhewantsitback.Patientlyandpolitely,heaskstheanimalshecomesacross,onebyone,whethertheyhaveseenit.Eachanimalsaysno(somemoreelaboratelythanothers).Butjustasithebeginstolosehope,lyingflatonhisbackindespair,adeercomesbyandasksaratherobviousquestionthatsuddenlysparksthebear'smemoryandrenewshissearchwithavengeance...Toldcompletelyindialogue,thisquirky,hilarious,read-aloudtaleplaysoutinslyillustrationsbrimmingwithvisualhumourandwinksatthereaderwhowillbethrilledtobeinonthejoke.

LittleMouse'sBigBookofFearsEmilyGravettYoungchildrenwillidentifywiththelittlemousewhousesthepagesofthisbooktodocumenthisfears-fromloudnoisesandthedark,tobeingsuckeddowntheplughole.Packedwithdetailsandnoveltyelementsincludingflaps,die-cutsandevenahilariousfold-outmap,thisisanextraordinarypicturebook.WinneroftheKateGreenawayMedal2008.

LordoftheForestCarolinePitcherLittleTigerwonderswhotheLordoftheForestcanbeinthisminiaturegiftbookedition.ChildrenwillwanttoreadthestoryagainandagainwithCarolinePitcher'slyricaltextandJackieMorris'ssuperlativeportrayaloftheforestanditsinhabitants.

OttolineatSeaChrisRiddellOttolineandMr.Munroedoeverythingandgoeverywheretogether.Thatis,untilthedayMr.Munroemysteriouslydisappears,leavingastrangecluewritteninstring...ArmedwithherAmateurRovingCollectors'travelpass,Ottolinesetsoffonajourneyover,underandontopoftheseatofindherhairybestfriend-andbringhimbackhome.OttolineatSeaisthethirdenchantingOttolineadventurefromKateGreenawayawardwinner,ChrisRiddell.

PigsticksandHaroldandtheTuptownThiefAlexMilwayThere'sathiefonthelooseinTuptown,andtheannualButterflyBallwillbecancelledunlesssomeoneisbroughttojustice.Luckily,Pigstickshascrime-fightinginhisbloodandamagnifyingglassinhishand.WillDetectivePigsticksandhiskeen-eyedassistantHaroldsolvethecrime?AndcantheydoitintimetosavetheButterflyBall?

SomethingAboutaBearJackieMorrisWherethewaterchurnswithsalmon,thickandrichwithleapingfishes,therethebrownbearstandsandcatchesthewildkingoftheriver.Withstunningwatercolourpaintings,thislyricalpicturebook-shortlistedfortheCILIPKateGreenawayMedal-describeseightbearsfromallovertheworld,allshownintheirwildhabitats:BlackBear,PolarBear,SlothBear,SpectacleBear,Sunbear,Panda,Moonbear,BrownBear.Butwhichisthebestbearofall?Yourownteddybearofcourse!

Storytime:What'stheTime,WilfredWolf?JessicaBarrahWilfredWolfcan'ttellthetime,bighandsandlittlehandsaretooconfusing!WilfredWolfcan'ttellthetime,hejusteatsandsleepswhenhefeelslikeit!WhenWilfredgetsinvitedtoaparty,he'sfacedwithaproblem-howwillheknowwhenit'stimetogo?Thissweetstoryteachestheimportanceoftimetellingandtheneedforhelpfulandsupportivefriends.

TheAdventuresofCaptainUnderpantsDavPilkeyWhennaughtyGeorgeandHaroldhypnotisetheirheadteacher,theyaccidentallycreatethegreatestsuperherointhehistoryoftheirschool--CaptainUnderpants!HistrueidentityissosecretthatevenHEdoesn'tknowwhoheis...buthe'sfightingfortruth,justice,andallthingspre-shrunkandcottony!!Ifyou'reanaughtyvillainlikethediabolicalDrDiaper,watchout!CaptainUnderpantshaswedgie-poweronhisside,andhe'scomingyourway.

TheHeartandtheBottleOliverJeffersAward-winningpicturebookstarOliverJeffersexploresthemesofloveandlossinthislife-affirmingandupliftingtale.Oncetherewasagirlwhoselifewasfilledwithwonderattheworldaroundher...Thenonedaysomethinghappenedthatmadethegirltakeherheartandputitinasafeplace.However,afterthatitseemedthattheworldwasemptierthanbefore.Butwouldsheknowhowtogetherheartback?Inthisdeeplymovingstory,OliverJeffersdealswiththeweightythemesofloveandlosswithanextraordinarylightnessoftouchandshowsus,ultimately,thatthereisalwayshope.

TheHodgehegDickKing-SmithMaxisahedgehogwholiveswithhisfamilyinanicelittlehome,butunfortunatelyonthewrongsideoftheroadfromthePark,withitsbeautifullilypond,andmoreimportantlyitsjuicyslugs,wormsandsnails!ThebusyroadisadangerousbarrierbutMaxnoticesthathumansseemtocrossitquiteeasily.Iftheycan,whycan'thedgehogs?SoMaxsetsoutonaquesttofindasafewaytoreachthePark.Hisfirstattemptendsinanastybumponthehead,andMaxfindswhenhetriestospeakhiswordsareallmixedup.HeisnowaHodgeheg,notahedgehog,butheisstilldeterminedtofulfillhismission.Aftersomecarefuldetectivework,Maxeventuallydiscoversthebestwaytocrosstheroad-withthehelpofthelollipoplady,ofcourse!

TheJolley-RogersandtheGhostlyGalleonJonnyDuddleAhoythereshipmates!ClimbaboardwithanewfictionseriesfromJonnyDuddlefeaturingthecrewfromThePiratesNextDoor.JoinJimLadandMatildaastheysailthesevenseas(andthecoastofDull-on-Sea)insearchofadventureandpirateloot.Everyfullmoon,amysteriousshipisseenoffthecoastofDull-on-Sea.Then,thedayafter,goldandjewelleryaremissingfromthehomes,shopsandmuseumsofthetown.MatildaneedstheJolley-Rogers'helptoinvestigate.CanMatildaandJimLadretrievethestolenbootyfromthemysteriousshipbeforethemoonfades?Orwilltheyendupstuckonboardwithghostlypiratesuntilthenextfullmoon?

TheMilly-Molly-MandyStorybookJoyceLankesterBrisleyThestoriesofMilly-Molly-Mandyandherfriendshavecharmedgenerationsofchildrensincetheirfirstpublicationin1925.Perfectforreadingaloud,thesetwenty-onestorieswillbringbackhappymemoriesforparentsandgrandparentsandintroduceyoungerreaderstoanenduringlypopularheroineandherfriendslittle-friend-SusanandBillyBlunt.

TinyTheInvisibleWorldofMicrobesNicolaDaviesTherearelivingthingssotinymillionscouldfitonadot.Althoughtheyareinvisible,theyareeverywhereandtheymultiplyveryquickly.Theyarevitalforlifeonearth,anddoallsortsofthings-fromgivingusacoldandmakingyoghurttowearingdownmountainsandhelpingtomaketheairwebreathe.Thisfriendly,cleverbooksucceedsinconveyingthecomplexscienceofmicro-organismssimplyandclearly,andopensupanexcitingnewavenueforyoungnon-fiction.

AFirstBookofNatureNicolaDaviesFrombeachcombingtostargazing,fromwatchingsquirrels,ducksandwormstomakingberrycrumbleorawinterbirdfeast,thisisaremarkablebook-partpoetry,partscrapbookofrecipes,factsandfragments-andagloriousreminderthatthenaturalworldisonourdoorstepwaitingtobediscovered.MarkHearld'spicturesbeautifullyreproducethecoloursoftheseasonsonwoodfreepaper,andNicolaDavies'lyricalwordscapturethesimplelovelinessthatiseverywhere,ifonlywecanlook.

AvocadoBabyJohnBurninghamTheHargraveswanttheirnewbabytogrowupbigandstrong.Butthepunymitewillhardlyeatathing.OnedayMrsHargravesfindsanavocadointhefruitbowlandthebabygobblesitup.Soon,thestrangestthingsstarttohappen...

BlackDogLeviPinfoldAblackdogappearsoutsidetheHopefamily'shome.Aseachmemberofthehouseholdseesitandhides,thedoggrowsbiggerandbigger.OnlySmall,theyoungestHope,hasthecouragetofacetheBlackDog.Whenitchasesherthroughtheforestsheshowsnofear,soitgrowssmallerandsmaller.Finally,backtothesizeofanormalhound,theBlackDogiswelcomedintotheHopehouseholdastheirnewestaddition.

CopsandRobbersAllanAhlbergTherobbersofLondontownplanadesperatecrimeoneChristmasEve-tostealallthetoystheycanlaytheirhandson!Fortunately,therobbersmeettheirmatchinbraveofficePughwholeapsintoactionandarreststhevillains-allexceptGrandmaSwaggwhomanagestogetaway.

IamHenryFinchAlexisDeacon,VivianeSchwarzFromaward-winningpicturebookmakersAlexisDeaconandVivianeSchwarzcomesanenlighteningnewstoryaboutcourageandmakingadifference.Forbuddingphilosophersofallages,thisistheupliftingstoryofHenryFinchtheloveablelittlebirdwhostrivesforgreatness,getsitallabitwrong,thenmakesitrightagaininaverysurprisingway-trulybecominggreat.HenryFinchisatotalinspiration.Thisisaninspirationalbook.Itisalsoveryfunny.

ICanRead!OxfordPoetryfor5YearOldsJohnFosterThispoetrycollectioncomprises35fun,accessiblepoemstoreadtogetherathome.Featuringafantasticrangeofchildren'spoetsandfourexcitingthemeswithfull-colourillustrations,thisistheidealapproachtoencouragealoveofreading,whilstdevelopinganunderstandingofpoetry,meetingthenewrequirementsoftheNationalCurriculum.Poetryisafunwayforchildrentoenjoylearningtoread,developingtheirvocabularyandunderstandingofideasandthemes.Thiscollectionoffersawiderangeofpoemstoappealtoallchildren,frompoemsaboutspecialdayssuchasChristmasorChineseNewYeartopoemsthataregreattoreadaloud,like'TheWuzzyWaspsofWasperton'.ThecollectionhasbeencarefullyselectedforchildreninYear1ofschoolandincludeshelpfulparentnotesforeverypoemandaglossaryofkeytermsfromtheserieseditorandchildren'spoet,JohnFoster.

JourneyAaronBeckerAaronBecker'sstunning,wordlesspicturebookdebutaboutself-determinationandunexpectedfriendshipfollowsalittlegirlwhodrawsamagicdooronherbedroomwall.Throughitsheescapesintoaworldwherewonder,adventureanddangerabound.Redmarkerpeninhand,shecreatesaboat,aballoonandaflyingcarpetwhichcarryheronaspectacularjourney...whoknowswhere?Whensheiscapturedbyasinisteremperor,onlyanactoftremendouscourageandkindnesscansetherfree.Canitalsoguideherhomeandtohappiness?Inthisexquisitelyillustratedbook,anordinarychildislaunchedonanextraordinary,magicaljourneytowardshergreatestandmostrewardingadventureofall...

LittleRedandtheVeryHungryLionAlexT.SmithLittleRedsetsofftovisitherauntiewhoispoorly.Shewalksunderthegiraffes,overthesleepycrocodiles,pasttheenormouselephantsandthechatteringmonkeys.ThenaVeryHungryLionapproachesLittleRed,wantingtogobbleherup.ButdespiteallthecunningplansbyLion,LittleRedoutsmartshimandsoonhashimsayingsorryandeatingdoughnutsinstead.AclassicfairytalewithatwistbythebestsellingAlexT.Smith.

MisterMagnoliaQuentinBlakeMrMagnoliahasonlyoneboot.Hehasanoldtrumpetthatgoesrooty-toot-andtwolovelysisterswhoplayontheflute-ButMrMagnoliahasonlyoneboot.Inthiswittilyrhymingpicturebook,MrMagnoliahasafullandhappylifeexceptforoneseriousomission-aboot.Butoneday,hereceivesamysteriousparcel,andatlastMrMagnoliacansplashinthepuddleswitheveryoneelse!

MyBigBarefootBookofWonderfulWordsSophieFatusEachsceneisteemingwithpeople,placesandthings.Butwhatmakesthisbookreallydifferentisthateachofthenarrative,realworldscenesisfollowedandfurtherdevelopedbyanabstract,interactiveone.

OutfortheCountAnneFineHugowantsagerbil,buthisdadsaysit'scrueltokeepananimalinacage.Hugodoesn'tagree,andsoDadchallengeshimtospendadaycoopedupinhisroom.ThecountdownhasbarelybegunwhenHugostartstogostir-crazy.Warm,wittyandwisetotheimpatienceofchildhood,thisisAnneFineongreatform,encouragingyoungreaderstodevelopimaginationandempathy.

TheCatintheHatDr.SeussTheoneandonlyCatintheHatfromtheiconicDr.Seussgetsabrandnewlook,introducinghisroller-coasterrideofmayhemtoanewgenerationofreaders.WhenSallyandherbrotherareleftalone,theythinkthey'reinforadullday-untiltheCatintheHatstepsinonthemat,bringingwithhimmayhemandmadness!

TheDarkLemonySnicketLaszloisafraidofthedark.ThedarklivesinthesamehouseasLaszlobutmostlyitspendsitstimeinthebasement.Itdoesn'tvisitLaszloinhisroom.Untilonenightitdoes.Withemotionalinsightandpoeticeconomy,LemonySnicketandJonKlassenbringtolightauniversalandempoweringstoryaboutconqueringfear.Joinabraveboyonhisjourneytomeetthedark,andseewhyitwillneverbotherhimagain.

TheDjangoLeviPinfoldWinneroftheprestigious'BestEmergingIllustratorAward'fromBooktrust,LeviPinfoldhascreatedawonderfullymovingstoryofayoungboydoggedbytheattentionsofhisimaginaryfriend'Django'whokeepsgettinghimintotrouble.Finally,theyoungboyhastobanishhisfriend,buthemisseshimterribly.WhenhisfathergivesJeanabanjo,herediscoverstheinfectiousenthusiasmformusicthatwastheDjango'sspecialgifttohim.

TheEmperorofAbsurdiaChrisRiddellWelcometoAbsurdia:astrangeandwonderfullandwherenothingisquitewhatitseems.Treesarebirds,umbrellasaretrees,andtheskyisthickwithsnoringfish.Joinonesmallboyashetumblesoutofbedintoacrazydreamlandofwardrobemonsters,dragons--andamazingadventure.

TheGirlwiththeParrotonHerHeadDaisyHirstArresting,resonantandwittyTheTimesAbeautifullyboldandfreshnewpicturebook,thishopefulandendearingstoryaboutmovinghouse,makingnewfriendsandplayingimaginativegamesistoldwithsimplewitandcharm,andoffersatouchingexplorationoffeelings.WhenSimonmoveshouse,Isabellosesherbestfriendforever.Sheisangryandlonelyanddecidesit'sbettertobebyherself.Butafteratimeshefacesanewproblemthatleadshertomakeabrilliantnewfriend...

TheManontheMoonSimonBartramTheeverydaystoryofanordinaryman?Well,sortof.Bobisthemanonthemoon,andhehasaveryspecialjob,lookingafterthemoon,cleaningitup,showingvisitorsaroundandsellingsouvenirs.

TheOwlWhoWasAfraidoftheDarkJillTomlinsonThetimelesspicturebookstarringPlop,abeautifulbabybarnowl:heisfatandfluffy,withbig,roundeyesandsoft,downyfeathers.Infact,Plopisperfectinalmosteveryway,exceptforjustONEthing...Plopisafraidofthedark!Andthenonenighthediscoversthatperhapsthedarkisn'tquitesoscaryanddangerousashefeared,ashelearnstoembracethedarkanditswonders.

ThePaperDollsJuliaDonaldsonAstringofpaperdollsgoonafantasticaladventurethroughthehouseandoutintothegarden.Theysoonescapetheclutchesofthetoydinosaurandthesnappingjawsoftheoven-glovecrocodile,butthenaveryrealpairofscissorsthreatens.

ThePromiseNicolaDaviesOnameanstreetinameancity,athieftriestosnatchanoldwoman'sbag.Butshefindsshecan'thaveitwithoutpromisingsomethinginreturn-toplantthemall.Whenitturnsoutthebagisfullofacorns,theyoungthiefembarksonajourneythatchangesherownlifeandthelivesofothersforgenerationstocome.Inspiredbythebeliefthatarelationshipwithnatureisessentialtoeveryhumanbeing,andthatnow,morethanever,weneedtorenewthatrelationship,ThePromiseisthestoryofamagicaldiscoverythatwilltouchtheheartandimaginationofeveryreader,youngandold.

ThreebytheSeaMiniGreyInahousebytheseatherehappilyliveadog,acatandamouse.Well,happilyenoughuntilastrangerknocksonthedooronenight,offeringthemeachaspecialfreegift.Whoisthismysterioussalesmanblowingintotheirlittleworldandturningitupside-down?Andcantheirhappyhomesurvivehistrouble-makinggifts?

WheretheWildThingsAreMauriceSendakOnenightMaxputsonhiswolfsuitandmakesmischiefofonekindandanother,sohismothercallshim'WildThing'andsendshimtobedwithouthissupper.ThatnightaforestbeginstogrowinMax'sroomandanoceanrushesbywithaboattotakeMaxtotheplacewherethewildthingsare.Maxtamesthewildthingsandcrownshimselfastheirking,andthenthewildrumpusbegins.ButwhenMaxhassentthemonsterstobed,andeverythingisquiet,hestartstofeellonelyandrealisesitistimetosailhometotheplacewheresomeoneloveshimbestofall.

We'reGoingonaBearHuntMichaelRosenWe'regoingonabearhunt.We'regoingtocatchabigone.Willyoucometoo?Foraquarterofacentury,readershavebeenswishy-swashyingandsplash-sploshingthroughthisaward-winningfavourite.Followandjoininthefamily'sexcitementastheywadethroughthegrass,splashthroughtheriverandsquelchthroughthemudinsearchofabear.Whatasurpriseawaitstheminthecaveontheothersideofthedarkforest!

AHenintheWardrobeWendyMeddourRamzi'sdadisactingverystrangely.Heclimbstreesinthemiddleofthenight,andevengoesintoRamzi'swardrobelookingforahen.Thetroubleis,he'ssleepwalkingbecausehe'shomesickforhisnativeAlgeria.SoRamzi,DadandMumgobacktoDad'sBerbervillageinthedesertregionofNorthAfrica,andRamzimeetshisBerbergrandmotherandcousins,andevenbravesthescarySheherazad.ButcanRamzihelphisdadandwhatwillhappenwhentheygetbackhomeagain.Thisisafunny,heart-warmingfamilystorybyanexcitingnewauthor,setinBritainandAlgeria,withfascinatingglimpsesoftraditionalBerbercultureandlotsofcolourfulcharacters.

APigCalledHeatherHarryOultonHeather'sbestfriendisagirlcalledIsla,wholiveswithherdadonafarminScotland.TheiridylliclifetogetherisshatteredwhenathunderstormdestroysthefarmandforcesIsla'sdadtosellupandmovetoLondon-leavingIslaandHeathermilesapartandutterlymiserable.Thenfateintervenes,turningHeatherfromaneverydaypigintoanationalcelebrity,andcatapultinghertofame,fortuneand,mostexcitinglyofall...London.Armedonlywithherownpig-headedness,Heatherembarksonaquesttotrackdownherbestfriend.Afterall,howmanygirlswithfrecklescantherebeinLondon?

BeaverTowersWitchesRevengeTheWitch'sRevengeNigelHintonThisisthesecond'BeaverTowers'adventure.OnceagainPhiliphasbeentransportedtotheislandtohelphisfriendsthebeaversintheirfightagainstthewickedwitch,Oyin.ButOyinisplanningaterriblerevengeontheisland'sinhabitants.

TheDunderheadsPaulFleischmanWhat’sinaname?MeettheDunderheads,anunlikelybandofkidswithextraordinaryhiddentalents!'Never',shriekedMissBreakbone,'haveIbeenaskedtoteachsuchascrapingtogetheroffiddling,twiddling,time-squandering,mind-wandering,doodling,dozing,don't-knowingDUNDERHEADS'!MissBreakbone,theschoolmistress,hateskids.Sheshouts,sheconfiscates,shemakeskidscry.Butonedayshegoestoofar.Sheconfiscatestheone-eyedcatthatJunkyardisgoingtogivehismumforherbirthday.SothechildrenpooltheirmanyweirdandwonderfultalentstobreakintoBreakbone'shouseandgetJunkyard'scatbackforhim...

WinnietheWitchValerieThomasWinnietheWitchlivesinablackhouse.Shehasblackchairsandblackstairs,blackfloorsandblackdoors.ThetroubleisthatWinnie'scat,Wilbur,isalsoblack.Aftersittingonhimandtrippingoverhim,WinniedecidestoturnWilburintoagreencat.Butthenhegoesoutintothelonggrass!WinnieisgoingtoneedalittlemagictomakesureshecanalwaysseeWilbur...Abeautifully-craftedstorywithacolourfulfinaltwist.

CliffhangerJacquelineWilson

FromclimbingandabseilingtocanoeingandaCrazyBucketRace,Tim'sadventureholidaypromisestobefullofaction.There'sjustoneproblem:heishopelessatsportsofanykind.CanTimsurvivethehorrorsofaweek

absolutelypackedwithactivity?Canhisteam-theTigers-betheoverallchampions?Therearesomesurprisesinstoreforeveryone.