Join the fun on the farm!
A charming story from award-winning author Michael Morpurgo, hilariously illustrated throughout by Shoo Rayner, and perfect for readers of 5 and up.
Two funny farmyard stories for younger readers.
Mossop’s Last Chance:
“There’s mice in my barley sacks, there’s rats in my roof and now there’s mice in the corn bin. This time I’ve had enough. If you aren’t up to the job, you will have to go.”
Mossop the old farm cat likes to sleep – and not much else! So when Farmer Rafferty tells him to catch twenty-six mice by sunset, all the animals have to pull together to give Mossop one last chance…
Albertine, Goose Queen:
“Good morning, Madam, I’ve come to eat you. Your friends have all gone. There’s no one to help you now. They’re all very stupid, aren’t they?”
A fox is on the loose, and all the animals except Albertine the goose have hidden themselves inside. Albertine is safe on her island in the pond – at least so she thinks, until the fox starts swimming towards her…
In this heart-rending tale of guinea pig love, best friends Brian and Bob are cruelly separated, when Bob is sold and suddenly taken away from the pet shop. Now poor Brian has no-one to play I-Spy with, and even a peanut can't cheer him up. Misery sets in until he, too, is sold, and the two guinea pigs are reunited in a touching final scene.
Warm and funny, a book to make you smile.
A new edition of the second novel about much-loved character Little Wolf, as he sets up his Adventure Academy with his cousin Yeller and little brother Smellybreff. From the author of the MEERKAT MADNESS books and HARRY AND THE BUCKETFUL OF DINOSAURS.
Little Wolf inherits two things from his Uncle Bigbad – his gold and Cunning College, his school of badness. Little and his cousin Yeller decide that BADNESS is out and that ADVENTURES are in. But their first mistake is thinking that they can buy adventures. Their second mistake is to reply to Mister Marvo’s advert for Instant Adventures [Scary but Safe]. The result is they find themselves caught up in a real adventure. But Little is scared of bangs; snow gives Yeller the trembles and… Smellybreff gets cubnapped. Will they be able to get through Frettnin Forest and over the Grim Mountains? Will they manage to cross the Perrilus Pass into Grimshire? Can they battle across the White Wildness, the Shivering Seas and conquer Vile Island. YOU BET THEY CAN!
Little Wolf’s letters about his daring deeds will delight anyone with a sense of fun, both young or old, especially those who have already enjoyed Little Wolf’s Book of Badness.
Meet Belka and Strelka, the two dogs who changed the face of space history and became international celebrities in the process!
In 1960, two stray dogs were plucked from the streets of Moscow to become space pioneers.
This quirky and delightful picture book tells the incredible true story of these heroic strays. Selected from a number of potential canine cosmonauts, Belka and Strelka are put through their paces on the ground, as they practice rocket simulations and wearing spacesuits, before being launched into outer space as the first ever living creatures to successfully orbit the Earth.
Miraculously, the dogs survive the mission and upon their return embark on a tour of the USSR, clad in their carefully tailored jumpsuits - one red, one green - becoming international celebrities. As for their legacy, less than a year after their safe return the Soviet space programme felt confident enough to send the first human into space.
A contemporary countryside tale about the power of friendship and creativity, from the nation's favourite children's author.
A beautiful countryside story for Michael Morpurgo fans, illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill (J. K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). Bonny has always wanted to be a top cyclist, maybe even a future Olympic champion. But her world changes after meeting a sculptor named Lizzie, who gives her a job on her farm. Bonny is introduced to a life-sized sculpture of Lizzie's horse and is allowed to pose as its rider, a completely magical experience. She learns from Lizzie that a true gift is never to be wasted, and that if you ""breathe the world in deep"", you can do anything.
Dodie Smith’s classic sequel to The Hundred and One Dalmations.
Strange things are happening. Dogs are the only creatures in the world that are awake, and they can communicate through thought waves. Best of all, they can swoosh through the air. Pongo, Missis and the family swoosh up to London to see if they can help sort out what’s going on. Is it Cruella de Vil, up to her old tricks? Or is it something or someone far more sinister?
The Hundred and One Dalmations is an all-time classic children’s book. Famously adapted by Walt Disney Studios, it continues to be one of the most popular children’s books long after the author’s death. The Starlight Barking is another exciting adventure by Dodie Smith not just for 101 Dalmations, but for every other kind of dog, too!
Christmas miracles come in all sizes! When Lucy finds a lost baby otter she makes a Christmas wish to find him a special new home. But little does Lucy know that it's just the start of the Christmas magic, and that by helping the otter she will help lots of other people, and animals, too! He may only be small, but Lucy's little otter is about to make a big impact! This warm and traditional festive story is an ideal Christmas present for any child who loves animals. Beautifully illustrated throughout by Sophy Williams, illustrator of Holly Webb's animal stories, the simple language and short chapters make it perfect for young readers who are starting to read independently. With a lovely message about caring for others and the environment, fans of Lucy's Secret Reindeer and Lucy's Magic Snow Globe will be unable to resist this new Lucy story!
The second hilarious Panda Panic story in the fantastic AWESOME ANIMALS series – awesome adventures with the wildest wildlife, from award-winning authors.
Ping the panda lives with his mum and twin sister on the Wolong nature reserve in China. Although his name means ‘peaceful‘ he’s anything but! Ping craves adventure and excitement but unfortunately he is a panda… and pandas do pretty much nothing except eat bamboo.
But when Ping gets swept off down the river, he at last finds the adventure he’s been waiting for. Will Ping and his new friend Little Bear enjoy their freedom, or will the shadows, and the bandits, and the lurking snow leopards have them running for home-sweet-home?
Chip the Robodog tries to make friends with the neighbourhood dogs, but they aren't interested. He even learns to fly, but they all run away. Chip's escapades are a worry to his family, but when he saves Rex, the dog belonging to the snooty neighbours he makes a friend at last.
Twilight is a rather ordinary little grey pony but when Lauren whispers the magic words, he turns into a beautiful snow-white unicorn. Lauren and Twilight make an intrepid journey to the land of Arcardia in order to save their pony friend Shadow from a mystery virus.
Princess Mina would love a pet, but her older sister Princess Tina is allergic to animals. When Princess Mina texts a birthday wish to her absent-minded fairy godmother, she gets more than she bargained for. In a blink of an eye there are kittens in the kitchen, puppies in the parlour and a boa constrictor under the bed! Princess Tina isn't pleased...The ""I Am Reading"" series provides just the right balance of challenge and support for newly independent readers. Large, easy-to-read type, satisfying stories by top writers and cheerful full-colour pictures help children make the transition from picture books to chapter books. Each book includes a bookmark flap, tips for beginner readers and either short, numbered chapters or two short stories. Princess Mina dreams of getting a pet for her birthday, but her parents and nanny don't approve. Pets make a mess, and besides, her older sister Princess Tina is allergic to them. Princess Tina is a typical moody teenager, depressed because her boyfriend has been turned into a frog. When Princess Mina texts her fairy godmother to ask for a pet, she gets a spell in return that fills the whole castle with pets.
There's complete chaos, as kittens leap out of the king's pie, puppies chew the queen's slippers, and goldfish swim around in Nanny's toothglass beside her bed. Princess Tina comes out in spots and demands that the pets disappear! But the fairy godmother's new spell gets rid of the pest, not the pets. Princess Tina ends up as a frog princess, croaking in the palace pond with her beloved Bertram, and the rest of the characters learn to love the new animal arrivals - so there's a happy ending for everyone!
