Harper Lee was an American novelist who was born in Monroeville, Alabama in 1926. She is best known for her novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961. Lee was a private person and did not give many interviews or make public appearances. She passed away in 2016.
Context:
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is set in the 1930s in a small town in Alabama. The novel was published in 1960 during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The novel deals with issues of racism, prejudice, and injustice, which were prevalent during that time.
Key Quotes:
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” – Atticus Finch
This quote is spoken by Atticus Finch, the protagonist’s father, and is a key theme in the novel. Atticus is teaching his children about empathy and understanding other people’s perspectives, which is crucial in combating prejudice and discrimination.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy… but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” – Miss Maudie Atkinson
This quote is spoken by Miss Maudie Atkinson, a neighbor of the protagonist, Scout. The mockingbird is a symbol of innocence and goodness, and Miss Maudie is explaining to Scout and her brother Jem that it is wrong to harm something that is innocent and does not cause harm to anyone.
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” – Atticus Finch
This quote is spoken by Atticus Finch to his children, Jem and Scout. He is teaching them about the true meaning of courage, which is not about physical strength or violence but about standing up for what is right and doing the right thing, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
Additional Quotes:
“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” – Judge Taylor
“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” – Atticus Finch
“Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.” – Scout Finch
“The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box.” – Atticus Finch
“I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” – Scout Finch
“Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I’d have the facts.” – Scout Finch
“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” – Atticus Finch
Questions:
What is the significance of the title, “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
How does the novel address issues of racism and prejudice?
What is the relationship between Scout and her father, Atticus Finch?
Who is Boo Radley, and what is his role in the novel?
What is the significance of the trial of Tom Robinson, and how does it relate to the themes of the novel?
What is the role of empathy and understanding in the novel, and how does it relate to the characters of Scout and Jem?
How does the novel address issues of gender and sexism?
What is the significance of the ending of the novel, and what message does it convey?
Narratives can be written or spoken. Alternatively, they can also be presented visually through art, theatre, or audiovisual media such as film, television, sound and music. There are three elements to every story: setting, character, and plot. The following list includes some types of stories the kids can listen to and tell themselves.
Stories from cultures and traditions (such as Dreamtime or Indigenous stories)
Other fictional stories (like picture storybooks, or stories that children make up themselves)
Autobiographies and biographies
Accounts and personal stories (such as educators’ or children’s experiences)
Discover how to structure a story
Stores have a set of parameters, which include:
Setting
The setting includes the time and place of the story. For older children, stories can have a variety of settings. Setting options include:
Imaginary or real
A place near home or a place far away
Either in the past or in the present.
Characters
In most stories, main characters are heroes (protagonists), villains (antagonists), or something in between. Often, children’s early stories feature familiar characters.
Children may begin to create their own stories with their own characters, however, by modelling different kinds of storytelling and reading books.
Plot
There is no right or wrong way to write a story.
The action of the narrative is usually triggered by a problem (or starting event). Usually, what occurs in a story following a problem of this sort is an attempt to fix the problem and the consequences of these attempts.
Take a look at a story you have read/heard recently and think about what the main event was and how it led to what happened next.
The characters’ responses
Any good story is driven by its characters. Audiences want to hear how they feel, what they experience, and what choices they will make. Children’s stories (toward the start of primary school) will include elements like:
The reaction of the character to the problem in the story
Problem-solving thoughts and planning
Consequences of the actions taken by the characters
Resolution
It is also common for stories to have a clear ending. Usually, at the end of the story, the original issue of the story is resolved or the characters have learned something new. An effective narrative must include a satisfactory resolution.
Themes
The meaning of stories is often conveyed in their messages. These themes can be communicated by authors or storytellers through:
Characters’ thoughts, feelings, or actions
A character’s growth as a result of the story
What happens
A story’s development or resolution.
In order to make sense of stories, we need to talk about their themes. The following general themes may appear in children’s stories:
The romantic poetic movement occurring in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, opposing the mannered formalist ethos of the Enlightenment era and the disciplined scientific inquiry that preceded it. William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, William Blake, and Lord Byron were English poets who wrote poetry that expressed emotion and sought parallels to their own emotional lives in nature. Find out more about the poems by Romantic poets.
How did the Romantic movement begin?
What was the catalyst for the Romantic Era to start? An understanding of the historical context helps us answer this question. Romanticism was partly a reaction to ideas of the era before it, as many intellectual movements have been.Prior to the Romantic Era, the Enlightenment period (1715-1789) was marked by rationalism, science, and empiricism. To put it another way, the Enlightenment Era was about facts and rational thinking!
In 1789, two major events brought an end to the Enlightenment Era: the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution.
The world changed almost overnight when the Industrial Revolution began in Europe. (That’s why it’s called a “revolution,” of course!) New powered machinery was developed in the 1780s, factories popped up all over cities, and mass production began. People began moving from rural areas and into increasingly crowded cities to take advantage of the new jobs and opportunities created by industrialization.
In addition to the Revolution, the French Revolution influenced the early years of the Romantic Era. In France, the working class staged a revolt against the monarchy and overthrew it to gain freedom and equality. As was happening in France, rebellious sentiment spread across Europe, and the Romantic Era was set by that spirit.
A Comparison of the Enlightenment and the Romantic Era
After the Enlightenment, industrialization, and the French Revolution, the Romantic Era’s greatest thinkers had something to say. For one thing, Romantic thinkers responded to the hard rationalism of the Enlightenment by reviving emotions and feelings, the irrationality of nature, and a belief in the individuality of the thinker.
The Romantics also stressed the tranquillity of rural landscapes, the power and grandeur of natural phenomena, and the need to protect the wildness of nature, in response to the mass production and urbanization that accompanied the Industrial Revolution.
Freedom, independence, and equality — the hallmarks of the French Revolution — eventually reached the rest of Europe and were embraced by Romanticism as well. Thinkers of the Romantic Era rebelled against anyone who tried to limit their minds, creativity, and imaginations and sought to resist societal control.
Key Themes of Romantic Poetry
Topic 1: Humanity and Nature
Relationships between humans and their natural environment are a major theme of Romantic poetry. It was believed that the Romantics felt that humans’ internal lives and the outside, natural world had a lot in common: both could be mysterious, open and wide, wild and free, and sometimes even terrifying.
During the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution, which we discussed earlier, the Romantics tended to dwell on the relationship between humans and nature.
Enlightenment thinkers tried to explain natural phenomena rationally. In a similar way, industrialism was dependent on man’s ability to harness natural forces, like water power and fossil fuels. A big human workforce was also needed in the new industrial society. Over the years, long, harsh, and low-paying jobs forced more people into dirty, crowded cities, and they also worked long, hard hours in grimy factories.
So what was the reaction of Romantic poets to how the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution used and controlled nature and humans? Rather than instilling fear and reverence in humans, they portray and praise nature’s power.
Think about a time when you heard a thunderclap.Although it was a pretty cool thing to hear, it probably startled you, didn’t it? The same goes for the fact that nature can be both awe-inspiring and scary simultaneously.
In the Romantic era, those moments of awe and terror in response to great natural phenomena were spiritual experiences. A spiritual connection to nature came to be known as “the Sublime.” In the midst of industrialization, the Romantic poets felt they were obligated to depict the Sublime in their poetry in order to maintain that spiritual connection to nature.
Topic 2: Gothic and surreal
Frankenstein is one of the first things that most people think of when they think of the Gothic and the surreal in literature. Readers find Gothic thrilling because of its depictions of terrifying or horrifying phenomena. When you watch a scary movie or walk through a haunted house, you feel the rush of adrenaline. People enjoy being scared, and this is reflected in Gothic literature.
Gothic and Surrealism often go hand-in-hand. By triggering people’s unconscious imagination, surrealism mines people’s irrational imaginations in order to subvert–or challenge–normal life. Remember a bizarre dream you had recently where the situation you were in wasn’t quite real. Dreams often blend pieces of reality with memories of your loved ones, no matter what they involve. It’s surreal that works in this case!
The Little Prince is a classic tale of equal appeal to children and adults. On one level it is the story of an airman’s discovery, in the desert, of a small boy from another planet – the Little Prince of the title – and his stories of intergalactic travel, while on the other hand, it is a thought-provoking allegory of the human condition.
First published in 1943, the year before the author’s death in action, this translation contains Saint-Exupery’s delightful illustrations.
The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne.
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on 30th July 2016. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
My name is August. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.’ Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things – eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary – inside. But ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren’t stared at wherever they go. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he’s being sent to a real school – and he’s dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted – but can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, underneath it all? Wonder is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.
Which famous writer goes best with a hot dog? Roll Dahl of course!
Laugh yourself silly with Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Joke Book, filled with over 400 hilarious jokes, limericks and riddles, illustrated by Quentin Blake.
Based on Roald Dahl’s most famous characters you will be chortling away with Matilda, Charlie, George, The BFG, James and many more!
Roald Dahl was full of fun and mischief, and LOVED all kinds of jokes- the sillier the better, like chocolate-covered chickens to grizzly, grouchy grandmas.T
his side-splitting book includes his own ‘knock-knock’ jokes, keeping all practising jokesters amused for hours!
Brain Games for Clever Kids is a fantastic bestselling puzzle book, brimming with memory, word and number workouts for the cleverest of kids!
Including battleships and mind-bending spot the differences to Japanese puzzles including hanjie, kakuro, futoshiki, sudoku and lots more.
Let the brain games begin!
Other books in the series include:
9781780553078 Wordsearches for Clever Kids
9781780553146 Quiz Book for Clever Kids
9781780553085 Crosswords for Clever Kids
9781780555409 Maths Games for Clever Kids
9781780554723 Brain Gaming for Clever Kids
9781780555621 Times Tables Games for Clever Kids
9781780554730 Word Games for Clever Kids
9781780555638 Travel Puzzles for Clever Kids
9781780555935 10-Minute Brain Games for Clever Kids
Escape to Hogwarts with the unmissable series that has sparked a lifelong reading journey for children and families all over the world!
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news – Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The magic starts here …
These irresistible editions, presented in a gorgeous slipcase featuring Hogwarts, are the essential Harry Potter. A must-have for every child at the start of the most magical reading adventure. These books are to be treasured and read time and time again, as readers lose themselves in the greatest children’s story of all time.
We are the Liars. We are beautiful, privileged and live a life of carefree luxury. We are cracked and broken. A story of love and romance.A tale of tragedy. Which are lies? Which is the truth?
Another hilarious and moving novel from bestselling, critically acclaimed author David Walliams, the natural successor to Roald Dahl. A story of prejudice and acceptance, funny lists and silly words, this new book has all the hallmarks of David’s previous bestsellers. Our hero Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s the most boring grandma ever: all she wants to do is to play Scrabble and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn’t know about his grandma. 1) She was once an international jewel thief. 2) All her life, she has been plotting to steal the crown jewels, and now she needs Ben’s help…
Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay’s dazzling depiction of the wizarding world and much loved characters in this full-colour illustrated hardback edition of the nation’s favourite children’s book – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Brimming with rich detail and humour that perfectly complements J.K. Rowling’s timeless classic, Jim Kay’s glorious illustrations will captivate fans and new readers alike.
When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he’s the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord’s curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers, which could be valuable, dangerous – or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
Escape to Hogwarts with the unmissable series that has sparked a lifelong reading journey for children and families all over the world. The magic starts here.
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The magic starts here!
These editions of the classic and internationally bestselling Harry Potter series feature thrilling jacket artwork by award-winning illustrator Jonny Duddle. They are the perfect starting point for anyone who’s ready to lose themselves in the greatest children’s story of all time.
This Printz Honor Book is a “tender, honest exploration of identity” (Publishers Weekly) that distills lyrical truths about family and friendship.
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When they meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the two loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special kind of friendship–the kind of friendship that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through their friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves–and about the kind of people, they want to be.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. The Hunger Games is a searing novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present. Welcome to the deadliest reality TV show ever…
Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Children’s Book Awards 2018.
Kate Pankhurst, the 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 the number one best-selling children’s non-fiction title in the UK market this year.
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, Sacagawea, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks, Anne Frank
J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut is captured in this exciting hardcover edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay.
When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt’s fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best. Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader’s bookshelf.
A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here – one of whom was his own grandfather – were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow – impossible though it seems – they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
You’ve never heard of The Tales of Beedle the Bard?’ said Ron incredulously. ‘You’re kidding, right?’ (From Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) Published by the charity Lumos in association with Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is the first new book from J. K. Rowling since the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Tales of Beedle the Bard played a crucial role in assisting Harry, with his friends Ron and Hermione, to finally defeat Lord Voldemort. Fans will be thrilled to have this opportunity to read the tales in full. An exciting addition to the canon of Harry Potter, the tales reveal the wonderful versatility of the author, as she tackles with relish the structure and varying tones of a classic fairy tale. There are five tales: ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’, recounted in Deathly Hallows, plus ‘The Fountain of Fair Fortune’, ‘The Warlock’s Hairy Heart’, ‘The Wizard and the Hopping Pot’, and ‘Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump’. Each has its own magical character and will bring delight, laughter and the thrill of mortal peril.
Translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, the tales are introduced and illustrated by J. K. Rowling. Also included are notes by Professor Albus Dumbledore, which appear by kind permission of the Hogwarts Headmasters’ Archive. Lumos is a charity founded by J. K. Rowling which aims to make life better for disadvantaged children. Registered Charity Number: 1112575.
A hilarious, touching and extraordinary new fable from David Walliams, number one bestseller and one of the fastest-growing children’s authors across the globe.
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.
Yes, Joe has absolutely everything he could possibly want. But there’s just one thing he really needs: a friend…
Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, `The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. This book comes from the `New York Times bestselling author of `Looking for Alaska`, `An Abundance of Katherines`, `Paper Towns` and – with David Levithan – Will Grayson, Will Grayson. John Green has over 1.2 million Twitter followers, and almost 700,000 subscribers to Vlogbrothers, the YouTube channel he created with his brother, Hank. `The Fault in Our Stars will capture a crossover audience in the same vein as Zadie Smith, David Nicholls’ `One Day and `Before I Die` by Jenny Downham. `Electric …Filled with staccato bursts of humour and tragedy.` (`Jodi Picoult`).
`A novel of life and death and the people caught in between, `The Fault in Our Stars is John Green at his best. You laugh, you cry, and then you come back for more` (Markus Zusak, author of `The Book Thief`). John Green is an award-winning, `New York Times bestselling author whose many accolades include the Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and the Edgar Award. With his brother, Hank, John is one half of the Vlogbrothers (youtube.com/vlogbrothers), one of the most popular online video projects in the world. You can join John’s 1.2 million followers on Twitter (@realjohngreen) or visit him online at johngreenbooks.com and fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com. John lives with his wife and son in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Create heroic characters for the world’s greatest roleplaying game.
The Player’s Handbook is the essential reference for every Dungeons & Dragons roleplayer. It contains rules for character creation and advancement, backgrounds and skills, exploration and combat, equipment, spells, and much more. Use this book to create characters from among the most iconic D&D races and classes.
Publisher’s Weekly #1 Best Seller in Hardcover Nonfiction
Wall Street Journal #1 Best Seller in Hardcover Nonfiction
– In Dungeons & Dragons, you and your friends coauthor your own legend. Guided by a Dungeon Master, you create characters and play their roles in a story, rolling dice and navigating maps as you unfold a tale as limitless as your imagination. – The Player’s Handbook is the first of three D&D core rulebooks, along with the Monster Manual and the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The Player’s Handbook is the cornerstone. It’s the foundational text of D&D’s fifth edition–for beginners and for veterans alike. – The Player’s Handbook walks you through how to create a Dungeons & Dragons character–the role you’ll play in the D&D world.
– Dungeons & Dragons is the world’s greatest roleplaying game. Created in 1974, D&D transformed gaming culture by blending traditional fantasy with miniatures and wargaming.
*The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series!*
Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017, this fantasy epic from the No. 1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the Grisha trilogy is gripping, sweeping and memorable – perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Laini Taylor and Kristin Cashore.
Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams – but he can’t pull it off alone.
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist.
Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction – if they don’t kill each other first.
An epic new exploration of the Grisha universe from the writer of SHADOW AND BONE, SIEGE AND STORM and RUIN AND RISING, totally consuming for both old fans and new.
The book that started the phenomenon. Sarah J. Maas’s global #1 bestselling THRONE OF GLASS series has taken the world by storm.
Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.
In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught.
Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament – fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?
All five books in the blockbuster Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, in paperback, collected in a boxed set fit for demigods, complete with a bonus poster!
Now with glorious new cover art and packaged with a special poster, this value-priced set includes the best-selling The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian.
Accompany the son of the sea god Poseidon and his other demigod friends as they go on a series of quests that will have them facing monsters, gods, and conniving figures from Greek mythology. Do they have what it takes to save the Olympians from an ancient enemy?
Whether it is for readers who are experiencing Percy’s funny and thrilling adventures for the first time, or for fans who want to devour the saga again, this gift will be prized by readers aged 8-80.
This beloved series, read in schools across the world, has inspired two motion pictures and a Broadway musical. It is currently in development for a television series on Disney+.
Harry Potter’s summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors – and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone … Dobby’s sinister predictions seem to be coming true.
These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …
The beloved story of a spunky young girl and her hilarious escapades. A rollicking story.–The Horn Book Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbour, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for the outrageous that seems to lead to one adventure after another!
The second original, touching, twisted, and most of all hilarious novel for children from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country – beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake.
“Mr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well…”
It all starts when Chloe makes friends with Mr Stink, the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit. But when it looks like he might be driven out of town, Chloe decides to hide him in the garden shed.
Now Chloe’s got to make sure no one finds out her secret. And speaking of secrets, there just might be more to Mr Stink than meets the eye… or the nose.
From the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG! Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she’s just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It’ll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!
Matilda will surely go straight to children’s hearts. –The New York Times Book Review
After winning the brutal Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen returns to
her district, hoping for a peaceful future.
But Katniss starts to hear rumours of a deadly rebellion against
the Capitol. A rebellion that she and Peeta have helped to create.
As Katniss and Peeta are forced to visit the districts on the Capitol’s
cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. Unless
Katniss and Peeta can convince the world that they are still lost
in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie is attempting to navigate through the uncharted territory of high school. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and music – when all one requires to feel infinite is that perfect song on that perfect drive. Standing on the fringes of life Charlie has a unique perspective of the world around him, but there comes a time to stop being a wallflower and see what it looks like from the dance floor. This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion has become a modern classic. Charlie’s letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating and through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.
Set in a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called The Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her younger sister’s place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.
The first book in the global phenomenon from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney – 250 million copies of the series sold worldwide!
‘Let me get something straight: this is a JOURNAL, not a diary… The other thing I want to clear up right away is that this was MOM’s idea, not mine.’
Things aren’t going well for Greg Heffley.
He’s been thrust into a new school where undersize weaklings share the corridors with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving.
Along with his friend Rowley, Greg’s desperate to prove his new maturity, which only going up a grade can bring. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, will Greg be able to reach the same heights of popularity as his best friend?
WHAT’S IN DIARY OF A WIMPY KID?
50% words, 50% cartoons, 100% hilarious!
Stories that all readers can’t wait to get their hands on
Laughter guaranteed!
*BRAND NEW* DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE DEEP END IS OUT NOW!
And DON’T MISS an all-new fantasy from Greg’s best friend in Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure, the follow-up to the instant #1 bestseller Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal.
‘Kinney is right up there with J K Rowling as one of the bestselling children’s authors on the planet’ Independent
Have you read all the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End – the BRAND NEW Wimpy Kid book – out now!!
Everything, Everything is now a major motion picture starring Amanda Stenberg from The Hunger Games and Love Simon’s Nick Robinson.
A #1 New York Times Bestseller!
‘Loved this book!’- Zoella
Maddy is allergic to the world; stepping outside the sterile sanctuary of her home could kill her. But then Olly moves in next door. And just like that, Maddy realizes there’s more to life than just being alive. You only get one chance at first love. And Maddy is ready to risk everything, everything to see where it leads.
‘Powerful, lovely, heart-wrenching, and so absorbing I devoured it in one sitting’ – Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places
And don’t miss Nicola Yoon’s #1 New York Times bestseller The Sun Is Also a Star, in which two teens are brought together just when the universe is sending them in opposite directions.
The 39-Storey Treehouse is the third book in Andy Griffith’s and Terry Denton’s wacky treehouse adventures, where the laugh-out-loud story is told through a combination of text and fantastic cartoon-style illustrations.
Andy and Terry’s amazing treehouse has thirteen new levels! They’ve added a chocolate waterfall you can swim in, a volcano for toasting marshmallows, a bulldozer-battling level, a baby-dinosaur-petting zoo, a not-very-merry merry-go-round, a boxing elephant called the Trunkinator, an X-ray room, a disco with a light-up dance floor, the world’s scariest roller coaster and a top-secret thirty-ninth level which hasn’t even been finished yet!
But how can they enjoy all this brilliant stuff when they have to write a book faster than they’ve ever done before? You’ll have to read it to find out!
Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay’s dazzling full-colour illustrations in this stunning new edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Breathtaking scenes, dark themes and unforgettable characters – including Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart – await inside this fully illustrated edition. With paint, pencil and pixels, award-winning illustrator Jim Kay conjures the wizarding world as we have never seen it before. Fizzing with magic and brimming with humour, this inspired reimagining will captivate fans and new readers alike, as Harry and his friends, now in their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, seek out a legendary chamber and the deadly secret that lies at its heart …
NOW A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES! The award-winning, genre-defining debut from John Green, the #1 bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award – A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist – A New York Times Bestseller – A USA Today Bestseller – NPR’s Top Ten Best-Ever Teen Novels – TIME magazine’s 100 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time – A PBS Great American Read Selection – Millions of copies sold!
First drink. First prank. First friend. First love. Last words. Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words–and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet François Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young, who will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.
Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author John Green’s arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction. Newly updated edition includes a brand-new Readers’ Guide featuring a Q&A with author John Green
A love story by Rainbow Rowell, the New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park.
Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they’re off to university and Wren’s decided she doesn’t want to be one half of a pair any more – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It’s not so easy for Cath. She’s horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she’s experienced in real life.
Without Wren Cath is completely on her own and totally outside her comfort zone. She’s got a surly room-mate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
Now Cath has to decide whether she’s ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she’s realizing that there’s more to learn about love than she ever thought possible . . .
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell comes with special bonus material; the first chapter from Rainbow’s irresistible novel Carry On.
Did you think Cinderella married the prince and lived happily ever after, or that the three little pigs outsmarted the wolf? Think again! Master storyteller Roald Dahl adds his own darkly comic twists to six favourite tales, complete with rambunctious rhymes and hilarious surprise endings.
RE-ORDER THE BRAND NEW HUNGER GAMES NOVEL – THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS
AND SNAKES – TODAY! Out May 2020.
The second book in the ground-breaking Hunger Games
trilogy.
After winning the brutal Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta return
to their district, hoping for a peaceful future. But their victory
has caused rebellion to break out … and the Capitol has decided
that someone must pay.
As Katniss and Peeta are forced to visit the districts on the
Capitol’s Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. Unless they
can convince the world that they are still lost in their love
for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
Then comes the cruellest twist: the contestants for the
next Hunger Games are announced, and Katniss and Peeta are forced
into the arena once more.
now a major feature film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson
& Liam Hemsworth
The final book in the ground-breaking Hunger Games
trilogy.
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games
twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena
alive, she’s still not safe.
The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.
Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss.
And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one
else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not
the people of District 12.
now a major feature film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson
& Liam Hemsworth
Now a major film starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith on Netflix.
A compelling and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who wants to die.
Theodore Finch constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself, but each time something good stops him.
Violet Markey exists for the future, counting the days until she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief for her late sister.
When they meet on the ledge of a tower, what might have been their end turns into their beginning.
It’s only with Violet that Finch can truly be himself – a funny guy who’s able to find the joy in life.
And when Violet’s with Finch, she forgets to count away the days and starts to live them.
But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink. He’s trying to cling on to all the good things in his life, but will it be enough this time?
‘If you’re looking for the next The Fault in Our Stars, this is it’ – Guardian
‘This book is amazing – I couldn’t put it down’ – Zoe Sugg
‘A searingly honest and heartbreakingly poignant tale about the power and beauty of love’ – Heat
From the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda!
One of TIME MAGAZINE’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time
The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It’s lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, or any of the other giants-rather than the BFG-she would have soon become breakfast? When Sophie hears that the giants are flush-bunking off to England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!
“This warmhearted tall tale, published a year before Dahl picked up the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, artfully whisks readers away on a magical journey through London, Giant Country and beyond, to a realm of wild imagination.” –TIME Magazine
The first novel in the #1 bestselling RED QUEEN series by Victoria Aveyard.
THIS IS A WORLD DIVIDED BY BLOOD – RED OR SILVER.
The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.
That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.
Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.
But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart . . .
_________________________________
Read the international bestselling RED QUEEN series in full:
Book 1: RED QUEEN
Book 2: GLASS SWORD
Book 3: KING’S CAGE
Book 4: WAR STORM
Book 5: BROKEN THRONE (AN EXCLUSIVE RED QUEEN COLLECTION)
Our best-selling body book for girls just got even better! With all-new illustrations and updated content for girls ages 8 and up, it features tips, how-tos, and facts from the experts. (Medical consultant: Cara Natterson, MD.) You’ll find answers to questions about your changing body, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. Once you feel comfortable with what’s happening, you’ll be ready to move on to The Care & Keeping of You 2!
When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it’s the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run – and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry’s tea leaves … But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss.
These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …
Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog find excitement and adventure wherever they go in Enid Blyton’s most popular series.
Five On A Treasure Island
A shipwreck off Kirrin Island! But where is the treasure? The Famous Five are searching for clues – but they’re not alone … Someone else has joined the treasure hunt.
Five Go Adventuring Again
A thief at Kirrin Cottage! Who can it be? The Famous Five think they know – but they need proof! Then they find an old map and an unusual hiding place…
Five Run Away Together
Who’s been on George’s Island? And what is locked in the mysterious trunk hidden on Kirrin Island? The Famous Five think they’re on the trail of smugglers – until they hear a child scream…
This 70th anniversary edition features the Classic editions of the first three Famous Five adventures in one volume and contains the original cover art and inside drawings by Eileen Soper.
The 65-Storey Treehouse is the fifth book in Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s wacky treehouse adventures, where the laugh-out-loud story is told through a combination of text and fantastic cartoon-style illustrations.
Andy and Terry’s amazing 65-Storey Treehouse now has a pet-grooming salon, a birthday room where it’s always your birthday (even when it’s not), a room full of exploding eyeballs, a lollipop shop, a quicksand pit, an ant farm, a time machine and Tree-NN: a 24-hour-a-day TV news centre keeping you up to date with all the latest treehouse news, current events and gossip.
When 17 year old Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father she expects that her new life will be as dull as the town.
But in spite of her awkward manner and low expectations, she finds that her new classmates are drawn to this pale, dark-haired new girl in town. But not, it seems, the Cullen family. These five adopted brothers and sisters obviously prefer their own company and will make no exception for Bella.
Bella is convinced that Edward Cullen in particular hates her, but she feels a strange attraction to him, although his hostility makes her feel almost physically ill. He seems determined to push her away – until, that is, he saves her life from an out of control car.
Bella will soon discover that there is a very good reason for Edward’s coldness. He, and his family, are vampires – and he knows how dangerous it is for others to get too close.
Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors’ attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord’s return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the Dark forces. Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort’s savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of time.
These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …
THE GIVER is the classic award-winning novel that inspired the dystopian genre and a major motion picture adaptation for 2014 starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift.
It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, no pain. No one in the community wants for anything. Everything needed is provided. And at twelve years old, each member of the community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders.
Twelve-year old Jonas has never thought there was anything wrong with his world. But from the moment he is selected as the Receiver of Memory, Jonas discovers that their community is not as perfect as it seems.
It is only with the help of the Giver, that Jonas can find what has been lost. And it is only through his personal courage that Jonas finds the strength to do what is right…
The Giver is the award-winning classic of bravery and adventure that has inspired countless dystopian writers as the forerunner of this genre.
The 52-Storey Treehouse is the fourth book in Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s wacky treehouse adventures, where the laugh-out-loud story is told through a combination of text and fantastic cartoon-style illustrations.
Winner of the ABIA Book of the Year Award.
Andy and Terry’s incredible, ever-expanding treehouse has thirteen new storeys, including a watermelon-smashing level, a wave machine, a life-size snakes and ladders game (with real ladders and real snakes!), a rocket-powered carrot launcher, a Ninja Snail Training Academy and a high-tech detective agency with all the latest high-tech detective technology. Which is lucky, because they have a BIG mystery to solve – Where is Mr Big Nose???
When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shrivelled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort’s darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny.
These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …
The unmissable first novel from bestselling and award-winning author of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN.
“In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla and on that thin-mooned night I could see little more than her silhouette, but even in the dark, I could see her eyes – fierce emeralds. And beautiful.”
BEFORE. Miles Halter’s whole life has been one big non-event until he starts at anything-but-boring Culver Creek Boarding School and meets Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever, funny and utterly fascinating she pulls Miles into her world, launches him into a new life, and steals his heart. But when tragedy strikes, and Miles comes face-to-face with death he discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.
AFTER: Nothing will ever be the same.
Poignant, funny, heartbreaking and compelling, this novel will stay with you forever.
The Triwizard Tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. Only wizards who are over seventeen are allowed to enter – but that doesn’t stop Harry from dreaming that he will win the competition. Then at Hallowe’en, when the Goblet of Fire makes its selection, Harry is amazed to find his name is one of those that the magical cup picks out. He will face death-defying tasks, dragons and Dark wizards, but with the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, he might just make it through – alive!
These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …
As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is now broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves, and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin – Harry must stand and face his enemy.
These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …
The action-packed, heart-wrenching and fantastically addictive sequel to Sarah J. Maas’s epic YA fantasy debut THRONE OF GLASS.
Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful – the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all … And trying to may just destroy her.
Reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love, but what it’s like to be young and in love with a book’ John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars
Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she’s never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn’t stick out more if she tried.
Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and – in Eleanor’s eyes – impossibly cool, Park’s worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by.
Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mixtapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time when you’re 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose.
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true – an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love.
The eighth novel from NUMBER ONE bestselling author, David Walliams – now available in paperback!
Jack’s Grandpa…
*wears his slippers to the supermarket
*serves up Spam a la Custard for dinner
*and often doesn’t remember Jack’s name
But he can still take to the skies in a speeding Spitfire and save the day…
An exquisite portrait of the bond between a small boy and his beloved Grandpa – this book takes readers on an incredible journey with Spitfires over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy and heart.
From the #1 bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars
Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery
#1 New York Times Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
Publishers Weekly Bestseller
Now a major motion picture
When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night–dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge–he follows her. Margo’s always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q. Printz Medalist John Green returns with the trademark brilliant wit and heart-stopping emotional honesty that have inspired a new generation of readers.
From number one bestselling author David Walliams comes another heartfelt but hilarious hoot of an adventure
Stella Saxby is the sole heir to Saxby Hall. But awful Aunt Alberta and her giant owl will stop at nothing to get it from her. Luckily Stella has a secret – and slightly spooky – weapon up her sleeve…
Bella?’
Edward’s soft voice came from behind me. I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once and kissed me again. His kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine – like he was afraid we had only so much time left to us.
As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
Following the international bestsellers Twilight and New Moon, Eclipse is the much-anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer’s captivating saga of vampire romance.
Sarah J. Maas’s global #1 bestselling THRONE OF GLASS series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth instalment.
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. Now she returns to the empire – to confront the shadows of her past …
Bloodthirsty for revenge on the two men responsible for destroying her life, and desperate to find out if the prince and his captain are safe, Celaena returns to Rifthold. She has accepted her identity as Aelin Galathynius, the lost Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, there are dark truths to learn and debts to be paid. Aelin must stay hidden beneath her assassin’s hood and draw on her mortal strength as Celaena to prevent the King of Adarlan from tearing her world apart. Only then can she fight for her people.
Readers will be held rapt as Celaena’s story builds to an agonising crescendo, packed with heart-pounding action and searing romance.
The second laugh-out-loud, fully-illustrated Diary of a Wimpy Kid book from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney! A global phenomenon with 250 million copies of the series sold worldwide!
It’s a brand-new year and a brand-new journal and Greg Heffley is keen to put the humiliating (and secret!) events of last summer firmly behind him.
But someone knows everything, someone whose job it is to most definitely not keep anything embarrassing of Greg’s private: his big brother, Rodrick. Can Greg make it through this new school year with his cool(ish) reputation intact?
WHAT’S IN DIARY OF A WIMPY KID?
50% words, 50% cartoons, 100% hilarious!
Stories that all readers can’t wait to get their hands on
Laughter guaranteed!
*BRAND NEW* DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE DEEP END IS OUT NOW!
And DON’T MISS an all-new fantasy from Greg’s best friend in Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure, the follow-up to the instant #1 bestseller Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal.
‘Kinney is right up there with J K Rowling as one of the bestselling children’s authors on the planet’ Independent
Have you read all the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End – the BRAND NEW Wimpy Kid book – out now!!
The third instalment to the global #1 bestselling series.
As the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, Celaena Sardothien is bound to serve the tyrant who slaughtered her dear friend. But she has vowed to make him pay. The answers Celaena needs to destroy the king lie across the sea Wendlyn. And Chaol, Captain of the King’s Guard, has put his future in jeopardy to send her there.
Yet as Celaena seeks her destiny in Wendlyn, a new threat is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?
This third novel in the THRONE OF GLASS sequence, from global #1 bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate.
The sparkling debut children’s novel from David Walliams, the number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country, with a sparkling new cover, look to tie in with later books.
Dennis was different.
Why was he different, you ask?
Well, a small clue might be in the title of this book…
Charming, surprising and hilarious – The Boy in the Dress is everything you would expect from the co-creator of Little Britain. David Walliams’s beautiful first novel will touch the hearts (and funny bones) of children and adults alike.
Weave legendary stories in the world’s greatest roleplaying game. All you need to run a Dungeons & Dragons game is your imagination, some dice, and this book. The Dungeon Master’s Guide teaches you how to how to run D&D adventures for your players– how to invent monsters for them to fight, mysteries for them to solve, and fantasy worlds for them to explore. “[The Dungeon Master’s Guide is] the one book to rule them all, the most comprehensive and powerful set of resources needed to run a game of D&D. .”
–Charlie Hall, Polygon.com “D&D acolytes are everywhere…Tech workers from Silicon Valley to Brooklyn have long-running campaigns, and the showrunners and the novelist behind ‘Game of Thrones’ have all been Dungeon Masters.”–Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker – The Dungeon Master’s Guide is one of the three main Dungeons & Dragons books, along with the Player’s Handbook and Monster Manual. It’s a reference used by the Dungeon Master (the game’s narrator) to create adventures–to run Dungeons & Dragons games and fill them with characters and stories. – The Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG) is full of tools to help you immerse players in the game. What’s the demon lord’s secret weakness? Are the orcish invaders a criminal enterprise, or traitorous allies? Dozens of tables throughout the book help inspire your decisions and keep the game flowing smoothly. – In the Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG), even the tables tell tales. A legendary sword takes five decades to craft. Who created it, and why? A tavern-crawling gnome has an eye twitch. How did she get it, and when? In every detail is an architecture for narrative–and the Dungeon Master’s Guide has all the tools you need to flesh it out with ease. – In Dungeons & Dragons, you and your friends coauthor your own legend. Guided by a Dungeon Master, you create characters and play their roles in a story, rolling dice and navigating maps as you unfold a tale as limitless as your imagination. – Dungeons & Dragons is the world’s greatest roleplaying game. Created in 1974, D&D transformed gaming culture by blending traditional fantasy with miniatures and wargaming.
A true genius . . . Roald Dahl is my hero” – David Walliams
“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.”
Matilda is the world’s most famous bookworm, no thanks to her ghastly parents.
Her father thinks she’s a little scab. Her mother spends all afternoon playing bingo.
And her headmistress, Miss Trunchbull?
She’s the worst of all.
She’s a big bully, who thinks all her pupils are rotten and locks them in the dreaded Chokey.
Despite these beastly grownups trying to push her down, Matilda is an extraordinary girl with a magical mind.
And she’s had enough.
So all the terrible adults had better watch out, because she’s going to teach them a lesson they’ll never forget!
Now you can listen to MATILDA and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry – plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios!
These three stories are heartbreaking, surprising, funny and hopeful. Just like WONDER, AUGGIE & ME will make you laugh, cry and try to choose kind.
Praise for WONDER:
“Remarkable . . . It has the power to move hearts and change minds” (Guardian)
“Incredibly charming, brutal and brilliant” (Observer)
“It wreaks emotional havoc . . . To finish it with a firm resolve to be a better person – well, you can’t ask much more of any book than that” (Independent)
“When the kids have finished with this, the adults will want to read it. Everybody should” (Financial Times)
“Awesome . . . So authentic you’ll swear a kid wrote the book. And yes, that’s a good thing” (Glamour)
This sensitive, informative guide to puberty for girls tackles everything from body image to mood swings, hormones and first bras. Bright, cartoon-style illustrations and scientific diagrams explain the physical and emotional changes of growing up in a simple and reassuring way, while the contents and index pages make key topics easy to find.
Kingdoms collide as Aelin continues her epic journey from assassin to queen in this instalment of the global #1 bestselling series.
The long path to the throne has just begun for Aelin Galathynius. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
Contains mature content. Not suitable for younger readers.
Now a Netflix feature film!
Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.
One for every boy she’s ever loved.
When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all
the things she would never say in real life because her letters
are for her eyes only.
Until the day her secret letters are mailed,
and suddenly Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control!
The first book in the bestselling series by Jenny Han, which
has been made into a NETFLIX feature film
PS I Still Love You is the second book in the series
Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the third book in the
trilogy
I stuck my finger under the edge of the paper and jerked it under the tape. ‘Shoot,’ I muttered when the paper sliced my finger. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut. It all happened very quickly then. ‘No!’ Edward roared … Dazed and disorientated, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm – and into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.
For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of an evil vampire but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realise their troubles may just be beginning …
From the author of The BFG and Matilda! Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!
The Magic Faraway Tree Collection contains all three much-loved books in the Faraway Tree series by the world’s best-loved children’s author, Enid Blyton.
When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, it proves to be the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? Come on an amazing adventure – there’ll be adventures waiting whatever happens.
Also, lookout for the Blyton Colour Reads series. Chock full of vibrant colour illustrations from Alex Paterson, these are the perfect way to introduce the Faraway Tree adventures to children aged five and up.
Enid Blyton’s funny, magical adventure stories have become true classics, loved by millions and still selling thousands of copies every year. She is arguably the most famous children’s author of all time, thanks to series such as The Wishing-Chair, The Faraway Tree-, The Mysteries, The Famous Five and The Secret Seven.
Diana Wynne Jones’s entrancing, classic fantasy novel is filled with surprises at every turn.
Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl’s castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there’s far more to Howl–and herself–than first meets the eye.
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl’s castle?
“A fun way to get kids interested in Harry Potter also interested in food.” –New York magazine Conjure up feasts that rival the Great Hall’s, sweets fit for the Minister of Magic, snacks you’d find on the Hogwarts Express, and more! This bestselling unofficial Harry Potter cookbook is perfect for chefs of all ages, from new readers to longtime fans–no wands required! Bangers and mash with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Hogwarts dining hall. A proper cuppa tea and rock cakes in Hagrid’s hut. Cauldron cakes and pumpkin juice on the Hogwarts Express. With this cookbook, dining a la Hogwarts is as easy as Banoffee Pie! With more than 150 easy-to-make recipes, tips, and techniques, you can indulge in spellbindingly delicious meals drawn straight from the pages of your favourite Potter stories, such as Treacle Tart–Harry’s favourite dessert
Molly’s Meat Pies–Mrs. Weasley’s classic dish
Kreacher’s French Onion Soup
Pumpkin Pasties–a staple on the Hogwarts Express cart With a dash of magic and a drop of creativity, you’ll conjure up the entrees, desserts, snacks, and drinks you need to transform ordinary Muggle meals into magical culinary masterpieces, sure to make even Mrs. Weasley proud!
ILLUSTRATED BY CHRISTIAN BIRMINGHAM.
A lyrical and moving tale of a young boy growing up in Africa, and his lifelong friendship with a white lion.
“All my life I’ll think of you, I promise I will. I won’t ever forget you.”
Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African veld. They are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they will see one another again, but it is the butterfly lion that ensures that their friendship will never be forgotten.
Fill your Dungeons & Dragons games with deadly monsters from the Monster Manual.
The Monster Manual teaches you how to how to fill your Dungeons & Dragons games with monsters–how to populate the game with pesky goblins and mighty dragons for players to battle or beguile, outwit or outrun. Inside the Monster Manual, you’ll find more than 150 classic D&D creatures, with vivid illustrations and rich descriptions to help breathe life into your zombies and liches. “…What if I told you about the best book of monsters ever? The 5E Monster Manual just might be the one…”–Ed Grabianowski, io9.Gizmodo.com “D&D acolytes are everywhere…Tech workers from Silicon Valley to Brooklyn have long-running campaigns, and the showrunners and the novelist behind ‘Game of Thrones’ have all been Dungeon Masters.”–Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker
– The Monster Manual is one of the three main Dungeons & Dragons books, along with the Player’s Handbook and the Dungeon Master’s Guide. It’s an essential resource for Dungeon Masters to use in populating any type of challenge they might contrive for their players. – From an angel’s wingspan to the vacant eyes of a zombie beholder, the Monster Manual includes more than 150 creatures illustrated in vivid color, with more than 400 quick reference tables to help you bring them to life with ease. – Rich Descriptions of each monster help trigger your imagination. From the familiar (“vampires hate sunlight”) to the arcane (“what color is the vapor from a gorgon’s nose?”), the Monster Manual helps inspire your decisions and keep the game flowing smoothly. – In Dungeons & Dragons, you and your friends coauthor your own legend. Guided by a Dungeon Master, you create characters and play their roles in a story, rolling dice and navigating maps as you unfold a tale as limitless as your imagination. – Dungeons & Dragons is the world’s greatest roleplaying game. Created in 1974, D&D transformed gaming culture by blending traditional fantasy with miniatures and wargaming.
With bright, cartoon-style illustrations and clear diagrams this sensitive, detailed and informative guide explains male puberty in a reassuring and friendly way. It tackles everything from physical and hormonal changes to emotional upheaval. Ideal for libraries and schools, the contents and index pages make key topics easy to find.
The third title in the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, this book is for kids 4- to 8-years-old who LOVE dinos!
The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic, with stunning illustrations by Franco Tempesta-who illustrated National Geographic Kids The Ultimate Dinopedia. Bursting with fun facts and age-appropriate information, each spread features a different dinosaur, along with simple text in a big type that is perfect for little kids. Young dino fans will love the interactivity included in every chapter, and parents will appreciate tips to help carry readers’ experience beyond the page.
This is the first book in a brand new series from bestselling author, Maggie Stiefvater. Fans of SHIVER (9781407115009), LINGER (9781407121086) and FOREVER (9781407121116) will love this new quartet! Blue has spent the majority of her sixteen years being told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. When Blue meets Gansey’s spirit on the corpse road she knows there is only one reason why – either he is her true love or she has killed him. Determined to find out the truth, Blue becomes involved with the Raven Boys, four boys from the local private school (lead by Gansey) who are on a quest to discover Glendower – a lost ancient Welsh King who is buried somewhere along the Virginia ley line. Whoever finds him will be granted a supernatural favour. Never before has Blue felt such magic around her. But is Gansey her true love? She can’t imagine a time she would feel like that, and she is adamant not to be the reason for his death. Where will fate lead them? Look out for the next book, THE DREAM THIEVES, out 18th September 2013!
The action-packed introduction to the legendary Throne of Glass series – an irresistible bind-up of all five of #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas’s Assassin novellas
Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassins’ Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam.
In these action-packed prequel novellas – together in one edition for the first time – Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn’s orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery . . .
Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine and find out how the legend begins in the five page-turning prequel novellas to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series.
“I give this book top grades for humanness and honesty. Some parents will find that its humorousness helps them over the embarrassment.”
–Dr. Spock
Over A Million Copies Sold! An international and beloved bestselling children’s classic, Where Did I Come From? helps parents and their curious children get up close and personal with the intimate world of human sexuality in the form of a picture book. Told in an age-appropriate voice respectful of young people’s natural intelligence and warmly and relatably illustrated throughout, Where Did I Come From? creates a safe space where families can learn about the traditional facts of life–from the different parts of the body to orgasm to birth. If you’ve been wondering how to have this talk with your children, look no further for a trusted resource that will give you the tools you need to share this critical information sensitively and factually. “The best Description of sexual intercourse that is out there for children.”
–Sexedrescue.com
“You can’t deny Mayle’s talent for translating adult experience into child-level concepts.”
–Kirkus Reviews
Once by Morris Gleitzman is the story of a young Jewish boy who is determined to escape the orphanage he lives in to save his Jewish parents from the Nazis in the occupied Poland of the Second World War.
Everybody deserves to have something good in their life. At least Once.
Once I escaped from an orphanage to find Mum and Dad.
Once I saved a girl called Zelda from a burning house.
Once I made a Nazi with a toothache laugh.
My name is Felix. This is my story.
Once is the first in a series of children’s novels about Felix, a Jewish orphan caught in the middle of the Holocaust, from Australian author Morris Gleitzman – author of Bumface and Boy Overboard. The next books in the series Then, Now and After are also available from Puffin.
From the World’s No. 1 Storyteller, James and the Giant Peach is a children’s classic that has captured young reader’s imaginations for generations. One of TIME MAGAZINE’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time After James Henry Trotter’s parents are tragically eaten by a rhinoceros, he goes to live with his two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Life there is no fun, until James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree and strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it’s as big as a house. Inside, James meets a bunch of oversized friends–Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the great adventure begins! Roald Dahl is the author of numerous classic children’s stories including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and many more! “James and the Giant Peach remains a favorite among kids and parents alike nearly 60 years after it was first published, thanks to its vivid imagery, vibrant characters and forthright exploration of mature themes like death and hope.” –TIME Magazine
The latest jaw-achingly funny, number-one bestselling novel from David Walliams – now out in paperback. Make your appointment if you dare…
Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find… a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow.
Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it…?
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER – NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER – NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER
Dig deep in this award-winning, modern classic that will remind readers that adventure is right around the corner–or just under your feet!
Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes. It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment–and redemption. A smart jigsaw puzzle of a novel. –New York Times
*Includes a double bonus: an excerpt from Small Steps, the follow-up to Holes, as well as an excerpt from the New York Times bestseller Fuzzy Mud.
The first-ever illustrated Harry Potter pop-up book, based on the creative work of the most successful film franchise in history, Harry Potter: The Pop Up Book is the must-have a pop-up gift for Potter fans and aspiring wizards! This collectible Harry Potter pop-up book, based on the creative development of the films, features exquisite original artwork by Andrew Williamson, concept artist for all eight movies. With dynamic pop-ups animating memorable moments and locations — like the Triwizard Tournament, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts Castle — Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book offers a 3-D glimpse into the amazing world, as seen in the films. This deluxe book will delight Harry Potter fans with dynamic pop-up ingenuity, insights from the creative team who turned JK Rowling’s stories into movie magic, fascinating facts about the magical universe seen in the movies, and Harry Potter memories and memorabilia packed into every page.
One of the greatest novels of the 20th century by one of the greatest writers in American history – THE BOOK THAT WON ERNEST HEMINGWAY THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE
Set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana, Hemingway’s magnificent fable is the story of an old man, a young boy and a giant fish.
Here, in a perfectly crafted story, is a unique and timeless vision of the beauty and grief of man’s challenge to the elements in which he lives. Not a single word is superfluous in this widely admired masterpiece, which once and for all established his place as one of the giants of modern literature.
From the World’s No. 1 Storyteller, The Witches is a children’s classic that has captured young reader’s imaginations for generations.
This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches.
Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There’s nothing they hate so muchas children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grandmamma’s stories-but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face-to-face with The Grand High Witch herself!
Escape to Hogwarts with the unmissable series that has sparked a lifelong reading journey for children and families all over the world!
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news – Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The magic starts here …
These irresistible editions are presented in a striking scarlet box decorated with gold foiling, showing Harry on his broomstick flying past a fiery Hungarian Horntail dragon. This set is the essential Harry Potter – a must-have for every child at the start of the most magical reading adventure. These are books to be treasured and read time and time again, the greatest children’s story of all time.
Favourites for nearly 100 years, these classic novels follow the adventures of the spirited redhead Anne Shirley, who comes to stay at Green Gables and wins the hearts of everyone she meets. Complete 8-book box set: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside.
Lara Jean and her love letters are back in this utterly
irresistible sequel to NETFLIX feature film To All The Boys
I’ve Loved Before.
Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
But suddenly they are together for real – and it’s far more complicated
than when they were pretending!
A risque video of the two of them has been posted online. Will
Lara Jean ever live it down?
Peter is spending more and more time with his ex. Has he still
got feelings for her?
A boy from Lara Jean’s past has returned, and so too have her
feelings for him.
Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?
Only one thing is certain: falling in love is just the easy part!
The second book in the bestselling series by Jenny Han, which
has been made into a NETFLIX feature film
Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the third book in the
trilogy
Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn’t be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another. Whether they’re putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there’s one thing they can’t help wondering: Will Father return home safely?
The fourth laugh-out-loud, fully-illustrated Diary of a Wimpy Kid book from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney! A global phenomenon with 250 million copies of the series sold worldwide!
Greg Heffley’s family are going to have to count their pennies this summer.
That means, no beach holiday and lots of ‘family togetherness’. Which doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. The only good thing Greg has to look forward to is his birthday, but even THAT ends in a disaster.
And when his dad brings home a brand-new addition to the family, Greg is outnumbered. It could be a real dog of a summer . . .
WHAT’S IN DIARY OF A WIMPY KID?
50% words, 50% cartoons, 100% hilarious!
Stories that all readers can’t wait to get their hands on
Laughter guaranteed!
*BRAND NEW* DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE DEEP END IS OUT NOW!
And DON’T MISS an all-new fantasy from Greg’s best friend in Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure, the follow-up to the instant #1 bestseller Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal.
‘Kinney is right up there with J K Rowling as one of the bestselling children’s authors on the planet’ Independent
Have you read all the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End – the BRAND NEW Wimpy Kid book – out now!!
Now is the third shocking, funny and heartbreaking book in Morris Gleitzman’s Second World War series.
Sometimes facing the past is the bravest act of all…
ONCE
I didn’t know about my grandfather Felix’s scary childhood.
THEN
I found out what the Nazis did to his best friend Zelda.
NOW
I understand why Felix does the things he does.
At least he’s got me. My name is Zelda too. This is our story.
Now is the third in a series of children’s novels about Felix, a Jewish orphan caught in the middle of the Holocaust, from Australian author Morris Gleitzman – author of Bumface and Two Weeks with the Queen. The other books in the series, Once, Then, and After are also available from Puffin.
Why is six afraid of seven?
Because seven eight nine!
Roald Dahl’s Whizzpopping Joke Book is a collection of hundreds of great jokes that would make even the Trunchbull laugh!
Inspired by Roald Dahl’s wonderful world, these gigglesome gags are guaranteed to raise a chuckle and keep human beans young and old entertained for hours on end.
When it comes to literature, close reading is a technique that helps you understand and master the text in a better way. In other words, it is the art of looking very close within the lines, phrases, and words and understanding the whys of them.
So, here is the step-by-step process of how to do a close reading.
Begin With Annotation
The first step to start your close read journey is to annotate. It is the process of highlighting and underlying the material that seems important or has a deeper meaning to it or offers insights towards a better understanding of the overall text. The key to this technique is to rely on the hard copy of the text. It will help you connect with the text near almost no electronic screen or e-book.
Make Notes as You go!
Another thing you should do to understand the text better is to make side notes. The insights of these notes should come from the textual observation and your objective response to the material. For example, what was the first thing you observed that struck you? What are its elements? Is it love, suspense, or revolution? Jot everything down. It will help you draw logical conclusions about the text without even understanding the background.
Establish Patterns of Similarities and Differences
Another step in close reading is to establish the patterns in the text. Is there a repetition of the same types of the word? Are the sentence structures rhyming or repetitive? What is the structuring in the paragraphs? What kinds of word are used to represent a particular situation? All of these questions can help determine the patterns within the sections as well as sentences. It is an essential step in literature analysis as it can represent the crucial details.
Observe at the Micro-Level
Observation at a micro level can help you understand the crux of the whole content. Look out for the syntax, pauses, rhetorical devices, sounds, imagery, and tone of the text. For example, if the sentences are short or long? What does the text sound like? Is it harsh or represent turmoil, or is it calm? Do you feel something is missing? Did the writer use analogies or symbolism?
Question the Whys of Everything
The last and the most important thing is reflecting into the f it. Why does the text use certain words? Why did the writer miss out on details that should be talked about? These questions will help you reflect on all the observations made during the reading up of the passage.
Conclusion
Literature close reading is not rocket science however without the perfect strategy it is not possible to get the gist of it. While doing the literature close reading follow the above-mentioned points to have a rejuvenating experience.
All of the books and films you study have different elements, themes and some unique features. Each genre has a set of elements that will distinguish them from other genres. See our guide below:
Genres
Elements
Adventure
:
A heroic protagonist
A journey or quest
Unusual locations
Sense of danger
An injustice
Bildungsroman
:
A struggle for identity
A societal conflict
A loss of innocence
A journey
Maturity
Comedy
:
Substance
Expression and communication
The originality of humour
Timing and rhythm
Intelligent writing
Setting
Crime
:
Conflict
Time(Unfolding the text within a tight time frame)
Language features are the specific language techniques that an author includes to create meaning. Literary elements are aspects of a text that the reader interprets, for example, themes and characterisation. Literary elements and language features both come under the umbrella of literary devices, along with the conventions of other genres (for example, dramatic or poetic conventions).
Literary elements and language features are closely linked, and it is essential that you are able to discuss how they work together to form complex analysis. A clear example of this is characterisation. Characterisation is how a particular character is constructed and represented – this is a literary element. However this construction is formed through language features, such as the selection of particular words (diction).
A perspective is a position from which things may be viewed or considered. It refers to the lens through which we experience the world of the text being studied.
When we discuss the perspective – or multiple perspectives – offered by a text, we must consider the factors that have shaped that viewpoint. These contextual factors can usually be organised into four main types:
Physical perspective
Temporal perspective
Psychosocial perspective
Ideological perspective
1. Physical perspective refers to the location of the narrator, author or creator in regard to what they are sharing with us. The physical perspective relates to the physical senses, to our bodies, and to the material and natural environments.
2. Temporal perspective refers to the time frame through which something is being viewed. This is frequently a moment in the past, but can also be a moment in the present. When something is viewed in the past tense, the perspective may be that of someone who has had time to reflect. When something is in the present tense, the perspective may be less certain but more reactionary, emotional and immediate.
3. Psychosocial perspective refers to the personality, experiences and social background of a person. Someone’s perspective might generally be optimistic or pessimistic, nurturing or defensive, kind or cruel, innocent or experienced, open-minded or cynical, fortunate or tragic, privileged or under-privileged, etc. Their perspective might be shaped by the fact that they are a mother, father, widow, widower, grandparent, child, student, business owner, employee, war veteran, refugee, etc.
4. Ideology refers to the ways of thinking about the world that are characteristic of or in the interests of a particular group of people. An ideology is a system of beliefs.
Ideologies can be characteristic of nationalities, social classes, genders or occupational groups. For example, a patriarchal ideology constructs men as superior to women and seeks to promote laws, customs, behaviour, gender roles, texts and language that strengthen and maintain that ideology within a society. Feminism, on the other hand, is an ideology that believes women should be seen as the equal of men. Other well-documented ideologies that influence a person’s perspective include: colonialism, racism, socialism, capitalism, nationalism, and environmentalism. There are potentially many more.
In your study, you may have come across different reading practices or the phrase “alternative reading”.
This is a topic that is rarely covered in detail in class, but can be the difference between an average essay and an amazing essay.
SCSA WA defines reading and readings as the below:
Reading
The process of making meaning of text. This process draws on a repertoire of social, cultural and cognitive resources. Reading occurs in different ways, for different purposes, in a variety of public and domestic settings. Reading is therefore a cultural, economic, ideological, political and psychological act. The term applies to the act of reading print texts or the act of viewing a film or static image.
Readings
Readings are particular interpretations of a text. The classification of readings into alternative, resistant or dominant is quite arbitrary, depending on the ideology held by the reader. Alternative readings: readings that focus on the gaps and silences in texts to create meanings that vary from those meanings that seem to be foregrounded by the text. Dominant reading: is the reading that seems to be, for the majority of people in society, the natural or normal way to interpret a text. In a society where there are strongly competing discourses (i.e. most societies), the definition of what is a dominant reading depends on the ideology of the person making the decision. Resistant reading: a way of reading or making meaning from a text which challenges or questions the assumptions underlying the text. Resistant readings employ a discourse different from the discourse that produces the dominant reading
Source: SCSA WA
In simple terms, a reading is the way or the lens through which we interpret a certain text, be that novel, film, short story and everything in between.
Every text that you read can have multiple interpretations, depending on the reading you take. Many exams have used the term “readings” or “reading” in the responding section. Therefore, it’s wise for you to know how to conduct readings and write essays on readings.
Let’s take Harry Potter, for example.
A dominant reading of Harry Potter allows readers to understand that Harry is the traditional fantasy hero that saves the day. However, a resistant reading could be that minor characters are more fundamental to the plot line that J K Rowling intended, namely Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom. A gendered reading of Harry Potter could reveal that women should be values for their intelligence rather than for their beauty, as an indictment of society’s values. This has been demonstrated through the characters of Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood and Cho Cheng. All three female characters are appreciated for their book and street smarts, as well as their abilities to do spells. This is a very simplistic demonstration of alternative readings designed to show you the basics.
Depending on the text you have studied, type into Google <text name> + alternative reading and see what comes up! This will help you plan an essay on a dominant, resistant or alternative reading of your text for the purpose of an essay.
