The Blythes are a big, warm, rambunctious family who live on a small farm and sometimes foster children. Now Prez has come to live with them. But, though he seems cheerful and helpful, he never says a word.
Then one day Prez answers the door to someone claiming to be his relative. This small, loud stranger carries a backpack, walks with a swagger and goes by the name of Sputnik.
As Prez dithers on the doorstep, Sputnik strolls right past him and introduces himself to everyone in the household. Prez is amazed at the response. The family pat Sputnik on the head, call him a good boy and drop food into his mouth. It seems they all think Sputnik is a dog. It's only Prez who thinks otherwise.
But Prez soon finds himself having to defend the family from the chaos and danger unleashed by Sputnik, as household items come to life - like a TV remote that fast-forwards people: 'Anyone can do it, it's just that people don't read the instructions properly'; and a toy lightsaber that entertains guests at a children's party, until one of them is nearly decapitated by it – and Prez is going to have to use his voice to explain himself.
It turns out that Sputnik is writing a guidebook to Earth called Ten Things Worth Doing on Earth, and he takes Prez on a journey to discover just those ten things. Each adventure seems to take Prez nearer to the heart of the family he is being fostered by. But they also take him closer to the day that he is due to leave them forever . . .
A fiercely original verse novel for middle-grade readers
and beyond from Zana Fraillon, the Carnegie Award-shortlisted
author of The Bone Sparrow.
'Tender and gritty' THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
'Beautifully written … ambitious and absorbing' BOOKS
+ PUBLISHING
Be strong. Be fierce. Life is more than a concrete floor.
Scruffity is born into a harsh, grey world. What he yearns for
most is Family. But no one wants him. Just as his chances of adoption
grow thin, Scruffity is set free by a boy as unwanted as he
is.
He learns how to run, to dig, to howl and, biggest of all, to
love. But then tragedy strikes ...
How does a dog find his way home when he never had one to begin
with?
A heartfelt, wondefully written and totally compelling
story of love and belonging
Told through the eyes of a young pup, Scruffity, who
will tug at your heartstrings
Themes of friendship, loss and hope are woven through
a gripping narrative
Stunning illustrations by Sean Buckingham
Malorie Blackman brings together the best teen writers of today in a stunningly romantic collection about love against the odds. Featuring short stories and extracts - both brand-new and old favourites - about modern star-crossed lovers from stars such as Gayle Forman, Markus Zusak, Patrick Ness and Andrew Smith, and with a new story from Malorie Blackman herself, Love Hurts looks at every kind of relationship, from first kiss to final heartbreak.
Join everybody’s favourite flat boy for another magical adventure – It’s Jeff Brown’s Flat Stanley.
Stanley’s Christmas Adventure
Santa Claus is fed up. No one appreciates Christmas any more, so why should he deliver any presents? Santa's daughter, Sarah Christmas, asks the Lambchops for help. They have to find a way to save Christmas – and if anyone can, it's Stanley!
Jeff Brown’s world-famous character Flat Stanley continues to charm half a century after he first found his way into print.
Meet Ben Fletcher, an Adrian Mole for a new generation
Ben Fletcher must get to grips with his more 'feminine' side following an unfortunate incident with a lollipop lady and a stolen bottle of Martini Rosso from Waitrose. All a big misunderstanding of course.
To avoid the Young Offenders unit, Ben is ordered to give something back to the community and develop his sense of social alignment. Take up a hobby and keep on the straight and narrow. The hot teacher he likes runs a knitting group so Ben, reluctantly at first, gets 'stuck in'. Not easy when your dad is a sports fan and thinks Jeremy Clarkson is God. To his surprise, Ben finds that he likes knitting and that he has a mean competitive streak. If he can just keep it all a secret from his mates...and notice that the girl of his dreams, girl-next-door Megan Hooper has a bit of a thing for him...
Laugh-out-loud, often ridiculous, sometimes quite touching, and revelatory about the knitting world, BOYS DON'T KNIT is a must for boys and girls...
Jamie Grimm is back and better than ever in the third episode of James Patterson's bestselling I Funny series. Finding himself one step closer to his dream of being the best kid comic in the world, Jamie faces his biggest challenge yet.
After scoring big on national TV in the semifinals contest, everyone back home is jumping on the Jamie Grimm bandwagon, and all the attention might be going to his head. Not only are his friendships starting to suffer, but the pressure of coming up with his best material ever for the ultimate standup act to snag the final win in Hollywood is pushing Jamie to the brink. Suddenly, life isn't looking very funny anymore. Can Jamie take the grand prize without pushing away his fans, friends and family?
Bridge to Terabithia is an unforgettable story of friendship and loss by award-winning author Katherine Paterson.
Jess Aarons wants to be the fastest boy in the class, but when a girl named Leslie Burke moves into the neighbouring farm his life changes forever. Even though she runs faster than him, Jess begins to think Leslie might be okay - she's clever and funny and not a bit soppy. And it is Leslie who invents Terabithia, the secret country on an island across the creek where he can escape his troublesome family.The only way to reach Terabithia is by rope-swing where Jess and Leslie become King and Queen, defeating giants, sharing stories and dreams, and plotting against their enemies. They are invincible - until tragedy strikes. It is more dreadful than anything Jess had ever dreamed of, but as he struggles to cope with his grief and anger, he finds that his family value him more than he'd thought and that, still King, he could even save Terabithia for the future.
Reissued in 'A Pufifn Book' series of Puffin modern classics, Bridge to Terabithia is a Newbery Medal winner.
A group of undocumented children with letters for names, are stuck living in a refugee camp, with stories to tell but no papers to prove them. As they try to forge a new family amongst themselves, they also long to keep memories of their old identities alive.
Will they be heard and believed? And what will happen to them if they aren't?
An astonishing piece of writing that will enchant and intrigue children; perfectly pitched at a 9+ readership.
Angelina and the New Baby - a wonderful story by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig.
This classic Angelina story is a brilliant introduction to the arrival of a new baby.
Angelina is so excited by the arrival of a new baby, Polly, and can't wait to be a big sister. But Angelina's family spend so much time doting on the baby that Angelina soon feels left out and forgotten. Yet Angelina hasn't been forgotten and, when they see how upset she is, her family show her that love for your children only increases as they get older.
Previously published as Angelina's Baby Sister
Katharine Holabird grew up in Chicago, USA. She wrote the first Angelina Ballerina book, Angelina Ballerina, in 1982. Katharine has three grown-up children and lives in London with her husband.
Helen Craig was born in London. She became an apprentice photographer aged sixteen and went on to set up her own studio. Helen has illustrated over 60 children's books. She has a grown-up son, several grandchildren and lives in Cambridge.
LULU: OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD
'Simply told, full of familiar activities with wonderful attention to detail ... Very pretty to look at too' The Children's Bookseller on Lulu books
Lulu is the perfect character to introduce preschoolers to first experiences.
Join her as she spends a fun day at the zoo and meets a whole host of noisy animals. With an accessible tone, warm and reassuring text and interactive flaps to lift on every page, Lulu at the Zoo is the perfect introduction to exciting visits out and about.
Popular, trusted and reassuring, the Lulu picture, novelty and board books make the perfect companion for inquisitive little minds.
Bumpfizzle is an alien, sent to Earth from Planet Plonk on a research mission. Or is he really just a ten-year-old boy who is feeling a bit disgruntled at all the attention his parents are lavishing on The Baby? It is up to readers to make up their own minds. Either way, Bumpfizzle's confusion at Earthling behaviours, as reported in his diary and his frequent reports back to Plonk, are hilarious, and his adventures are ridiculous, from eating the cat's food (it makes him throw up, always good for attention) to biting his teacher (to check if humans would make a good source of food for Plonkers) and attempting to sacrifice a goat (he soon discovers what goats' horns are for).
