Endearing story about a little girl whose father never has time for her. She wishes for a (real) gorilla for her birthday but gets a soft toy one from daddy. Not being too pleased about this she tosses it aside before going to bed where it changes into a real live one during the night. The story goes on to tell how this gorilla takes the little girl out on an adventure for a birthday treat. Gorilla does all the things that a daddy should.

Fly, Eagle, Fly by Christopher Gregorowski

After a stormy night, a farmer searching for his lost calf finds a baby eagle that has been blown out of its nest. He takes it home and raises it with his chickens. But when his friend comes to visit one day, he tells the farmer that an eagle should be flying high in the sky, not scrabbling on the ground for grain. How the farmer's friend proves that the bird is an eagle and destined to fly to the sun is lyrically retold by Christopher Gregorowski. Niki Daly's bright water colour illustrations breathe life into this powerful and uplifting tale.

The Diamond Brothers in The Falcon’s Malteaser by Anthony Horowitz

When a dwarf comes into the office and leaves a package, Tim Diamond, the world's worst private-detective, is faced with his toughest case yet. The office is ransacked and the package is found to contain simply a box of Maltesers. Who was the dwarf ...and why was he murdered shortly after his visit?

Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman

Limpy can't understand why humans hate all cane toads so much - they even squash them with their cars. He is determined to save his own family from ending up as flat as place mats. He sets off on a 'mucas-chillingly dangerous and wart-tinglingly daring journey' and risks everything to make humans see that cane toads are really very nice.

Fizzlebert Stump: The Boy who Ran Away from the Circus by A.F. Harold

There are many boys in the world, all slightly different from one another, and most of them are referred to by names. These are often John or Jack or Desmond, but sometimes they are James or Philip or Simon. Once, and once only, there was a boy whose name was Fizzlebert.' Fizzlebert Stump lives in a travelling circus. But although he gets to hang around with acrobats, play the fool with clowns, and put his head in a lion's mouth every night, he's the only kid there - and he's bored. But then Fizz decides to join a library, and life suddenly gets a lot more exciting, when a simple library card application leads to him being kidnapped by a pair of crazed pensioners! Will he ever see the circus again?

Firebird by Saviour Pirotta

The firebird is stealing the tsar's famous golden apples. His two oldest sons fail to capture the bird, so their younger brother, Ivan, must set out on a quest to find it. Befriended by the wise grey wolf, Ivan wins the firebird and the hand of the beautiful Princess Helen.

The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths

Andy and Terry live in the WORLD'S BEST treehouse! It's got a giant catapult, a secret underground laboratory, a tank of man-eating sharks and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and shoots marshmallows into your mouth whenever you're hungry! Just watch out for the sea monkeys, and the monkeys pretending to be sea monkeys, and the giant mutant mermaid sea monster ...Oh, and, whatever you do, don't get trapped in a burp-gas-filled bubble ...!

The Peppermint Pig by Nina Bawden

Johnnie was only the runt of the litter, a little peppermint pig. He'd cost Mother a shilling, but somehow his great naughtiness and cleverness kept Poll and Theo cheerful, even though it was one of the most difficult years of their lives.

Lizzie Dripping by Helen Cresswell

Everyone in the village where Lizzie lives thinks that she's a dreamer. So it's no wonder that they don't believe her when she says she's seen a witch. But Lizzie doesn't care, because she knows it's true and having a witch for a friend makes life much more exciting.

Krindlekrax by Philip Ridley

Who is more likely to get the part of the hero in the school play? Ruskin or Elvis? Under Lizard Street lurks the mysterious Krindlekrax. And when Krindlekrax threatens Lizard Street, Ruskin has the chance to prove he's the stuff heroes are made of!

The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell

When Ivy Sparrow's grandmother Sylvie is rushed to hospital, Ivy and her annoying big brother Seb cannot imagine what lies in store for them. Returning to Sylvie's house, they find it has been ransacked by unknown intruders - then a mysterious feather scratches an ominous message onto the kitchen wall, and a very strange policeman is determined to apprehend them...with a toilet brush.

Operation Gadgetman! by Malorie Blackman

Beans calls her dad 'Gadgetman' because of the weird and wonderful gadgets he comes up with - everything from exploding biscuits to Spy Kits. But when Gadgetman accidentally invents a device that could be used to steal millions of pounds, the wrong people find out and Gadgetman is kidnapped! With the help of her friends - and her special Gadgetman Spy Kit - Beans is determined to track down the kidnappers and rescue her dad. But can she find Gadgetman before he is forced to hand over the details of his invention...?

Belonging by Jeannie Baker

A powerful account of the reclamation of an urban landscape told wordlessly through fascinating, detailed collage artwork.Observed through the window of a house, a city street gradually becomes a place to call home as the inhabitants begin to rescue their street by planting grass and trees in the empty spaces. Year by year, everything begins to blossom... Told wordlessly and with stunning collage illustrations, Belonging explores the re-greening of the city and the role of community, the empowerment of people and the significance of children, family and neighbourhood in changing the urban environment for the better.

African Tales by Gcina Mhlophe

This anthology includes eight traditional tales from all over Africa. Sumptuous hand-sewn collage artwork decorated with African beads adorns these unforgettable tales of bravery, wisdom, wit and heroic deeds.

Desirable by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

A hilarious comedy from award-winning Frank Cottrell Boyce. George is so unpopular that even his own grandad won't come to his birthday party. Instead, his grandad sends him a bottle of aftershave that expired years ago. But the aftershave seems to have developed extra properties since its sell-by date...Now George is irresistible to all the girls in school - and even the teachers can't get enough of him! Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

A Nest Full of Stars by James Berry

This collection of poetry for children aged 9-11 is filled with warm and colourful memories of the author's Caribbean childhood.

The Adventures of the Wishing Chair by Enid Blyton

A classic children's story from one of the world's best-loved children's authors, Enid Blyton - be whisked away by these magical Wishing-Chair stories. When Mollie and Peter go to buy their mother a birthday present, they discover the most extraordinary thing: a chair that can fly and grant wishes! The Wishing-Chair takes them on some marvellous adventures - to a castle where they narrowly escape from a giant and rescue Chinky the pixie, to the Land of Dreams, and to a disappearing island!

The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson

Under Platform 13 at King's Cross Station there is a secret door that leads to a magical island ...It appears only once every nine years. And when it opens, four mysterious figures step into the streets of London. A wizard, an ogre, a fey and a young hag have come to find the prince of their kingdom, stolen as a baby nine years before. But the prince has become a horrible rich boy called Raymond Trottle, who doesn't understand magic and is determined not to be rescued. The Secret of Platform 13 is an exciting magical adventure from Eva Ibbotson, the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea. 

The Day I Swapped My Dad for a Goldfish by Neil Gaiman

When a boy swaps his dad for two goldfish he does not really think through the consequences! After all, he is not the only person who can swap stuff. When the boy is told by his mother that he has to get his father back it is not so easily done. Where will it all end?

The Children of Green Knowe by L.M. Boston

Tolly's great-grandmother's house is full of a very special kind of magic. There are other children living there - children who had been happy there centuries before.

Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve

Oliver grew up in a family of explorers - but his biggest adventure is about to begin! Along with his new friends, a grumpy old albatross, a short-sighted mermaid and a friendly island called Cliff, Oliver goes off in search of his missing parents. But before he can put his rescue plan into action there's the evil Stacey de Lacey and an army of greasy, green sea monkeys to contend with...

Cliffhanger by Jacqueline Wilson

From climbing and abseiling to canoeing and a Crazy Bucket Race, Tim's adventure holiday promises to be full of action. There's just one problem: he is hopeless at sports of any kind. Can Tim survive the horrors of a week absolutely packed with activity? Can his team - the Tigers - be the overall champions? There are some surprises in store for everyone!

The House that Sailed Away by Pat Hutchings

Poor old Grandma! It had rained every day since she came to stay with Mother, Father, Morgan, the baby and Tailcat. But just as everyone was getting really fed up of being stuck indoors, the most amazing thing happened! Suddenly the house started to shudder and rock - and then just floated off down the street and off to sea. Before long, the family find themselves on the wackiest adventure ever! Hungry cannibals, blood-thirsty pirates, a kidnapping and buried treasure are just some of the hair-raisers in store. Will the family ever see dry land again or will evil One-Eyed Jake cut them into a million tiny pieces?

Fairy Tales by Terry Jones

Sail to the moon in a wonderful boat with a brave princess. Swim around the world with a talking fish until you have seen all that there is to see. Meet a boy who has a dinosaur in his shed. This amazing collection of wonderful stories from the hilarious imagination of Terry Jones and illustrated by Michael Foreman will have children and parents aline rolling with laughter.

Billionaire Boy by David Walliams

A hilarious, touching and extraordinary new fable from the author of The Boy in the Dress and Mr Stink. Joe has a lot of reasons to be happy. About a billion of them, in fact. You see, Joe's rich. Really, really rich. Joe's got his own bowling alley, his own cinema, even his own butler who is also an orangutan. He's the wealthiest twelve-year-old in the land. But Joe isn't happy. Why not? Because he's got a billion pounds...and not a single friend. But then someone comes along, someone who likes Joe for Joe, not for his money. The problem is, Joe's about to learn that when money is involved, nothing is what it seems. The best things in life are free, they say - and if Joe's not careful, he's going to lose them all...

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

Miss Cackle's Academy is no ordinary school. It stands at the top of a high mountain surrounded by a pine forest, and one clear days you can just see the pupils flitting about on their broomsticks above the playground wall. For this is a school for witches and, instead of the usual lessons, the girls there all have to learn about such things as casting spells and making magic potions.

Mildred Hubble has a reputation for being the worst pupil in the school - she's always getting her spells wrong. But she manages to get by until she turns Ethel, the teacher's pet, into her deadly enemy . . .

The Legend of Captain Crow’s Teeth by Eoin Colfer

Will's brother Marty is always playing practical jokes. But when he tells the bloodcurdling story of the cutthroat pirate Captain Crow, Will is terrified. Is it another one of Marty's tricks, or could Captain Crow's ghost really be out to get him?

Alison Hubble by Allan Ahlberg & Bruce Ingman

Alison Hubble is shocked when she wakes up to find a twin in the bed next to her. And she keeps doubling...and doubling...and doubling!

Malkin Moonlight by Emma Cox

Every journey begins with a paw step ...A small black, with a magnificent tail, Malkin is destined to be a hero. He just doesn't know it yet. On his third life, Malkin falls in love with a Domestic, Roux. Together they explore the night and have adventures. But when Roux's owners decide to move away she chooses to become a Wild and live with Malkin. Setting out to find a new home, they stumble across a recycling centre full of cats - at war. Can Malkin realise his destiny and find a way to bring peace to the land? An extraordinary adventure awaits ...

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Without her beloved father and miles from home, it is very hard for Sara Crewe to like her new life at boarding school. Luckily Sara is always dreaming up wonderful things and her power of telling stories wins her lots of friends. When a letter arrives that brings disastrous news, the wicked headmistress Miss Minchin forces Sara to become a servant. Her lovely clothes and toys are taken away from her. She must work from dawn until midnight. How will Sara cope with her new found poverty? Can her imagination help her overcome this horrible situation?

The Firework Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman

More than anything else in the world, Lila wants to be a Firework- Maker. But every Firework-Maker must make a perilous journey to face the terrifying Fire-Fiend! Can Lila possibly survive? Especially when she doesn't know she needs special protection to survive his flames.

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Jody grows up in the backwoods of Florida in the early 1900s, where school is the forest, land and river, and lessons are in farming, fishing and hunting. His discovery of a fawn opens up a new world of companionship and friendship.

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

When their father is suddenly taken away, Bobby, Peter and Phyllis must leave London for a simpler life in the country. They make new friends, discover the thrill of the railway and eventually uncover the mystery of their father's disappearance. An original and unabridged edition of E. Nesbit's moving classic.

A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers

A lyrical picture book about a little girl who sails her raft 'across a sea of words' to arrive at the house of a small boy. There she invites him to come away with her on an adventure where they can journey through 'forests of fairy tales', 'across mountains of make-believe' and 'sleep in clouds of song'. Guided by his new friend, the boy unlocks his imagination and a lifetime of magic lies ahead of him but who will be next?

Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon

A special 20th anniversary edition of the first ever Horrid Henry book in which Henry tries to be perfect for one day, learns to dance, argues with his arch enemy Moody Margaret and goes on holiday.

My Headteacher is a Vampire Rat by Pamela Butchart

The third zippy and zany tale by Pamela Butchart sees Izzy and her friends plunged into more primary-school craziness. This time, they decide that their new head teacher is a vampire rat, based on his being slightly scary, having the blinds drawn in his office during the day and the fact he's banned garlic bread at lunchtimes. Now they just have to come up with a plan to vanquish him...

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into a new year and a new school where undersize weaklings share the corridors with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving. Desperate to prove his new found maturity, which only going up a grade can bring, Greg is happy to have his not-quite-so-cool sidekick, Rowley, along for the ride. But when Rowley's star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend's popularity to his own advantage. Recorded in his diary with comic pictures and his very own words, this test of Greg and Rowley's friendship unfolds with hilarious results.

Surf’s Up by Kwame Alexander

Surf's up! Not yet, Dude! Books are boring! Not this one! Bro and Dude have very different ideas about how to spend the day at the beach. But as Bro continues to gasp and cheer as he reads his book (Moby Dick), Dude can't help but get curious. Before you can shout 'Surf's up!' both frogs are sharing the same adventure, that is, until they get to the beach.

The Last Castaways by Harry Horse

On holiday in Saltbottle, Grandfather and Roo discover the Unsinkable, the boat which took them to the North Pole in the first book, lying in a sadly dilapidated state and up for sale. At the auction, the short-sighted auctioneer accidentally sellsthe boat to Roo - sold to the old lady in the brown fur coat! Now they have to find the money and the Captain suggests a fishing trip to the Great Cod Banks in the Forgotten Sea. Off they go, but the trip ends in disaster when the boat sinks and Grandfather and Roo are cast away on a desert island. They find their own Man Friday (called Tuesday) but he turns out to be a film director staying in a luxury hotel. Meanwhile, the Captain has found the treasure and rescued the Unsinkable.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Mr Willy Wonka is the most extraordinary chocolate maker in the world. And do you know who Charlie is? Charlie Bucket is the hero. The other children in this book are nasty little beasts, called: Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop; Veruca Salt - a spoiled brat; Violet Beauregarde - a repulsive little gum-chewer; Mike Teavee - a boy who only watches television. Clutching their Golden Tickets, they arrive at Wonka's chocolate factory. But what mysterious secrets will they discover? Our tour is about to begin. Please don't wander off. Mr Wonka wouldn't like to lose any of you at this stage of the proceedings...

The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo

The story of a young boy who rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African bush. They remain inseparable until Bertie has to go away to boarding school and the lion is sold to a circus. Years later they are reunited, until the lion gently dies of old age.

The Iron Man by Ted Hughes

Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful destruction by the Iron Man and set a trap for him, but he cannot be kept down. Then, when a terrible monster from outer space threatens to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man who finds a way to save the world.

Varjak Paw by S.F. Said

Varjak Paw is a Mesopotamian Blue kitten. He lives high up in an old house on a hill. He's never left home, but then his grandfather tells him about the Way - a secret martial art for cats. Now Varjak must use the Way to survive in a city full of dangerous dogs, cat gangs and, strangest of all the mysterious Vanishings.

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Stuart Little's daring escapades include racing a toy boat in a Central Park pond, retrieving his mother's ring from a drain, and crawling inside a piano to fix the keys for his brother. When his best friend, a beautiful little bird called Margalo disappears from her nest, Stuart is determined to track her down. He ventures away from home for the very first time in his life and finds himself embroiled in one exciting adventure after another, making new friends and meeting old ones along the way.

The Battle of Bubble and Squeak by Phillipa Pearce

Sid, Peggy and Amy adore the two gerbils, Bubble and Squeak, but their mother detests them. A major family battle results, and it's clear life is never going to be quite the same again. But after a near fatal encounter between Bubble and Ginger the cat, Mrs Sparrow begins to see that life with a pair of gerbils might not be so bad after all.

War Game by Michael Foreman

A special lavishly illustrated new edition of Michael Foreman's classic story. It's 1914 when everything changes for a group of boys growing up and playing football in the Suffolk countryside. Living in the trenches in constant fear for their lives is nothing like they expected and only a bombed-out wasteland, no-man's-land, separates their trenches from those of their German enemies. Then, on Christmas Day, something remarkable happens as the German and British armies stop fighting and meet in the middle of no-man's-land. The enemies talk, play football and become friends. But the war isn't over, the two sides resume fighting and the group of Suffolk lads are ordered to charge across no-man's-land...

Hot Like Fire by Valerie Bloom

When de July sun hot like fire, Den I have jus' one desire, To run down to de shop an' buy a Kisko pop. The World Is Sweet and Hot Like Fire published in one volume for the first time. Valerie Bloom's poetry is beautifully crafted yet full of energy and fun. Her mixed use of standard English and dialect is a delight to read and hear. Children love reading and listening to her work! Valerie's subjects range from global pollution, problems with maths homework and the sad demise of pet frogs (he croaked of course) to taking sandwiches to school and being afraid of ghosts.

Leon and Bob by Simon James

An urban tale about a boy and his imaginary friend. Bob is Leon's best friend. He shares Leon's room. Everywhere Leon goes, Bob goes too. Then one day a boy moves in next door. But when Leon goes to ask his new neighbour to go to the park with him, he discovers Bob has gone.

Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne

In Noah Barleywater Runs Away, bestselling author John Boyne explores the world of childhood and the adventures that we can all have there. Noah is running away from his problems, or at least that's what he thinks, the day he takes the untrodden path through the forest. When he comes across a very unusual toyshop and meets the even more unusual toymaker he's not sure what to expect. But the toymaker has a story to tell, a story full of adventure, and wonder and broken promises. And Noah travels with him on a journey that will change his life for ever. This is a thought-provoking fable for our modern world from the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Boy in the Striped Pyjamas .

 

The What On Earth Wallbook by Christopher Lloyd

The most innovative approach to non-fiction since Horrible Histories, the What On Earth Wallbooks present information in a way guaranteed to inspire children’s curiosity and to stimulate real enthusiasm for learning. Each one contains a full-colour poster – 2 metres long – that illustrates the complete historical timeline of its subject. The Wallbook Timeline of Nature shows children the history of life on Earth, from the first signs of life 4 billion years ago to the start of the 21st century.

The Kick Off by Dan Freedman

Jamie's desperate to become Kingfield School's star football player (and in his dreams, Hawkstone United's, too). But after he wrecks his chances at the trials, the pressure's on to prove himself.

The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

This is a beautifully bound gift edition of this classic tale for dog lovers! 'Horrid little beasts. I shall like you so much better when you're skins instead of pups.' Cruella de Vil is enough to frighten the spots off a Dalmatian pup. But when she steals a whole family of them, the puppies' parents, Pongo and Missus, lose no time in mounting a daring rescue mission. Will they be in time to thwart Cruella's evil scheme, or have they bitten off more than they can chew?

The Green Ship by Quentin Blake

Two children find the Green Ship when they climb over the wall into what is more like a forest than a garden. The ship has bushes for bows and stern and its funnels are trees; a small garden shed on an ancient stump is the wheel house and in command of the ship is the owner of the garden, old Mrs Tredegar. Throughout the summer she and the Bosun and the two children sail the Seven Seas visiting exotic faraway places and having wonderful adventures.

The Hodgeheg by Dick King-Smith

Max is a hedgehog who lives with his family in a nice little home, but unfortunately on the wrong side of the road from the Park, with its beautiful lily pond, and more importantly its juicy slugs, worms and snails! The busy road is a dangerous barrier but Max notices that humans seem to cross it quite easily. If they can, why can't hedgehogs? So Max sets out on a quest to find a safe way to reach the Park. His first attempt ends in a nasty bump on the head, and Max finds when he tries to speak his words are all mixed up. He is now a Hodgeheg, not a hedgehog, but he is still determined to fulfil his mission. After some careful detective work, Max eventually discovers the best way to cross the road - with the help of the lollipop lady, of course!

Gregory Cool by Caroline Binch

When Gregory wakes up on his first day in Tobago with his grandparents, his heart sinks. The food is strange, the sun too hot, his cousin Lennox is on another wave length, and there are none of the televisions, video games and other high-tech gadgets that a cool city-boy takes for granted. How Gregory adjusts to the strange culture, and learns to enjoy the lifestyle of the Caribbean is enchantingly told and illustrated by award-winning author Caroline Binch.

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans. When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka

Frank Einstein loves to tinker, build and take things apart. He loves to observe, hypothesise, experiment and invent. Frank Einstein is a kid genius who loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination and definitely unusual. After an uneventful experiment with a garage-lab artificially intelligent RoboBug, a lightning storm and a flash of electricity, Frank's inventions--the robots Klink and Klank--suddenly come to life. Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wise-cracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank are a help nonetheless as Frank attempts to perfect his Dark Energy Drive ...that is until Frank's arch nemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan! With the help of his friends, Frank sets out to rescue the robots and stop T. Edison from carrying out his twisted plans! Using real science and drawing inspiration from the classic pulp stories of Tom Swift, Jon Scieszka has created a unique world of adventure and science fiction.

Storm by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Annie lives with her elderly parents in a remote cottage. She is used to being alone. Every day she walks by the lonely marsh to school. Only in winter, when the wind howls in the trees, is Annie ever afraid. Her sister Willa is pregnant and Annie is overjoyed when she comes home to have her baby. Annie tells Willa the names of local plants and Willa tells Annie about the ghost, murdered by highwaymen, who is said to haunt the old forge nearby. Then, on a terrible night, with the phone lines down, Willa goes into labour. Annie is terrified of the ghost, but knows she must brave the storm to fetch help. As she ventures into the night, a horseman swings into view. He offers to take Annie to town. Before she can protest, Annie finds herself lifted on to his saddle and off they set on an intense, dream-like journey. Only once he has deposited her safely on the doctor's doorstep, does the horseman reveal that he is the ghost she fears.

The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter

The ingenious Professor Branestawm is always inventing weird and wonderful things, such as a burglar-catching machine, or a pancake-slipping device, and a spring-cleaning machine! But housekeeper Mrs Flittersnoop is exasperated as the Professor's inventions always seem to make life far more complicated than it was before...

Bill’s New Frock by Anne Fine

Bill wakes up one day as a girl, and is horrified to be sent to school in a frilly pink frock with fiddly shell buttons. There he finds life suddenly very different. The bully whistles at him, instead of kicking him, he can't be picked to lift a table - not being a 'big strong boy' - his work's supposed to be ultra-neat and he's being cast as Lovely Rapunzel, who in any case never gets to say anything! By the time he gets home the impractical frock is covered in mud and - thank goodness - Bill will never have to wear it again!

Ice Palace by Robert Swindells

Ivan lives in a land where the winter is dark and fearful. Starjik, King of Winter, steals Ivan's little brother and Ivan braves the bitter cold to find him.

The Pebble in my Pocket by Meredith Hooper

Where do pebbles come from? How were they made? This book tells the story of a pebble, from its origins in a fiery volcano 480 million years ago to a busy, modern landscape. Readers follow the processes of rock formation and erosion that create new pebbles all over the world.

The Stone Mouse by Jenny Nimmo

This is an acclaimed tale about magic and emotions, highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. When Elly and her family come to look after her aunt's house, she sees at once that Stone Mouse is special; but her brother Ted says he's just a dirty old pebble. But then Ted is angry with everyone and everything and, as Stone Mouse soon discovers, that means trouble...

The Great Elephant Chase by Gillian Cross

Tad and Cissie are on the run with Khush the elephant. Clammy-fingered, steely-eyed Hannibal Jackson will do anything to capture the animal. Maybe even kill ...Staying ahead means being faster and smarter-but how do you hide an elephant? Especially one with a mind of its own.

The Tinderbox by Han Christian Andersen

Though criticised for their anarchic immorality when first published, Hans Christian Andersen's tales made him an international star, taken to the hearts of children and adults for their beauty, sorrow and strangeness. Included here are 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier' and 'Big Klaus and Little Klaus'.

The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame

'Now, dragon,' said the Boy imploringly. 'You've got to fight him some time or other you know, 'cos he's St George and you're the dragon. Better get it over, and then we can go on with the sonnets.' Everyone knows St George has to do battle with the dragon, but what happens when the dragon simply won't fight St George?

The Wolf’s Footprint by Susan Price

A bad summer, and the crops didn’t grow. Now winter is coming. Everyone is hungry. People search desperately for the last of the nettles and acorns. Elka and her little brother Daw huddle under their blankets, trying to keep warm. Elka is too hungry to sleep. Awake in the dark, she overhears her parents whispering. “I don’t want to watch them starve. Take them into the wood and leave them. Take them far in, so they won’t find their way back, and leave them.” The next day their father takes them into the wood, to look for mushrooms. Daw goes along innocently, holding his father’s hand. Elka follows because she doesn’t want Daw to be alone. The light fades. Their father vanishes into the darkness among the trees. He doesn’t come back. And then come the wolves…

Erica’s Elephant by Sylvia Bishop

When Erica Perkins wakes up on the morning of her tenth birthday, the last thing she expects is to find a very confused elephant sitting on her doorstep. So begins an unlikely friendship. But can a small girl and a rather large elephant learn to live together in a tiny terraced house? And when the dastardly owner of the local zoo plots to steal the elephant, will Erica be able to outsmart him?

You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum by Andy Stanton

This is the 10th anniversary and modern classic edition of the bestselling and award-winning, You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum 'It's time for action,' said Mr Gum to nobody in particular. 'Nasty action.' Good evening. Mr Gum is a complete horror who hates children, animals, fun and corn on the cob. This book's all about him. And an angry fairy who lives in his bathtub. And Jake the dog, and a little girl called Polly. And there's heroes and sweets and adventures and everything. You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum! is the first book in the internationally best-selling series by Andy Stanton, which has won everything from the Blue Peter Book Award (twice) to the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Red House Children's Book Award. This edition celebrates the 10th anniversary of its first publication. Worryingly splendid. (Guardian). You can discover all the Mr Gum books: You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum Mr Gum and the Biscuit Billionaire Mr Gum and the Goblins Mr Gum and the Power Crystals Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear Wat's for Dinner, Mr Gum? Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

George and Harold create the greatest super-hero in their school's history and now they're about to bring him to life. Meet Captain Underpants. His identity is so secret, even he doesn't know who he is. The novel introduces "flip-o-rama" - the illustration technique that lets you animate the action.

A World of Information by Richard Platt

This visually stunning miscellany from the effortlessly stylish print-maker James Brown is a collection of incredible facts and figures.

The Sticky Witch by Hilary McKay

Tom, Ellie and Whiskers the Cat have to go and live with witchy Aunt Tab when their parents set off on a raft around the world. But staying with Aunt Tab turns out to be worse than they first thought - everything in her house is covered with sticky treacle! Can Tom and Ellie escape, or are they stuck?

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World by Kate Pankhurst

Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline Pankhurst, has created this wildly wonderful and accessible book about women who really changed the world. Discover fascinating facts about some of the most amazing women who changed the world we live in. Fly through the sky with the incredible explorer Amelia Earhart, and read all about the Wonderful Adventures of Mary Seacole with this fantastic full colour book. Bursting full of beautiful illustrations and astounding facts, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is the perfect introduction to just a few of the most incredible women who helped shaped the world we live in. List of women featured: Jane Austen, Gertrude Ederle, Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, Mary Anning, Mary Seacole, Amelia Earhart, Agent Fifi, Sacagawa, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks and Anne Frank.

The Sandwich Thief by Andre Marois

Marin loves the sandwiches his parents make for him every day. Every day they're different; every day they're more delicious than the last. Then, one Monday morning, someone dares to steal his favourite sandwich of all: ham-cheddar-kale. Furious, Marin begins a fevered, famished investigation to unmask the thief. The days go by, the suspects multiply, and Marin's sandwiches continue to disappear. Will Marin ever eat lunch again? The first in a series of school-based, food-centric mysteries will have readers laughing out loud as they try and solve the mystery along with the hungry, aggrieved, resourceful Marin.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

The one and only Cat in the Hat from the iconic Dr. Seuss gets a brand new look, introducing his roller-coaster ride of mayhem to a new generation of readers. The iconic story from the one and only Dr. Seuss, now with a brand new look! When Sally and her brother are left alone, they think they're in for a dull day - until the Cat in the Hat steps in on the mat, bringing with him mayhem and madness! This is the classic book that every child should have the joy of reading. The perfect book for early readers, the new style brings a worldwide favourite to a whole new generation.

Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age by Raymond Briggs

Ug and his parents are living in the Stone Age. And that means stone blankets, stone cold food, an even colder cave and, worst of all, hard stone trousers! Being an inquisitive and intelligent child, Ug suggests a series of modifications to improve the quality of family life. His ideas about heating, cooking, boats, and balls that actually bounce are met with a hostile reaction by his parents who don't know what he's going on about. Even Ug himself is occasionally unsure of the purpose of his inventions - his round stone that rolls down the hill is great, but what is it actually for? With the help of his father, who is slowly coming round to his son's way of thinking, Ug comes tantalisingly close to his ultimate garment goal, only to find that there are some obstacles even a boy genius can't overcome.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

The story begins in the first volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs...Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. In fact, in the beginning, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not loud enough to make himself heard at dinner with his father, Stoick the Vast; not hard enough to beat his chief rival, Snotlout, at Bashyball, the number one school sport and CERTAINLY not stupid enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet...It's time for Hiccup to learn how to be a Hero.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

When Milo finds an enormous package in his bedroom, he’s delighted to have something to relieve his boredom with school. And when he opens it to find – as the label states – One Genuine Turnpike Tollbooth, he gets right into his pedal car and sets off through the Tollbooth and away on a magical journey!

Milo’s extraordinary voyage takes him into such places as the Land of Expectation, the Doldrums, the Mountains of Ignorance and the Castle in the Air. He meets the weirdest and most unexpected characters (such as Tock, the watchdog, the Gelatinous Giant, and the Threadbare Excuse, who mumbles the same thing over and over again), and, once home, can hardly wait to try out the Tollbooth again. But will it be still there when he gets back from school?

Secrets According to Humphrey by Betty G Birney

Faber's bestselling hamster series is given a smart new livery, repositioning our favourite as a perennial classic character, sitting alongside the likes of Winnie the Pooh and Wind in Willows. The next in the bestselling According to Humphrey series, Humphrey and his friends in Room 26 learn about ancient Egypt. Mummies, pharaohs, pyramids and plenty of SHH-SHH-SHH secrets abound! Will Humphrey be able to solve the mysteries of the pharaohs...?

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon

Tom Gates is the bane of his grumpy teacher, Mr Fullerman. And in his hilariously wacky journal, you’ll find all sorts of comic craziness to make you groan with glee! Tom’s battered homework diary is crammed with his scribbles and stories, cartoons and ideas – as well as comments from the long-suffering Mr Fullerman. Warning! Do not attempt to read this in public. You will snigger loudly!

The Moonshine Dragon by Cornelia Funke

From the internationally bestselling author of the Inkheart series. When a tiny silver dragon is chased out of Patrick's storybook by an equally tiny knight, all sorts of mayhem breaks loose! Soon moonshine magic has shrunk Patrick too, and he is forced to hole up inside his toy castle as the knight attacks the 'fire worm'. Can Patrick defeat the knight and make it to morning?

Barry Loser: I am Not a Loser by Jim Smith

I've never minded that my name is Barry Loser because my coolness has always cancelled it out, but ever since Darren Darrenofski joined school with his horrible little crocodile face he's been completely ruining my life about it.

The Boy Who Biked the World by Alastair Humphreys

Tom really wants to be an explorer. His favourite book is an atlas and he follows adventurers not footballers. His schooldays are spent daydreaming about travelling from Tibet to Timbuktu. A private wish blurted out loud started his freewheeling adventure: i'm going to cycle round the world. His classmates laughed. No one believed him, least of all his teacher. The mountains will be too high! The desert is too hot! Everyone shouted their reasons why his dream was impossible. But it was a funny thing, the more that people told him he couldn t do it, the more Tom found himself wanting to prove them wrong.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Peter thinks he has the world's biggest problem - his little brother, Fudge. Fudge causes trouble wherever he goes and it's usually up to Peter to sort out the mess. When Peter wins a tiny green turtle called Dribble, he's determined to keep it away from his brother. But when Fudge does get his hands on Dribble - disaster strikes! Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first book in this hugely successful series from the bestselling author and household name Judy Blume.

The Accidental Prime Minister by Tom McLaughin

When Joe tells a local news reporter exactly what he would do if he were leader of the country, the video goes viral and Joe's speech becomes famous all over the world! Before long, people are calling for the current leader to resign and give someone else a go ...and that's how an ordinary boy like Joe, ended up with the most extraordinary job. Now the fun can really start ...Hats for cats! Pet pigs for all! Banana shaped buses! Swimming pools on trains! A hilarious story of one boy's meteoric rise to power!

 The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

When robot Roz crash lands on an island, she's forced to fight for survival. The only way Roz can live is by learning about her new environment from the island's hostile animal inhabitants. But when she finds herself taking care of a baby goose, all the animals pitch in and teach Roz how to thrive in this new world. Heart-warming and full of action, Peter Brown's debut will raise thought-provoking questions about the role technology plays in society, how humans affect the world around us, and what it means to be alive.

Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett

Focus on a planet revolving in space ... Focus in on a small country in the northern hemisphere - Great Britain. Closer, closer ...and on the western edge of London you can see the county of Buckinghamshire. Small villages and winding country roads. And if you could go back in time to the mid nineteen-sixties, you might spot a young lad on a motorbike coming down one such lane, notebook and pen in his jacket pocket. This is me. A junior reporter for the Bucks Free Press, where I began writing stories for young readers that were published every week in the newspaper. The stories in this collection are a selection of those. There are wizards and mayors, carpet people and a monster in a lake, along with plenty of pointy hats. And some of these stories even spawned my later novels.

Mouse Noses on Toast by Darren Fletcher

Gathering his friends - Sandra, Rowley Barker Hobbs, the sheepdog, and the Tinby, a kind of monster - Paul becomes determined to find the truth behind the mouse noses on toast. But what awaits them all at the mouse noses abattoir?

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Paris, 1931. Orphan, clock keeper and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks – like the gears of the clocks he keeps – with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life and his most precious secret are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

The Shrimp by Emily Smith

Ben spends the holidays with his nose in the sand and bottom in the air. It's not because he's shy - though some of his classmates do call him the Shrimp. It's because he's got a great idea for his wildlife project. A competition is on! The class projects are going to be judged by a famous TV wildlife presenter, and the prize is irresistible. Ben would love to win it, but others have their eyes on the prize too...

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamilllo

A heart-warming young adventure story, winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal. A deftly crafted fairy tale adventure story from a New York Times bestselling author, twice winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal. Here, reader, is the tale of a tiny, sickly mouse with unusually large ears; a mouse who takes his fate into his own hands. It is the tale of a beautiful, flaxen-haired princess who laughs often and makes everything around her seem brighter. It is the tale of a poor, deaf serving girl who entertains foolish dreams of splendour. It is a tale of impossible love, of bravery and of old-fashioned courage. And, reader, it is a tale of treachery - unlimited treachery...

The Whisperer by Nick Butterworth

An edgy new picture book from the renowned creator of Percy the Park Keeper. Featuring an exciting new style of illustration and a thought-provoking plot, this stunning picture book is set to become a firm favourite. Two gangs of cats live in a scrap yard on the edge of the city. When they're not eating or sleeping, they're fighting, and that's just how The Whisperer likes it. He's a rat, and if he can keep the cats going after each other, they'll leave him and his kind alone. But just maybe, things in the scrap yard are about to change for the better. Or as The Whisperer sees it...for the worse...

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell

Introducing Miss Ottoline Brown, an exceptionally inquisitive Mistress of Disguise, and her partner in crime, Mr. Munroe. No puzzle is ever too tricky for the two of them to solve...

Ottoline lives in a stylish apartment in Big City with a small hairy creature called Mr. Munroe. Together they look after the Brown family's eclectic collections - and dabble in a spot of detective work. So they are the first to the scene of the crime when a string of high-society dog-nappings and jewel thefts hits Big City. Ottoline (who luckily has a diploma from the Who-R-U Academy of Disguise) and Mr. Munroe go undercover - and expose an ingenious scam masterminded by furry feline crook, the Yellow Cat.

Smile by Geraldine McCaughrean

A magical and uplifting tale. When Felix's plane crashes, he finds himself in a small remote village. The only thing he has salvaged from the plane is a polaroid camera with ten remaining pictures. At first the villagers are suspicious, but they soon enter into a mission to find the ten most important subjects for the photographs. And each photo that Felix takes seems to have a magical effect. Geraldine McCaughrean is the winner of the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award.

That Pesky Rat by Lauren Child

The pesky rat wonders what it would be like to live with the creature comforts actual pets enjoy pets like his friends Pierre the chinchilla, Oscar the Siamese cat, Nibbles the lop-eared rabbit and Andrew the Scottie dog instead of in dustbin number 3, Grubby Alley. And he's got a plan for how to make his dream come true...

Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill

In the last days of the Heroic Age of Exploration, Ernest Shackleton dreamed of crossing the frozen heart of Antarctica, a place of ferocious seas, uncharted mountains and bone-chilling cold. But when his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in the deadly grip of the ice, Shackleton’s dreams of crossing Antarctica were shattered. Stranded in a cold, white world, and thousands of miles from home, the men of the expedition set out on a desperate trek across the ice in search of rescue.

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever, the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

When Billy Miller has a mishap at the statue of the Jolly Green Giant at the end of summer vacation, he ends up with a big lump on his head. What a way to start second grade, with a lump on your head! As the year goes by, though, Billy figures out how to navigate elementary school, how to appreciate his little sister, and how to be a more grown up and responsible member of the family and a help to his busy working mum and stay-at-home dad. Newbery Honour author and Caldecott Medallist, Kevin Henkes delivers a short, satisfying, laugh-out-loud-funny school and family story that features a diorama homework assignment, a school poetry slam, cancelled sleepovers, and epic sibling temper tantrums. This is a perfect short novel for the early elementary grades.

The Last Wild by Piers Torday

In a world where animals no longer exist, twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes sometimes feels like he hardly exists either. Locked away in a home for troubled children, he's told there's something wrong with him. So when he meets a flock of talking pigeons and a bossy cockroach, Kester thinks he's finally gone a bit mad. But the animals have something to say...The pigeons fly Kester to a wild place where the last creatures in the land have survived. A wise stag needs Kester's help, and together they must embark on a great journey, joined along the way by an over-enthusiastic wolf-cub, a spoilt show-cat, a dancing harvest mouse and a stubborn girl named Polly. The animals saved Kester Jaynes. But can Kester save the animals?

Fergus Crane by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

A mysterious flying box appears at the window of Fergus Crane's quayside home and Fergus is plunged headlong into an exciting adventure when the box is followed by a winged horse that whisks him off to his long lost uncle and a mission to rescue his father.

The Legend of Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood

A thick white blanket covers the wide slopes of the band of hills some call the Razorback Downs...Podkin One-Ear is a legend: a fearsome warrior rabbit whose reputation for cunning and triumph in battle has travelled the ages. But how did he become such a mighty fighter? The answer may surprise you...

When a travelling bard arrives at Thornwood Warren on Midwinter night, he is warmly welcomed. In return for food and lodging, he settles down to tell the tale of Podkin One-Ear - and soon the rabbits are enthralled to hear the story of how one lost little rabbit overcame the cruellest enemy imaginable, and became the greatest warrior their land has ever known.