Dear reader,
There is nothing to be found in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events but misery and despair. You still have time to choose another international best-selling series to read. But if you insist on discovering the unpleasant adventures of the Baudelaire orphans, then proceed with caution…
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.
In The Wide Window the siblings encounter a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leaches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain and a doll named Pretty Penny.
In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted.
Despite their wretched contents, A Series of Unfortunate Events has sold 60 million copies worldwide and been made into a Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey. And in the future things are poised to get much worse, thanks to the forthcoming Netflix series directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. You have been warned.
Are you unlucky enough to own all 13 adventures?
The Bad Beginning
The Reptile Room
The Wide Window
The Miserable Mill
The Austere Academy
The Ersatz Elevator
The Vile Village
The Hostile Hospital
The Carnivorous Carnival
The Slippery Slope
The Grim Grotto
The Penultimate Peril
The End
And what about All The Wrong Questions? In this four-book series a 13-year-old Lemony chronicles his dangerous and puzzling apprenticeship in a mysterious organisation that nobody knows anything about:
‘Who Could That Be at This Hour?’
‘When Did you Last See Her?’
‘Shouldn’t You Be in School?’
‘Why is This Night Different from All Other Nights?’
Lemony Snicket was born before you were and is likely to die before you as well. He was born in a small town where the inhabitants were suspicious and prone to riot. He grew up near the sea and currently lives beneath it. Until recently, he was living somewhere else.
Brett Helquist was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in New York City. He earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University and has been illustrating ever since. His art has appeared in many publications, including Cricket magazine and The New York Times.
A hilarious new series, perfect for fans of MR GUM.Quirky black-and-white line illustrations throughout as well as fun activity sheets at the back. Bobby Cobbler's family have only just moved to Pip Street when his beloved cat Conkers goes missing. As a mammoth-sized search begins, Bobby makes friends with the tiny and fizzy Imelda who lives next door. The friends soon discover that a lot of cats from Pip Street are missing. In fact so are the ones from Chip Street and Dip Street too! What on earth is going on? Something mysterious that's for sure! Bobby is determined to solve this whiskery mystery and see the safe return of his pet, but little does he realize that the culprit won't rest until Pip Street is completely catless!
Jess's cartoons are actually beginning to take off. A local comic store wants to use them in a campaign and she is in danger of becoming really rather famous (at school). This leads to some tensions with her friends. Why can't people be happy for her?
From two of the world's best-loved picture-book creators, an absolute gem for new-siblings-to-be. When is the baby coming? What will we call it? What will the baby do? We don't really need the baby, do we? As the arrival of a new sibling draws nearer, the questions that stream through a young child's mind are followed with sensitivity and humour in this enchanting book. Exquisitely illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, these pages brim with love, excitement and reassurance as the child in the story imagines all kinds of colourful futures for the brother or sister he is waiting to meet. Full of warmth and promise, this is an instant and timeless classic. It is the first book-publishing collaboration of this award-winning husband-and-wife team. Oozing with loving interaction between parent and child, and with unspoken - yet palpable - reassurance.
The heart-warming tale of one boy and the dog that changes his life from a much loved and award-winning author.
Jake is different from the other kids at school. He struggles when routines change and people's emotions are so hard to understand. Christmas can be even worse and often the festivities are just too much to bear. But when Jake finds a little dog lost in the street he unlocks a connection he's never had before. Together Jake and Susan form a special bond that helps him to understand the world around him, changing his life for the better. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
Book Band: Lime, ideal for ages 6+
A powerful and personal story from Joyce Dunbar about what it's like to experience hearing difficulties.
'Joyce Dunbar is one of the best writers for children today.' Guardian
Dylan can't hear as well as he used to be able to and he doesn't want to be different from his friends - he wants things to go back to the way they used to be. As his hearing gets worse he becomes more and more isolated from his friends. Luckily his dog Pluto is there to keep him down to earth...
This heartwarming story from Joyce Dunbar has beautiful black-and-white illustrations by John Shelley and is perfect for children who are developing as readers.
The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com.
'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed … Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps
Hold on to your umbrella and stock up on marshmallows – Judy Moody and Stink face wicked weather in their third full-colour adventure.
In their third full-colour adventure, Judy Moody and Stink face some wicked weather – and a night without any electricity! Hold on to your umbrella and stock up on marshmallows – Hurricane Elmer is coming to town! The Moody family hunker down with baked beans and batteries to wait out the storm. But along with massive rain and strong winds, Hurricane Elmer throws down ghosts, bionic squirrels and aliens. Spooky! Just when things couldn’t possibly get any freakier – flicker, flicker, gulp! – the lights go O-U-T out. The Moodys are smack-dab in the middle of a big bad blackout! Grandma Lou proposes musical board games and some good old-fashioned storytelling. Will Hurricane Elmer go down in Moody family history as bad news, a happy memory or simply an LBS (Long Boring Story)?
Charlie is finally testing her powers as a witch. But when new boy
Zack joins the school, everything goes wrong. He seems perfect
- but Charlie is sure there's more to him than meets the eye. Another
enchanting exploration of friendship and magic, from best-selling
author Abie Longstaff.
Number One for Fiendish Fun! Get ready for a bumper edition of mayhem with this totally awesome collection of six favourite Horrid Henry stories!
Spend your summer holidays with Horrid Henry! This book contains six favourite stories and tons of fun jokes and activity pages to keep Horrid Henry fans of all ages entertained for hours.
An irresistible introduction to reading for pleasure - the perfect gift for Horrid Henry fans everwhere.
The sixth and final title in this brilliant series about the No. 1 car spotter by a renowned Nigerian storyteller.
Oluwalase Babatunde Benson is the No. 1 car spotter in the village – maybe even the world! And No. 1 is excited when he learns that a factory is being built in his Nigerian village. There will be jobs for the villagers, including No. 1's father. But strange things begin to happen: the goats become sick and the fish in the river are dying. What is going on? And can No. 1 put things right?
But Bella discovers there's some good things about being bigger and going to nursery after all, and maybe she'll be surprised about what Bob and Mummy have been doing without her...
An outstanding sequel to MY BIG SHOUTING DAY - WINNER OF THE ROALD DAHL FUNNY PRIZE 2012!
From the bestselling author of TIN and THE MONSTERS OF
ROOKHAVEN comes an unforgettable story of family, magic and home
...
'A fantastical tale of monsters and grief, family and love,
and a thrilling middle-grade adventure with real depth and heart.'
THE BOOKSELLER, Book of the Month
'Poignant, strange, full of folkloric menace and delight,
Pog fulfils the promise of Kenny's extraordinary debut,
Tin.' GUARDIAN
'A terrific book with echoes of The Spiderwick Chronicles
and Five Children and It, I loved it!' IRISH
INDEPENDENT
After their mother dies,
David and Penny move to her family’s old house in the forest.
Dad says it’s a fresh start but it feels sad and empty
without Mum. And there are noises in the attic ...
A small furry creature is living in the roof. There are other
creatures too – less friendly ones – that seem to be
multiplying.
Only with Pog’s help can David and Penny save themselves
– and goodness in the world. If they can resist promises from
the darkness ...
A wonderful gentle fantasy novel from the bestselling
author of The Monsters of Rookhaven and Tin
Packed with fantastical monsters, vibrant characters
and tonnes of heart
Explores grief in a highly original way, as two siblings
process the death of their mother with the help of an unforgettable,
magical creature: Pog
