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The Fart that Changed the World

Stephen Mangan, Anita Mangan

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

A high-energy, laugh-out-loud, fully illustrated adventure story by much-loved actor Stephen Mangan and talented artist Anita Mangan. ""Laugh-out-loud stuff"" Ray D’Arcy It's the most important day of the year for King Fabian as he is hosting all the neighbouring rulers. Everything simply must go perfectly. King Fabian wakes up, stretches, and... farts. His wife's fury is so huge that he panics and blames the butler, who is carted off to the dungeons. Leaving behind a big problem: Fabian isn't really the brains behind the crown: it is the butler... how will dithery Fabian manage to pull off this high-pressure event alone? His small and smelly fart looks like it will kick off a crisis... Frank - a kitchen boy with a big imagination - is drafted in as an emergency butler. As the banquet descends into a food fight and processions catapult out of control, Frank finds himself in an all-out farty farce. Can he save the day? Wildly funny and endlessly surprising, this is delightfully imaginative, surreal storytelling with a message that small events can trigger big change, and children can be heroes! Packed with pictures by Stephen Mangan's sister Anita Mangan. Escape the Rooms is one of the most loved and bestselling children's debuts of 2021. Stephen and Anita Mangan are comic dynamite. Praise for Stephen and Anita's books: Escape the Rooms: ""A brilliant, clever, kind of genius book"" Graham Norton, Virgin Radio 'Richly imagined and deeply heartfelt' Hadley Freeman, Guardian 'Manages to feel both classic and modern at the same time' Good Housekeeping 'A beautiful and exciting adventure that ignites the imagination' Edith Bowman The Fart That Changed the World ""A sure-fire way for kids to entertain themselves. What’s more, it’s also excellent for reading aloud"" LoveReading4Kids ""A high-energy, brilliantly imaginative and laugh-out-loud tale that is guaranteed to blow away young readers"" Lancashire Evening Post The Unlikely Rise of Harry Sponge “After the runaway success of joint debut novel, Escape the Rooms, and the hilarious The Fart That Changed the World, the dynamic duo return with an all-action, marvellously manic and laugh-out-loud tale with a message that any child can be a hero” Lancashire Evening Post ""hilarious ... A right royal romp"" First News ABOUT THE MANGANS Stephen Mangan is an author, script-writer and actor with huge range across TV, radio, film and theatre. From classic comedy such as Green Wing, Episodes and I'm Alan Partridge and acclaimed drama such as The Split, Stephen also presents Portrait and Landscape Artist of the Year and regularly appears on stage, most recently as a highly praised Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Stephen also voiced the title role in Postman Pat: The Movie. He has been a member of the judging panels for the Costa Book of the Year prize and The Laugh-Out-Loud Awards (The Lollies). His children's books are the bestselling Escape the Rooms and The Fart that Changed the World. Stephen on writing for children (interview on ITV's Lorraine): “Every page has to grip them, make them laugh, be interesting because they can drop it. There are screens everywhere that they can pick up. That’s part of the reason why I started writing books because I had such fun as a kid reading books. I always had my head in a book. I wanted to write books that were unputdownable for children, that were full of adventure and crazy big characters and made them laugh.” Anita Mangan is a celebrated graphic designer and illustrator who has designed over 60 books including for Leon Restaurants, Gizzi Erskine and Fearne Cotton. She illustrated the best-selling Be a Unicorn series. Her first children's book was the bestselling Escape the Rooms.

My Adorable Puppy

Sarah Hawkins

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (14 reviews)

MY ADORABLE PUPPY is guaranteed to keep animal lovers enthralled, packed with illustrations, facts and care tips. The perfect companion to MY ADORABLE JOURNAL series. Olivia's Mum and Dad don't think she is responsible enough to have a puppy. When a neighbour needs help looking after their 12 week old labrador puppy, Barley, Olivia will do whatever it takes to prove that she can. Turns out Barley and Olivia were made for each other and it's not long before everyone else thinks so too!

It's a Dog's Life (Reading Ladder Level 2)

Michael Morpurgo, Hannah George

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (9 reviews)

A funny, heartwarming animal story from a master storyteller, perfect for children learning to read. Lula always likes me to go with her to the end of the lane. She loves a bit of a cuddle and a lick or two before the school bus comes. “Oh Russ,… she whispers. “A horse. It’s all I want for my birthday.… And I’m thinking – excuse me, but what’s so great about a horse? Isn’t a dog good enough?… The touching tale of one girl and her dog exploring farm life, from Britain’s best-loved children’s author, Michael Morpurgo. The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. Clear type Up to 8 lines per page Bright, appealing pictures for added interest A variety of sentence structures A wider range of vocabulary Strong themes and characters to discuss All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading. Book band: Purple

Meet Waffle!

Scholastic

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (15 reviews)

Meet Waffle the Wonder Dog! Join the Brooklyn-Bells family in this hilarious book of the much-loved television programme Waffle the Wonder Dog as they embark on life in their new home. When the Brooklyn-Bells discover a puppy in need of a place to stay, they soon discover the newest member of the family has a special skill... Waffle can talk!

Fear Ground (Dread Wood, Book 2)

Jennifer Killick

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (16 reviews)

The brand new must-read middle-grade novel from the author of super-spookyCrater Lake. Perfect for 9+ fans of R.L.Stine’s Goosebumps. There’s a new craze at Dread Wood High. Flinch is a game of fear. The more you scare your friends, the more points on the app you get. At first it’s fun, but soon fun is replaced by fear. And Angelo and his friends notice that everyone is behaving more and more strangely every day – almost as if something is taking over their brains… With the fair arriving in town, adrenaline and excitement levels are high. But who are the people behind the super-creepy clown masks? With fights breaking out and Flinch in full force, it’s time for the final showdown at the Fear Ground. Let the REAL games begin!

The Secret School Invasion

Pamela Butchart, Thomas Flintham

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (14 reviews)

The twelfth in a smash hit series of hilarious tales about primary school life from best-selling, award-winning creators! Packed with excellent black and white illustrations, this is the perfect longer read for newly confident readers. Nothing is quite as it seems for Izzy and her friends, and the drama is always off the scale! Izzy's school is being merged with St Bartholomew's Primary, their greatest rivals! What will happen when the new kids join, in their too-shiny shoes and with their too-loud singing? And what if they've got a secret mission and that mission is a BAD mission? Only Izzy and her friends can discover the truth, even if they must go SO DEEP UNDERCOVER that they might not come back... Have you read these brilliantly funny Izzy and friends adventures? Baby Aliens Got My Teacher The Spy Who Loved School Dinners - Blue Peter Award Winner 2015 My Headteacher Is a Vampire Rat - Children's Book Award Winner 2016 Attack of the Demon Dinner Ladies To Wee Or Not To Wee! There's a Yeti in the Playground There's a Werewolf in my Tent - Lollies Shortlist 2019 The Phantom Lollipop Man Praise for Izzy and friends: ""Butchart has enviable comic timing and a shrewd understanding of how primary-aged children think, speak and speculate. Punchy short chapters, genuinely laugh-out-loud humour and Flintham's zany pictures make the series an absolute must."" - The Bookseller ""Good jokes and lots of fun, and especially good for reluctant readers."" - Sunday Times

Peter Rabbit Tales – Happy Birthday

Beatrix Potter

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (12 reviews)

Hop into the world of Peter Rabbit and his friends in this series of charming board books! It's Peter's birthday, but he feels sad because nobody in his family wants to play or even see him! It's turning out to be the worst birthday ever for Peter . . . until he gets a special surprise. This is the third title in a fresh series of very young stories set in Peter Rabbit's world. The simple tales will deal with the early experiences and emotions of small children, as seen through the eyes of Beatrix Potter's classic characters.

Belinda Brown

David McKee

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (12 reviews)

David McKee has created a new modern classic with the story of Belinda, a banana-obsessed young girl. Her whole family thinks it's a phase, except for Grandma Brown: she worries, and worry is hard to keep down. She asks Belinda to give up her favourite fruit before she gets a banana-shaped body, but Belinda has other ideas... 'What a joy; a new rhyming book from the Elmer and Mr Benn creator, David McKee... Fantastic illustrations' THE TIMES

The Wild Robot Protects (The Wild Robot 3)

Peter Brown

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (11 reviews)

The enchanting new addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling THE WILD ROBOT series from award-winning author-illustrator Peter Brown, packed full of glorious illustrations. Roz the robot has made an unlikely home for herself on an idyllic island dense with forests, wildflowers and friendly animal inhabitants - including her own young son Brightbill the gosling. Life on the island is perfect, until a dying seal washes ashore and warns of dangerous, cloudy waters that are flowing towards the island, bringing new dangers for the animals. Forced inland they will have to fight over fewer resources - and Roz realises that she must march into the waves and undertake an incredible undersea adventure to find a way to protect her beloved island and all who live on it ... From bestselling author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed third book in his New York Times bestselling The Wild Robot series, exploring what happens when nature and technology collide. Praise for The Wild Robot 'An Iron Man style fable for our age' - Piers Torday, award-winning author of The Last Wild 'A modern-day classic in the making' - Booktrust [Peter Brown's THE WILD ROBOT was a #1 New York Times bestseller w/c 11th June 2023.]

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger

Olaf Falafel

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (16 reviews)

'Funny, arty and just a little bit naughty, the Art Avenger is amazing!' Matt Lucas 'Very funny . . . I learned tons about art and laughed A LOT.' Joe Lycett A laugh-out-loud illustrated adventure featuring Trixie Pickle, the Banksy of her school. Trixie loves art and hates bullies - and so decides to become an Art Avenger, righting wrongs at her school through art. She uses Picasso, Pollock and Ofili to teach bullies a lesson, get out of lessons and help those in need, like an arty Robin Hood. Highly illustrated throughout by Olaf and with fact files of hilarious and irreverent details about real artists, Trixie Pickle is perfect for fans of Konnie Huq, Sam Copeland and Liz Pichon.

Moving House

Anne Civardi, Stephen Cartwright

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (11 reviews)

Designed to introduce young children to unfamiliar situations in an amusing and friendly way. Features Stephen Cartwright’s delightful illustrations, providing lots to look at and talk about. An ideal starting point for young children and adults to discuss first experiences.

Skandar and the Skeleton Curse: Volume 4

A.F. Steadman

Subjects

Funny Stuff - rib ticklers to make you fall off your chair
Animal Tales - bundles of fur, fluff and fun
Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Sporty Stories - games, goals and gold medals

Average rating

5 out 5 (11 reviews)

‘The most popular fantasy hero since Harry Potter’ Telegraph BLOODTHIRSTY UNICORNS. UNLIKELY HEROES. A DEADLY CURSE. The epic adventure continues. Don’t miss the unputdownable new book in number 1 bestselling SKANDAR series, for readers ages 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Impossible Creatures. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief was WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 and WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023! Skandar and the Phantom Rider was one of THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023. As Skandar and his friends begin their fourth year at the Eyrie, the Island’s unicorns are struck by a terrible curse that threatens to change everything. Between a Commodore determined to eliminate the spirit element for good, and a sister hellbent on revenge, nowhere is safe for Skandar. As more and more unicorns are affected by the curse, the clock is ticking for Skandar and his quartet, who find themselves literally racing for their lives. Can they stop the curse in its tracks before the Island is lost for ever? Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, sky battles, ancient secrets and ferocious unicorns in this highly anticipated adventure that will keep you reading after lights out! Praise for the SKANDAR series: ‘Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.’ – The Times Children's Book of the Week ‘Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn ‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of Starfell ‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Rainbow Grey ‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun 'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times *Skandar and the Chaos Trials was the Number 1 bestseller in the UK Nielsen Bookscan chart, 27 April 2024

Book Sorter

Books sorted! Take a look at these top recommendations, or...

The Fart that Changed the World

Stephen Mangan, Anita Mangan

The Fart that Changed the World

Subjects

Average rating

My Adorable Puppy

Sarah Hawkins

My Adorable Puppy

Subjects

Average rating

It's a Dog's Life (Reading Ladder Level 2)

Michael Morpurgo, Hannah George

It's a Dog's Life (Reading Ladder Level 2)

Subjects

Average rating

Meet Waffle!

Scholastic

Meet Waffle!

Subjects

Average rating

Fear Ground (Dread Wood, Book 2)

Jennifer Killick

Fear Ground (Dread Wood, Book 2)

Subjects

Average rating

The Secret School Invasion

Pamela Butchart, Thomas Flintham

The Secret School Invasion

Subjects

Average rating

Peter Rabbit Tales – Happy Birthday

Beatrix Potter

Peter Rabbit Tales – Happy Birthday

Subjects

Average rating

Belinda Brown

David McKee

Belinda Brown

Subjects

Average rating

The Wild Robot Protects (The Wild Robot 3)

Peter Brown

The Wild Robot Protects (The Wild Robot 3)

Subjects

Average rating

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger

Olaf Falafel

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger

Subjects

Average rating

Moving House

Anne Civardi, Stephen Cartwright

Moving House

Subjects

Average rating

Skandar and the Skeleton Curse: Volume 4

A.F. Steadman

Skandar and the Skeleton Curse: Volume 4

Subjects

Average rating

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