Welcome to GREAT BOOKS TO READ ALOUD

‘Reading aloud is the best way to get your children hooked on books for life’

Jacqueline WilsonChildren’s Laureate

It’s great for children to be read to every day – but it’salso great for those who get to do the reading too! Afantastic opportunity to show off your vocal talents,a chance to spend quiet time with your child and a

brilliantly fun way to pass an hour or just a few minutes! We’ve gathered together this collection of fabulous books

through suggestions from publishers, booksellers,librarians and children’s books experts. The advice inthese pages should help you choose the most fun and

exciting books to read to your children – and they’re allones you’ll be happy to read over and over again! We have

top tips on each book from Julia Eccleshare, children’sbooks editor at the Guardian, and booksellers and

librarians have added their thoughts on why the booksare great fun to listen to. All the books should be

available in your local bookstore and are reasonablypriced. With extra recommendations from celebrities and

well-known children’s authors, GREAT BOOKS TOREAD ALOUD is an invaluable tool for any family.

Enjoy!

For more information on the books please visit:www.greatbookstoreadaloud.co.uk

GREAT BOOKS TO READ ALOUDA CORGI BOOK 978 0 552 55498 5 (from January 2007)

0 552 55498 7

Published in Great Britain by Corgi Books,an imprint of Random House Children’s Books

This edition published 2006

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

This collection copyright © Random House Children’s Books, 2006Introduction copyright © Jacqueline Wilson, 2006Cover illustration copyright © Nick Sharratt, 2006

Individual pieces copyright © Individual contributors, 2006

The right of Random House Children’s Books to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright,

Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Papers used by Random House Children’s Books are natural, recyclable products madefrom wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the

environmental regulations of the country of origin.

Set in Garamond and Rockwell

Corgi Books are published by Random House Children’s Books,61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA,

a division of The Random House Group Ltd,in Australia by Random House Australia (Pty) Ltd,

20 Alfred Street, Milsons Point, Sydney, NSW 2061, Australia,in New Zealand by Random House New Zealand Ltd,18 Poland Road, Glenfield, Auckland 10, New Zealand,

and in South Africa by Random House (Pty) Ltd,Isle of Houghton, Corner Boundary Road & Carse O’Gowrie,

Houghton 2198, South Africa

THE RANDOM HOUSE GROUP Limited Reg. No. 954009

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Printed and bound in Denmark

OVER 70 TRIED AND TESTED

GREAT BOOKS

TOREAD

ALOUD

I love reading. I read everywhere – curled up inan armchair, slouching on the sofa, lying in thebath, half-dozing in bed. I always read onjourneys. I even read walking along, though thisis silly, and I shall doubtless walk slap-bang into alamppost one day.

When my daughter, Emma, was born I fed herand changed her and rocked her . . . and read toher. She was one of those fidgety babies whobarely slept and wanted to be played with all thetime, which was pretty exhausting. There was justone thing that kept us both thoroughly happy andcontented, and that was our reading aloudsessions. I’d sit her on my lap and cuddle herclose and we’d turn the pages of a big picturebook together.When there was a dog we’d go‘woof, woof’ and pretend to stroke him.Whenthere was a picture of a cake we’d pretend to eatand go ‘yum, yum’. It was as simple and as basicas that.

By the time she was a toddler we were onto littlestories and rhymes.We had great fun readingWhere the Wild Things Are, roaring our terribleroars and showing our terrible claws to eachother. Then we got onto all those gentle littlegirlie books like Milly-Molly-Mandy, stories I’dloved when I was little, and we talked to theanimals, Little Bear and Little Grey Rabbit andFrances the Badger.

I worried that our lovely reading aloud sessionsmight stop when Emma started to learn to read.But we carried on, because I could read her olderbooks she couldn’t yet tackle by herself. Emmaloved Victorian books so we could have a

It’s never too early to start Jacqueline WilsonChildren’s Laureate

2005-2007

4

wonderful wallow in Little Women andWhat Katy Did and A Little Princess, andby the time she was approachingadolescence we’d read Jane Eyre andGreat Expectations together.

I don’t think I was that brilliant a mum.I sometimes got tetchy and I wasalways a rubbish cook – but I’m sopleased we read aloud. I think it’s thebest gift you can give your child. It’s awonderful way of bonding togetherand simultaneously entering the magicworld of the imagination. It’s theeasiest way of making sure your child is hooked on books for life.

This book is packed full of helpfulsuggestions for reading aloud, with toptips, an annotated list of brilliant booksfor all ages chosen by experts, andfascinating recommendations from agalaxy of celebrities. I hope you enjoyflicking through it – and then getstarted on reading aloud yourself.Read to your daughter, your son,your grandchild, your niece, yournephew, your pupils, your next-door-neighbour’s child . . .

Spread the word.

Happy Reading!

5

For all readers the advantages of listening to a storyare unlimited.

First and foremost, it is fun. Sharing a book is an entirely delightful thing to do. And it’s easy, too.Enjoying silly sounds together, searching underflaps for missing characters, repeating the words and linking them to the pictures is adelightful experience for all from the very youngest baby onwards.

But beyond the pleasure there are also importantand significant benefits.

Reading aloud has a remarkable effect on children. It enhances children’s skills, interests and development in many ways that reach farbeyond just improving their own reading interests and abilities.

Listening to stories has a strong influence onpersonal and social growth as it gives children thechance to experience things beyond their ownworld and to think about other people and theirlives. Hearing stories also gives children access tonew words, phrases and sounds, all of whichimprove their spoken and written vocabulary.Sharing a story by reading it aloud can makedifficult or scary things seem safer.

All of these and more are the unexpected extrasthat can be gained from reading aloud.

Try it!

Benefits of Reading Aloud

6

By Julia Eccleshare

1 Reading aloud creates the perfect bond

between parent and baby – it’s cosy,

comforting and it’s fun.

2 Listening to stories provides children with new

‘friends’ – characters whom they learn to love.

3 Hearing new words gives children a richer

vocabulary.

4 Children can understand stories that are

beyond their own reading ability.

5 Hearing books read aloud improves a child’s

ability to listen for periods of time and

increases attention spans.

6 Reading aloud allows children to interact

by interrupting and asking questions

about meaning.

7 Hearing a story read aloud enables children

to make connections with others’ personal

experiences.

8 Listening to more complex stories can help

children to extend their knowledge and

understanding.

9 Listening to a story being read aloud shows

beginner readers how fluent readers read.

10 The words children hear in books give

them a rich language when they begin

their own writing.

Ten top benefits

7

� Don’t leave it too late! Reading a story is

the easiest way to ‘talk’ to a baby before

they have any language of their own. It’s

never too young to start reading aloud

with your child.

� Snuggling up together is part of the

magic of reading aloud. But don’t forget!

Being physically close is important even

when a child gets older.

� Sharing a book together provides the

opportunity for taking off into new worlds

using the vocabulary that goes with

them. Take time to explain new words

and to link the words and pictures.

� Reading aloud needs to be fun for the

reader and the listener. Allow children to

make their own choices as well as

guiding them towards books you think

they’ll enjoy.

� Try to make time for reading every day

so that it becomes part of a daily habit.

Soon, it becomes something everyone

can look forward to with pleasure.

Top Tips

It’s never too young to start

8

� Build up a collection of books that you

enjoy and feel free to return to them time

after time. For the very young, look for

books with lots of repetition and rhyme.

These are easy to read with enthusiasm

and children love being able to join in

with the refrains. Don’t worry if you have

to re-read a book again and again.

Repetition and familiarity are part of the

pleasure for the young listener.

� Remember children love to revisit stories

they enjoyed when they were younger.

Let them read aloud their favourites to

you for a change.

� Reading aloud doesn’t need to take long.

A little and often is enough to give

children a head start when it comes to

enjoying books on their own.

� Above all, make sure reading aloud

is fun!

Go out and enjoy.

9

My favourite book to read aloud is Each Peach Pear Plum byJanet and Allan Ahlberg. What a gem of a book. It’s absolutelyperfect for sharing with babies, toddlers and older children. Byusing fairy-story characters and nursery rhymes, the charactersare immediately recognisable – and if they’re not initially, theysoon become so. And like the very best picture books, it holdsa visual surprise on each page, culminating in a very happyfinale that involves all the characters in the book having a funfeast. This is a bookthat, as a parent, Ididn’t mind readingand re-reading withmy daughter. In fact,I loved coming backto it. That’s whatmakes it so special.

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Children’s literature is so entertaining nowadays that I suspectI get even more pleasure reading to my grandchildren thanthey do listening to me. Their most frequent request is DavidMcKee’s Not Now, Bernard, because I cannot get through thistale of a monster eating a little boy and taking his place,unnoticed by his busy parents, without becoming speechlesswith laughter. Shared giggles are such a joy. And sharing iswhat reading stories is allabout. When they are young,my grandchildren aresubjected to my histrionicdramatization of all the tales.As they get older they read tome, and, I am glad to say, showextraordinary versatility ofcharacterization, with Jackhaving a particularly finerepertoire of wolves. We havethe most enormous fun.

SHEILAHANCOCK

MALORIEBLACKMAN

One of the great joys of being a parent is the opportunity it givesyou to read aloud with your kids. There is nothing better than tosnuggle down at the end of the day with a good story to share. Idon’t have a particular favourite – different books suit differentmoods. I enjoy poems and rhyming stories that help childrenunderstand the tricks you can play with words. Other times I justlove to read a book with great pictures that you can talk about. Andthere is nothing better than to allow your imagination to soar with aquick-moving adventure with a climax at the end of every chapterand the anticipation that tomorrow there will be more excitement.

© Jo

hn S

wan

ell

11

I used every opportunity I could to read to my children. My motiveswere invariably selfish. Reading time meant time off from fighting,shouting, arguing and making a mess. And that was just me.

All my children enjoyed being told a story. A certain calmdescended as their almost limitless physical energy was projectedonto the characters they were hearing about. For an actor like me,reading aloud offered a valuable chance to try out voices andcharacters and ham it up to a captive audience. Though, I must say,Tom, Will and Rachel always dealt sternly with any over-acting.

If the book you were reading was halfway decent there wouldalways be cries for at least one encore.

‘One more page, please!’

‘No, it’s time for bed now.’

This always brought forth a vigorous protestfrom a child whose eyes had been half-closedfor at least fifteen minutes.

‘I’m not sleepy!’

My favourite was Maurice Sendak’s brilliantlydrawn fantasy Where the Wild Things Are. Itwas a tricky one because the illustrations weredense but the text economic. At one pointcomes the line ‘Let the wild rumpus start!’followed by a fantastically lively illustration ofthe boy and the creatures capering madly

about. Over this I would make up my own gallery of sound effects, a combination ofdrum-beats, chants and cries, building to the sort of aural collage that the BBCStereophonic Workshop used to be famous for.

The sharing of the wild rumpus will always be one of the happiest memories of our time together.

CHERIE BOOTH QC

MICHAELPALIN

12

0-5 years Stories to Read Aloud

Enjoy thissample extractfrom one of themost popularpicture booksever! This extractgives a real tasteof the rhythmand humour inThe Gruffalo.Tryit out with yourchild today!

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A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood.

A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.

“Where are you going to, little brown mouse?

Come and have lunch in my underground

house.”

“It’s terribly kind of you, Fox,but no –

I’m going to have lunch with a gruffalo.”

“A gruffalo? What’s a gruffalo?”

“A gruffalo! Why, didn’t you know?

The Gruffaloby Julia Donaldsonand Axel SchefflerMacmillan Children’s Books

0-5 years Stories to Read Aloud

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“He has terrible tusks,

and terrible claws,

And terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.”

Winner of theSmarties Book Prize Gold Award

15

“Where are you meeting him? ”

“Here, by these rocks,

And his favourite food is roasted fox.”

“Roasted fox! I’m off! ” Fox said.

“Goodbye, little mouse,” and away he sped.

“Silly old Fox! Doesn’t he know,

There’s no such thing as a gruffalo?”

‘The Gruffalo is a modernclassic’

Observer

Dear ZooRod CampbellCampbell Books

What is the perfect pet?

Why not lift the flaps and see what the Zoo has sent?

0-5years

16

‘A book thatchildren can really interact with.’

Lesley HallOttakar’s Bromley

The first pet is an elephant buthe is too heavy. A giraffe is tootall, a lion is too fierce and acamel is too grumpy. A snake is too scary, a monkey is toonaughty and a frog is too jumpy.

All of them have to go back tothe Zoo.

Maybe there is no perfect pet?

But then, at the Zoo they thinkvery hard and send . . . a puppy!

A little puppy with a lovely pinktongue and a waggy little tail.

The perfect pet!

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Why share Dear Zoo?

�An flap to lifton every pagereveals awonderfulsurprise

�Children lovethe expectationas they lift each flap

�Totalsatisfactionwhen the right petarrives

PantsGiles Andreae andNick SharrattPicture Corgi

Pants. Whatever thesize, colour or shape,they delight childrenof all ages. In just afew bubbly words,different kinds ofpants are celebratedand applauded withexuberance.

0-5years

18

‘It’s hard tosuppress a gigglewhen you’rereading out a storythat says “pants”thirty-three times!’

Emma SwabeyOttakar’s Science Museum

Small pants, big pants

Giant frilly pig pants

New pants, blue pants,one, two, three

Rich pants, poor pants

Swinging on the door pants

How many more pants can you see?

Why share Pants?

�Easy to read,shout or singaloud witheveryonejoining in

�Lots ofrepetitionmakes it easyfor beginnerreaders

�Brightlycolouredillustrationsmake all thepants differentand fun

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We’re Going on a Bear HuntMichael Rosen Illustrated byHelen OxenburyWalker Books

Fantastic adventure as afamily cheerfully sets outon a brave hunt to findthe bear. It could befrightening but they’renot scared. They’re fullof confidence andexcitement.

0-5years

We’re going on a bear hunt,

We’re going to catch a big one.

What a beautiful day!

We’re not scared.

Caves, mud, rivers, forest . . .whatever obstacles the familyencounters, they resolutelyovercome them, happilyrepeating the chorus:

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‘You’ll be chanting it for the rest of the day.’

Matthew CaytonOttakar’s Greenwich

Why share We’re Going ona Bear Hunt?

�A fabulousfamilyadventure

�Repetition of thechorus on everypage meanschildren caneasily join in

�Use of wordsthat sound like what theymean, whichmakes it easyto add specialeffects

We can’t go over it,

We can’t go under it,

Oh no! We’ve got

to go through it.

And so they do,accompanied by glorious noises to describe their actions:Swishy Swashy!

Splash Splosh!

Squelch Squerch!

Hoo Wooooo!

But when they find the bear . . . they can’t hurtle home fast enough, repeatingall the noises as they go.

One Snowy NightNick ButterworthHarperCollinsChildren’s Books

Outside, it’s snowing but Percy the ParkKeeper is snug inside his hut. He makeshimself a nice mug ofhot cocoa and getshimself ready for bed.

But outside, the animalsare not nearly as cosy.It is bitterly cold in thePark and there is notenough shelter. First thesquirrel, then the rabbits,the fox, the badger, twoducks, a hedgehog and a whole family of micecome knocking on his door. They all want a bedfor the night!

0-5years

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How Percy finds room for all hisfriends so that everyone ends uphaving a good night’s sleepmakes a perfect bedtime story.

‘A great story to getchildren involvedby pretending they are a rabbit or a mouse or a fox . . . The bigpicture at the endencourages groupparticipation.’

Angie CrawfordOttakar’s Edinburgh

Why share One SnowyNight?

�Percy and hisfriends bringthe magic ofthe animalworld to life

�A storyshowing thehappiness thatsharing brings

�A celebration of the cosiness of bed

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Beautiful illustrations capturethe magical world of Percy andhis animal friends who live inthe park.

Rosie’s Walk Pat HutchinsRed Fox

Rosie the hen sets offfor a walk around thefarmyard. Head heldhigh, she goes “acrossthe yard, around thepond, over the haycock,past the mill, throughthe fence, under thebeehives” and getssafely back home intime for her dinner.

0-5years

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But, what else is happeningwhile Rosie goes for her walk?

Just behind the hen comes thefox. Luckily, Rosie doesn’t‘A classic tale of

farmyard peril.’Vicki de’Silva

Ottakar’s Bromley

25

notice him and, moreluckily still, thingsdon’t go so wellfor the fox.

Following theadventures ofboth the henand the foxis thrilling – andhilarious!

Why share Rosie’s Walk?

�Wonderfulhumour

�A multi-layeredbut simple story

�Encourageschildren to read pictures as well aswords, and to predictoutcomes.

The LighthouseKeeper’s RescueRonda and David Armitage

Scholastic

Mr Grinling is alighthouse keeperthrough and through.He always has been and it’s all he wants to be. But there’s aproblem. Mr Grinlingjust can’t seem to stay awake.

0-5years

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When the lighthouse doesn’tlight up at the right time,

the lighthouseinspectors are very angry. They giveMr Grinling one lastchance . . . All goeswell until one nicewarm sunnyafternoon when MrGrinling falls asleepon his way to the

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lighthouse. Poor Mr Grinling!The inspectors say he can’t bea lighthouse keeper any more!

But, when Mr Grinling doessomething very brave andspecial, the lighthouseinspectors come up with aclever plan. Mr Grinling canstill be a lighthouse keeper buthe’ll have someone to help himso he can enjoy his naps too!

Why share The LighthouseKeeper’sRescue?

�Mr and MrsGrinling andtheir cat,Hamish, are themost delightfullighthouse–keeping family

�An affectionatestory aboutgrowing oldgracefully

�Gorgeousillustrations of a very specialway of life

The Tiger Who Came to TeaJudith KerrHarperCollinsChildren’s Books

It’s not every day thatyou open the door to abig, furry, stripy tigerwho says, “Excuse me,but I’m very hungry.Do you think I couldhave tea with you?”

But that’s just whathappens to Sophie andher mummy one day.And what an adventure it begins!

0-5years

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The hungry tigereats all thesandwiches andthen all the cake.

He drinks all thetea in the pot.And he still

wants more. Heeats all the foodin the cupboard

and all the foodin the fridge.

‘For anyone who hasever had animaginaryfriend . . . ora real tiger!’Emma Swabey

Ottakar’sScience

Museum

Why share The Tiger WhoCame to Tea?

�A magical storyabout theimportance of believing

� Heart-warmingillustrationscapture thewonder of the story

� A classic whichhas been lovedby children forover thirtyyearsHe drinks all the milk and

then all the water from thetaps.“Thank you for my nicetea,” he says. And he’s gone.

There’s nothing left forsupper – so Sophie andMummy and Daddy goout to a café.They alsomake sure to stock upon food for the tiger incase he ever comes totea again.

No Matter WhatDebi Gliori

Bloomsbury

Does love ever wear out?That’s the all-importantquestion that Smallneeds to have answeredwhen he is feeling grimand grumpy andunloved.

Luckily Large knows justhow to comfort Small.“Grumpy or not, I’llalways love you nomatter what,” Largesays, scooping Small upin a tight hug.

0-5years

30

Small thinks ofall the things

he could be that would beunloveable, like

a bear, a bug, oreven a crocodile.But Large knowsthat no matter

what, Small is lovedfor ever.

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Why share No MatterWhat?

�Perfect book toreassure all thatlove is for ever

�Simple rhymingtext

‘This endearingstory requires lotsof participationfrom listeners.Perfect to read tochildren or adults!’

Grainne CooneyOttakar’s Inverness

A warm-hearted story,illustrated with gloriouspictures of Small and Large and their lovingrelationship, this book ismade for sharing again and again.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s DairyBy Lynley Dodd

Puffin

Take a handful of dogsand just one cat andwhat do you get?Trouble!

The loveable HairyMaclary sets out for awalk from his home atDonaldson’s Dairy. Withhis tail up and his eyesshining he steps outproudly.

0-5years

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Everywhere he goes, he isfollowed. Soon Hairy Maclary’sfriends are all stepping outbehind him – includingBottomley Potts covered inspots, Hercules Morse as big as a horse, Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay, Bitzer Maloneyall skinny and bony, andSchnitzel von Krumm with avery low tum. How brave thedogs look until . . . suddenly,out from the bushes, stepsScarface Claw, the toughesttom in town.

‘I like to read this in the style of ahorse-racingcommentator . . .Children can’tbelieve I can read it so fast!’

Lesley SimLibrarian, West Sussex

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Why share Hairy MaclaryfromDonaldson’sDairy?

� Rhyming storywith lots ofrepetition

� Fast-pacedstory aboutsome scaredy-cat dogs!

� Everyone lovesHairy Maclary!

One “EEEEEOWWWFFTZ!” fromScarface and the dogs arenothing more than a scatter ofpaws and a clatter of claws asthey hurry home to the safety of their beds.

Is It Bedtime Wibbly Pig?Mick Inkpen

Hodder

There are many ways ofputting off bedtime –and Wibbly Pig seemsto know most of them!He’s happy to sit in thebath and enjoy thefoam bubbles, thenthere’s drying to bedone, brushing teeth,drawing a picture in themirror, looking at themoon and collecting upall the soft toys.

0-5years

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And all of it takes a lot of timewhich means that bedtime getsput off for longer and longer.After all, even though it’sbedtime,Wibbly Pig is not tired.In fact, he’s BOUNCY and going to sleep is the last thing on his mind.

‘A perfect bedtime story.’

Emma SwabeyOttakar’s Science Museum

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Why share Is It BedtimeWibbly Pig?

�The perfectbook foranyone who hasbattles overbedtime!

�Wibbly Pig isan adorablecharacter whohas manyadventures you can enjoy

Luckily,WibblyPig isn’t alwaysright aboutwhat he feels!

Gorgeousillustrationscapture all ofWibbly Pig’stricks – andthe bliss ofsleep when it comes.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the DarkJill Tomlinson

Illustrated by Paul Howard

Egmont

Plop is a normal littleowl baby in every wayexcept that he’sfrightened of the dark.He thinks that the darkis nasty. Plop’s parentssend him off to findout what other peoplethink of dark. Plopfinds out that dark iswhen fireworks happen– which is why it’sexciting and that it’swhen an old lady canforget that she’s old –that’s why it’s kind.

0-5years

And dark is when FatherChristmas comes and fills upstockings, which makes itnecessary as, without it, FatherChristmas wouldn’t comevisiting. For the man with the

telescope, darkis wonderful asit’s only in the

dark that thestars can be

seen properly.

They can’t all bewrong, can they?

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How Plop learns to love the dark is a beautifullyreassuring story for all.

Why share The Owl WhoWas Afraid ofthe Dark?

�An ideal storyfor calmingnight-time fears

� Beautifulillustrationscapture themagic of night

� A touchingstory thatbuildsconfidence

‘Children lovehaving this storyread to them atbedtime long after they stopfeeling afraid.’

Gillian MacdonaldOttakar’s Edinburgh

Where the Wild ThingsAreMaurice Sendak

Red Fox

When Max puts on hiswolf suit and makesmischief, his mothercalls him ‘WILDTHING’ and sends himto bed without anysupper.

0-5years

38

Alone in his room, Max enters amagical world and sets sailacross the sea to the placewhere the wild things are.

The wild things roar theirterrible roars and gnash theirterrible teeth and roll theirterrible eyes and show theirterrible claws . . .

But Max is not scared. Instead,Max tames the wild things and is made their king.

‘What a wildrumpus of a book.’

Emma SwabeyOttakar’s Science Museum

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When things have gone farenough, Max sends the wildthings off to bed without theirsupper and returns to the safety of his bedroom.

Why share Where the WildThings Are?

�Perfect scarytale with acomfortingending

�Brilliant use ofevocativewordsdescribing themonsters andtheir awfulbehaviour

�A rip-roaringfantasyadventure that lets theimaginationsing

‘This classic magical picture bookwill keep your child enthrallednight after night after night.’

Sam HarrisonWaterstone’s

0-5years

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Which will Akeyo like best,wonders Handa.

But the surprise is onHanda, as she doesn’tnotice that there areothers who areenjoying her gift asshe makes her hot walk

to her friend’s house.

Luckily for Handa, all isnot lost. Akeyo loves thefruit that Handa brings –and the animals are

happy too!

Handa’s SurpriseEileen Browne

Walker Books

Handa’s got asurprise for her friendAkeyo. She’s takingher a huge basket ofdelicious-lookingfruit. She has a softyellow banana, asweet-smellingguava, a round juicyorange, a ripe redmango, a spiky-leafed pineapple, acreamy greenavocado and a tangypassion fruit.

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The simplest of stories,perfectly and uniquely toldin words and picturesconjuring up the deliciousfruit, the hot countrysideand the children’s fun.

Why share Handa’sSurprise?

�A hugelyeffective joke in which even the veryyoungestlistener is included

�The very youngcan ‘read’ thepictures, whichtell their ownstory

�Wonderfulillustrationsopen up awhole newworld

‘Ideal to read to aclass or at home.’

Kate ChorleyOttakar’s Bromley

OliviaIan Falconer

Simon and Schuster

Olivia is an endearingpiglet with a lot ofattitude! She’s good atlots of things . . . She’svery good at singing –loudly! She’s very goodat wearing people out.Luckily, she often wearsherself out too… Shelikes getting dressed –which usually meanstrying on everything inher cupboard.

0-5years

42

She likes to go to the beach andshe likes to build sandcastles –very big sandcastles. There aresome things Olivia doesn’t like.Especially . . . having a nap! Andshe’s not too keen on modern arteither – and nor is Olivia’s mumwhen she finds Olivia has tried

43

to copy it onto her bedroomwall! Join Olivia in whatevershe’s doing – and have fun!

Fantastic illustrations show justhow endearing – and exhausting– Olivia can be!

Why shareOlivia?

�Olivia is agloriouscharacter

�Everyone willidentify withthe thingsOlivia gets up to!

‘The eyecatchingpictures are afabulous way to get children talking aboutOlivia.’

Sarah DrakeOttakar’s Science Museum

Not Now, BernardDavid McKee

Red Fox

‘Hello, Dad,’said Bernard.‘Not now, Bernard,’said his father.

‘Hello, Mum,’said Bernard.‘Not now, Bernard,’said his mother.’

Bernard’s parentsalways seem to be toobusy to notice him.So, when he tells themthat there is a monsterin the garden and it is going to eat him up,they don’t comerushing out to help him . . .

0-5years

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‘Making up voicesfor all the charactersmakes this all themore fun.’

Jonathon LloydOttakar’s Greenwich

Now there’s a monster in thehouse, and Bernard’s parentsstill ignore him. They treat themonster as if he were Bernard,letting him read Bernard’s

comics and playwith his toys, givinghim his supper in

front of the TV andswitching off hislight when he’s

safely in bed.

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Why share Not Now,Bernard?

�An unsentimentallook at parent/childrelationships

�A scarymessage, butone that makeschildren feelstrong

�Brilliantillustrationsreinforce themessage

A wickedly black fantasy thattakes a hard look at whatmight happen whenchildren areignored.Initiallyscary, oncechildrensee thejoke, theylove it.

The GruffaloJulia Donaldson andAxel Scheffler

Macmillan

“A mouse took a strollthrough the deep darkwood.

A fox saw the mouse and the mouse lookedgood.”

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How can such a tasty littlemouse make his way safelythrough the deep dark wood?By inventing the gruffalo, afearsome creature with terribleclaws, terrible tusks andterrible teeth in his terriblejaws. He sounds so fierce andfrightening that everyone isscared stiff of him.

‘A present-day andfuture classic, thisstory should beread to every child.’

Emma SwabeyOttakar’s Science Museum

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The quick-thinking little mouseis soon the most powerfulcreature in the deep dark woodas he tricks first the fox, thenthe owl and then the snake intorunning away to hide instead.

When a gruffalo does finallyappear, the little mouse scareshim, too, by showing him howfrightened all the animals are of him.

Clever mouse!

Why share The Gruffalo?

�A brilliantrhymingpicture bookabout trickeryand cunning

�Fabulousillustrationscreate thecharminggruffalo

�A wonderfulstory foreveryone tojoin in

Bear Snores OnKarma Wilson andJane Chapman

Simon and Schuster

Deep in his dark lairright at the back of thecave, Bear sleepsthrough the long coldwinter. He sleepsthrough the day and hesleeps through the nightand all the time hesnores and snores andsnores . . .

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Then, an itty-bitty mouse comesin for some shelter. It’s safe anddry in the cave, and the mouselights a cosy fire, but Bearsnores on . . . A hare hops in andthere’s tea to share but Bearsnores on . . . A badger comesby with a nice sack of honey-nuts. The animals chew andchomp and crunch but Bearsnores on . . . All the littleanimals gather in the cave andare making a delicious stewwhen Bear finally wakes up.

‘Snoring soundeffects and joining-in are amust with thissnuggly tale.’

Vicki de’SilvaOttakar’s Bromley

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Why share Bear Snores On?

�Lovely storywith buildingmomentum

�Warmevocation ofwhat animalsdo in the winter

�Press-buttonsnore meansBear reallydoes snore on and on . . .

Poor Bear! He’s missed all thefun but the little animals brewhim fresh tea and Bear tells hisstory until the sun rises.

Owl BabiesMartin Waddell

Illustrated by Patrick Benson

Walker Books

Everyone who’s evermissed their mummywill love Owl Babies.

“Where’s Mummy?”asks Bill, the littlestowl baby, when thethree babies wake upin the dark, dark nightand find their mummyhas gone . . .

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And where has she gone, thethree little babies wonder asthey cuddle up close for comforton a branch of the tree deep inthe heart of the forest.

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They think hopefully of the juicymice she might bring, but evenmore than food they just wanttheir mummy to come home tokeep them safe.

Together, they close their eyesand WISH!

With a swoop of her wide wings,Mummy returns.

All is well once more!

Patrick Benson’s charmingillustrations delicately capturethe fear and longing of the little owl babies.

Why share Owl Babies?

�Perfectreassurancefor any childworried aboutbeing left byMummy

�Irresistibleillustrationsgive each owlbaby a distinctpersonality

�Idealcomfortingstory,especially just beforebedtime

‘A stunning picturebook with a gentle,lyrical text . . . I loveto watch children’sfaces as I read this.’

Lesley SimLibrarian, West Sussex

Pumpkin SoupHelen Cooper

Picture Corgi

Cat, Squirrel and Duckare three friends who doeverything together,including making themost delicious pumpkinsoup. Each has a specificjob to do: the Cat slicesup the juicy pumpkin,the Squirrel stirs in thewater while the Duckcarefully scoops up apipkin of salt and tips injust enough. Everythingis perfection in theirlives.

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Until . . . the Duck decides that itis his turn to stir the soup. Fromthe moment that the Duck picks

up the Squirrel’s spooneverything goes badly wrongand, in the row that follows, the

Duck runs away. How the Catand the Squirrel fear for his lifeand how far and wide theysearch to bring him home!

At last, the Duckreturns . . . andthe Cat and

the Squirrel lethim make the

pumpkin soup.

‘A really cosybook forbedtime withwonderfulwarm autumnaltones . . .A real treat.’

Gillian MacdonaldOttakar’s, Edinburgh

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Helen Cooper’sexquisite illustrationsare the perfectaccompaniment to this simply writtenstory about friendshipand sharing.

Why share Pumpkin Soup?

�Warm-heartedstory about thevalue offriendship

�Gloriousillustrations can be poredover for hours

�Passionateaffirmation thateven theyoungest canbe useful

Winnie the WitchKorky Paul andValerie Thomas

Oxford

Winnie the Witch has aproblem. Everything inher house is black. Thecarpets are black, thechairs are black, the bedis black with blacksheets, the pictures onthe walls are black andthere is even a blackbath. Winnie likes itthat way.

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‘Full of visual detail, this bookwill brighteneveryone’s day.’

Grace PrintOttakar’s Bromley

But Wilbur the cat is also blackand, when he closes his eyes,Winnie can’t see him against allthe other blacks in the house.After she’s stepped on him justonce too often,Winnie decidesthat a little magic will do thetrick. ABRACADABRA! andWilbur has a red head, a yellowbody, a pink tail, blue whiskersand four purple paws. PoorWilbur! Even the birds laugh athim when he tries to hide up ina tree. Luckily,Winnie thinks ofa new trick that can puteverything right!

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Why share Winnie theWitch?

�Winnie thescatterbrainedwitch is a lot of fun

�Magical chaos is veryentertaining

�Children willlove Winnie’sbrightlycoloured world

The Elephantand the BadBabyElfrida Vipont andRaymond Briggs

Puffin

When the elephant meetsthe Bad Baby he asks,‘Would you like a ride?’And the Bad Baby says,‘Yes.’ The elephant picksup the baby with histrunk and puts him onhis back and so begins aspree of madness as, offthey go, rumpeta,rumpeta, rumpetathrough the town, doingone bad thing afteranother.

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Every time the elephant asks thebaby if he wants something, thebaby just says ‘Yes’ and theelephant helps him to an ice-cream, a bun, some crisps, alollipop and more. But the

Bad Baby never once says please.

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Soon, the elephant and the Bad Baby are chased throughthe town by all the angryshopkeepers but then the BadBaby remembers he is only ababy and says, ‘PLEASE! I wantto go home to my mummy!’ All isforgiven and the wholeprocession goes off for a feast ofpancakes made by the BadBaby’s mummy.

Why share The Elephantand the BadBaby?

�Wonderfulrepetitionsmean everyonecan join in

�Simple moraltale with adeliciouslysatisfyingending

�Delightful Bad Baby who enjoys amoment as atearaway terror

‘A real treasure for sharingtogether . . .Never forget your manners.’

Emma SwabeyOttakar’s Science Museum

Angry ArthurHiawyn Oram andSatoshi Kitamura

Red Fox

When Arthur’s mumsays that he can’t stayup to watch hisfavourite TV show hegets angry. Very angry.So angry that his angerbecomes a stormcloudexploding thunderand lightning andhailstones. So angrythat it becomes ahurricane hurling

rooftops andchimneysand churchspires.

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0-5years

Soon Arthur finds himselfhurtling through space on anexplosion of destruction. All thatremains is Arthur and his bed.But why is he so angry? Arthurcan’t remember. Can you?

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Why share Angry Arthur?

�A story thatshows howanger isdestructive butdoesn’t last

�Fantasticillustrationsgive anger aphysical form

A fabulous story withincredibly vivid illustrationsthat capture the explosivefeelings of anger and thedestruction that they cause.A satisfying resolution whichshows however angry you feel,you can get over it.

‘A magical cautionarytale that shouldtantalise any tantrum-prone tyke.’

Sam HarrisonWaterstone’s

All Join InQuentin Blake

Red Fox

A wonderful celebrationof joint activities andnoise! Lots of it!

“ When Sandra plays the trumpetit makes a lovely sound

And Mervyn on his drum-kitcan be heard for miles around

Stephanie is brilliant,when she plays the violin

But the very best ofall is whenwe ALL JOIN IN”

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Quentin Blake’s bubbly textencourages huge and cheerfulsounds. Banging and clanging in‘Sorting Out the Kitchen Pans,’

‘Demands everyonejoins in as it inviteslisteners to makeplenty of noise.’

Angie CrawfordOttakar’s Edinburgh

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some very loud QUACK QUACKQUACKs in ‘Nice Weather forDucks,’ and some fantasticWHEEE!s down banisters, anelephant’s trunk and on anoverloaded toboggan.

But there’s some nice quiet toofor another kind of ALL JOIN IN – when it’s time to tidy up.

Why share All Join In?

�Swingingrhythms withloud chorusesto share

�Makes lifeseem fun,especiallywhen doingthings together

�Brilliantpicturesperfectly match thewords

There Was AnOld Lady WhoSwallowed aFlyPam Adams

Child’s Play

Have you ever wonderedexactly what happenedinside the old lady’stummy after sheswallowed that fly?

In the case of thisHUGE old lady, it’s easyto see. There’s a neatlittle hole right into herinsides which gets biggerand bigger the more sheswallows.

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The little fly looks harmlessenough but imagine whathappens when it’s followed by aspider, a bird, a cat, a dog, a cow– and even a horse! The cheerfulold lady swallows each one tochase the others out but,needless to say, all does not goaccording to plan!

A wonderfully visual version of amuch-loved joining-in rhymewhich celebrates the ridiculousin a light-hearted way.

‘Repetitive andculminative natureof the rhyme begsfor it to be readaloud.’

Jemma CookOttakar’s Clapham

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Why share There Was AnOld Lady WhoSwallowed aFly?

�Repetitionmakes it easyfor all to join in

�Die-cut holemakes thecrowdedinsides easy to see andencouragesparticipation

Dig DigDiggingMargaret Mayo Illustrated byAlex Ayliffe

Orchard Books

The perfect book for anymachine-mad child.Diggers, tractors, fireengines, cranes, cartransporters, bulldozers,dumper trucks, rubbishtrucks and more.Everything you’ve everwanted to know aboutbig machines is vividlydescribed in cheerfulrhymes which celebratethe sounds of themachines.

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“Diggers are good at dig, dig, digging.

Scooping up the earth and lifting and tipping.

They make huge holes with their dig, dig, digging;They can work all day.”

‘Try singing thestory to your littleones, it won’t belong before theyare joining in.’

Angie CrawfordOttakar’s Edinburgh

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Glorious double-pagespreads capture the scaleof the different vehiclesand the places that theywork. And it all ends with a soothing night-timescene of the machines at rest. Perfect for bedtime!

Why share Dig DigDigging?

�Introduction to a host of bigmachines andthe jobs they do

�Bright picturesdisplay the waymachines work

Doing theAnimal BopJan Ormerod andLindsey Gardiner

Oxford

“If you like to dance andyou sometimes sing, whydon’t you do the animalthing?” An irresistibleinvitation to join in thegreat animal bop. Anykind of dancing will do.

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You can jive and jiggle and jumpand wiggle with the monkeys ordo the flim-flam flutter to theostrich flounce.

You can grunt and groan androar and rage and stomp, stomp,stomp in the rhino romp. Or youcan cluck like a chicken ordance like a duck.Whateverway you like to dance and sing,the animal bop is just your thing.

‘A simply superstory that getschildren walkingand talking like the animals.’

Gillian MacdonaldOttakar’s Edinburgh

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Hopping, bopping, thumpingand stomping – all the animalsjoin in the animal bop and allreaders can join in the catchyrefrains too. Follow the lead ofthe animals through the lovelyillustrations of their noisy fun!

Why share Doing theAnimal Bop?

�Great catchyjoining-inrhymes

�A delightfulcelebration ofhaving fun

�Words thatdance off the page

That’s Not MyPuppy…Fiona Watt

Illustrated by Rachel WellsUsborne

How can you tell onepuppy from another? By feel – in this attractiveand colourful touchy-feely board book for thevery young. Run yourfingers over the page and every puppy feelsdeliciously different.Stroke them and it’s easyto discover that one has atail that is too fluffywhile another has pawsthat are too bumpy.

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There’s one with ears thatare too shaggy and one thathas a very shiny collar. Notwo puppies are the same.But where’s my puppy?

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‘Curious youngfingers will havehours of funexploring thetextures.’

Sam HarrisonWaterstone’s

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Enjoy all the loveable puppies in words and pictures.

At last! Here it is! It’s the onewith the lovely squashy nose!

Why share That’s Not MyPuppy . . .?

�Perfect for thevery young to touch thefeely bits

�A fun book toshare as anintroduction to differentsensations

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I love reading to my children and they haveall enjoyed The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldsonand Axel Scheffler. A wonderfully illustratedbooks, it tells the story of a brave little mousewho goes on a long journey through thedeep dark wood. It is a tale of ingenuity,courage and self-belief, which sparks theimagination. With both rhythm and pace, thestory can be retold hundreds of times.

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One of my fondest memories of my eldest daughter at age fiveinvolved The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. I used tobalance the book on top of a very tall standard lamp to prevent herreading on before the next bedtime. One day, while I was safely inthe kitchen, she clambered up a set of shelves to reach the book,gulped down the next two chapters and then, hearing my footsteps,hastily returned it to its perch on top of the lamp. I only rumbled herbecause she showed absolutely no surprise when, during that night’sreading, Eustace, the hero, turned into a dragon.

My two younger children are still immersed in picture books,although my son’s most recent favourite is Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and

RUTHKELLY MP

J. K.ROWLING

ANNE FINE

When my girls were young we spent hours idling about in our nightiesin the double bed, ploughing through books from the library. They’dlie, one on each side of me, sucking their thumbs and jabbing me inthe ribs with their elbows if I stopped doing the voices properly. They were some of the happiest times we had.

Then came the dark, dark years when my girls wanted to read bythemselves. Now I’m thanking my lucky stars I have grandchildrenand have started again at the beginning. Here’s me and Isaac with ourmuch-loved book of nursery rhymes. (You don’t have to know thetunes.You just have to be bold enough to makeone up and sing it with perfect confidence.)Since Isaac is currently enchanted by thenotion of ‘Man as Egg’, one of his favourites is‘Humpty Dumpty.’ But we warble them all withthe greatest enthusiasm.

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Reading aloud to children is an absolutepleasure. When I was a child, one of myfavourite books was Doctor Dolittle and Ithoroughly enjoyed reading it aloud to mychildren when they were young. Readingaloud to children of all ages is so important asthey then begin to realize that reading booksthemselves will give them great pleasure.

Ham, which, quite apart from increasing his vocabulary, can also beused to persuade him to eat omelettes. I think we own the completeworks of Sandra Boynton, which are so witty and well-written; mypersonal favourite is Hippos Go Berserk, but my husband and I bothknow The Going to Bed Book off by heart and have often recited it inthe dark to soothe a fractious toddler. The Hairy Maclary and SlinkyMalinki books by Lynley Dodd are some of the most satisfying booksto read aloud, with their rhymes building into funny stories. Finally,The Snail and the Whale and The Gruffalo, both by Julia Donaldsonand illustrated by Axel Scheffler, have given literally hours of pleasureto the whole family.

TERRYWOGAN

I’m a terrible ham when it comes to reading to my kids. I like to do allthe voices so I look for books with lots of dialogue and differentcharacters. My kids are totally unimpressed, and probably preferhaving my wife read to them. She reads in a very soothing voice, andshe’s not trying to act or show off. It reminds me of listening to my ownmother read when I was a kid. In the end it doesn’t really matter whatyou read to kids, they appreciate anything, and just like havingsomeone there with them. I’ve been reading abook called Britannia, about English history, tomy seven-year-old. He doesn't understand aword of it, but insists on having it every night.That said, it makes a huge difference if you can

find a book that you can all enjoy together. My favourite is probablyProfessor Branestawm. This is a series of short stories about a madinventor who creates ridiculous machines. It’s great to be able to readsomething that genuinely makes your kids laugh.

CHARLIEHIGSON

As a small child I had the immeasurable benefit of a mother whoread to us at bedtime, and there are some books I revisit with herlong-lost voice echoing in my head. And what fun to read out to myown children Jill Murphy’s Peace at Last and A Piece of Cake with alltheir humane jokes for parents hidden in the children’s stories. Laterwe shared adventure books, Just William, and countless poems. Weall remember them, years on. It seems that reading aloud, for thereader and the listener, engages memory in a special way, makingthe books more lasting treasures.

Shortly before my mother-in-law died, we recorded her reading TheWind in the Willows to our children. It’s a rousing rendition, in her

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When I was very young (a very long time ago but I was young once,I promise you) my mother used to read me ‘The Elephant’s Child’ byRudyard Kipling. She used to read me lots of poems by Edward Learand John Masefield and Walter de la Mare, among others. But of allthe poems and stories she read to me ‘The Elephant’s Child’ wasalways my favourite.

I loved it partly, I’m sure, because she read it beautifully. She was anactor, but she didn’t act it. She felt it. She read it as if she had madeup the story herself, as if she loved it. She delighted in reading it to

We have a nine-year-old son, Jesse, who is dyslexic and untilrecently was no more connected to books than a mole is to the sky.And then we read Horrid Henry’s Underpants by Francesca Simon tohim. And he loved it. He immediately latched on to the charactersand found them very funny. And then miracle of miracles he decidedhe wanted to read the stories so that he could ‘play’ the charactersPerfect Peter, Miss Battle-Axe, Rude Ralph, Dizzy Dave, and best ofall Henry himself. He now has read all the Horrid Henries and hasthem proudly in a special book rack by his bed. And now he wants

IMOGENSTUBBS

ELEANORUPDALE

MICHAELMORPURGO

deep Scottish voice, suitablymenacing in all the rightplaces. It’s hard not to laugh,though, when her eyesight letsher down and ‘Mr Badger’becomes ‘McBadger’ for awhile. And it’s good to knowthat in time my grandchildrenwill be able to hear her voicewrapped up in a story.

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me, I know she did. When I read the first few words ofthis story now all these years later, it’s her voice I hear inmy head. ‘In the high and far-off times the Elephant, Obest beloved, had no trunk.’ And the story goes on to tellus how he acquired one, painfully, courtesy of acrocodile which he encounters by ‘the great grey greengreasy Limpopo river.’ This is still my favourite story, andthese days I read it aloud, to my grandchildren perhaps,or just to myself, and remember.

to read them with us all over again. It is starting to feellike Evelyn Waugh’s A Handful of Dust when Tony nearlydies in the jungle and is rescued by the mad recluse,Mr Todd, who has lived in the jungle for nearly sixtyyears. Tony recovers but is forced to become Mr Todd's‘companion’, spending the rest of his life reading aloudthe works of Dickens to him. Maybe we should read thatone with Jesse next!

As soon as Wolf began to feel

That he would like a decent meal,

He went and knocked on Grandma’s door.

When Grandma opened it, she saw

The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,

And Wolfie said, ‘May I come in?’

Poor Grandmamma was terrified,

‘He’s going to eat me up!’ she cried.

And she was absolutely right.

He ate her up in one big bite.

But Grandmamma was small and tough,

And Wolfie wailed, ‘That’s not enough!

‘I haven’t yet begun to feel

‘That I have had a decent meal!’

He ran around the kitchen yelping,

‘I’ve got to have a second helping!’

5-8 years Stories to Read Aloud

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Enjoy thissample poemfrom RoaldDahl’s RevoltingRhymes. Ahilarious takeon the classictale, this hasgreat pace and loads ofopportunity forfunny voices!

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Then added with a frightful leer,

‘I’m therefore going to wait right here

‘Till Little Miss Red Riding Hood

‘Comes home from walking in the wood.’

He quickly put on Grandma’s clothes,

(Of course he hadn’t eaten those.)

He dressed himselfin coat and hat.

He put on shoes andafter that

He even brushed and curled his hair,

Then sat himself in Grandma’s chair.

In came the little girlin red.

She stopped. She stared. And then she said,

‘What great big ears you have, Grandma.’

‘All the better to hear you with,” the Wolfreplied.

‘What great big eyes you have, Grandma,’said Little Red Riding Hood.

‘All the better to see you with,’ the Wolfreplied.

He sat there watching her and smiled.

He thought, I’m going to eat this child.

Revolting RhymesRoald DahlIllustrated by Quentin Blake

Puffin

‘Pure pleasure.Raucous,irreverent,inventive.’

Times Literary Supplement

5-8 years Stories to Read Aloud

Compared with her old Grandmamma

She’s going to taste like caviare.

Then Little Red Riding Hood said, ‘ButGrandma, What a lovely great big

furry coat you have on.’

‘That’s wrong!’ cried Wolf.‘Have you forgot

‘To tell me what BIG TEETHI’ve got?

‘Ah well, no matter what you say,

‘I’m going to eat you anyway.’

The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.

She whips a pistol from her knickers.

She aims it at the creature’s head

And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.

A few weeks later in the wood,

I came across Miss Riding Hood.

But what a change! No cloak of red,

No silly hood upon her head.

She said, ‘Hello, anddo please note

‘My lovely furry WOLFSKIN COAT.’

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Cosmo and theMagic SneezeGwyneth ReesMacmillan Children’s Books

Cosmo has alwayswanted to be a witch-cat,just like his father, sowhen he passes thespecial test he's reallyexcited. He can't wait touse his magic sneeze tohelp Sybil the witch mixher spells.

Sybil is very scary, withher green belly buttonand toenails, and no onetrusts her. But when shestarts brewing a secretspell recipe – andadvertising for kittens –Cosmo and his friendScarlett begin to worry.Could Sybil be cookingup a truly terrifyingspell? And could theextra-special ingredientbe KITTENS?Why share

Cosmo and the Magic Sneeze?

� A funny, thrilling anddeliciously magical story

� Packed full of characterfulillustrations

5-8years

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Horrid Henry’s Big Bad BookFrancesca Simon

Illustrated by Tony RossOrion

If there’s somethingunpleasant that can bedone, you can be sure thatHorrid Henry will do it.In the ten hilarious storiesin this collection, HorridHenry is up to no good.He frightens the daylightsout of the new teacher, hecauses chaos on a schooltrip and he nearly drownseveryone in the swimmingpool. He also has a full-scale battle with thedemon dinner lady.Horrid Henry is endlesslyinventive when it comes tocausing trouble. And,whatever else he’s doing,Henry always makes surehe can be as horrid aspossible to his littlebrother, Perfect Peter.

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Why share Horrid Henry’s Big Bad Book?

� The awfulness of HorridHenry’s behaviour providesendless entertainment

� Funny stories about everydaylife – with a difference!

� Witty illustrations show justhow bad Horrid Henry can be

5-8years

Fergus CranePaul Stewart andChris RiddellCorgi Yearling

When young FergusCrane receives threemysterious letters fromhis long-lost Uncle Theo,everything in his lifechanges. Each isdelivered at midnight bya flying box and they setFergus off on a thrillingadventure. He mustleave behind his homeand his mother and setoff for the Emerald Seain an attempt to save hisschoolfriends from adastardly villain. It’s anexciting story as thecourageous youngFergus, helped by somepowerful magic whichincludes a winged horsewho flies Fergus to FireIsland, is set againstCaptain Claw and hisdesperate pirate band.Can Fergus save the dayand will he return safelyto his comfortable homeabove Beiderbecker’sBakery?

Why share Fergus Crane?

� Fergus Crane is awonderful hero

� A warm-hearted adventurewith thrills and spills ofevery kind

� Fantastic illustrations whichadd extra value to the story

5-8years

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Why share The Sheep-Pig?

� A funny and touchingfarmyard adventure

� Babe, the sheep-herding pig,is a brilliant and originalcreation

� An exhilarating story ofunusual success

The Sheep-PigDick King-SmithPuffin

A pig herding sheep? It’sa preposterous idea but itis exactly what Babe does.Born the runt of the litter,the little piglet is adoptedby Fly the sheep dog andbrought up with herpuppies. Soon Fly istraining Babe in all theways of herding sheep.But Babe proves to beeven better with the sheepthan his adopted mother.In fact, he’s a genius at it.His secret? Babe treatsthe sheep with courtesyand respect. He’s such apolite little chap that thesheep listen to him anddo exactly as he asks. Andafter he’s saved themfrom a gang of sheep-rustlers, they’ll doanything for him.

A farmyard story with adifference, The Sheep-Pig

is an exciting andunexpected adventure.

‘An entertaining talethat produces a goodbasis for discussionafterwards.’

Angie CrawfordOttakar’s Edinburgh

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Why share The Kiss That Missed?

� Charming bedtime story with a lovely sleepy theme

� Knights and dragons andkings and castles make aperfect modern fairy story

5-8years

The Kiss That MissedDavid Melling

Hodder

In a hurry as usual, theking blows his son abeautiful bedtime kiss.But it misses! Disaster!The kiss floats out of thecastle and into the wildwood, and a poor knightis sent out to find it andbring it back. The wildwood is a dark andforbidding place wherenothing good everhappens. The knight hasto face bears with longclaws and growly roars,swooping owls, and apack of hungry wolveswith dribbly mouths. It’sscary but, luckily the kissitself floats along in thenick of time and all theanimals are lulled gentlyto sleep by its power. Safeat last, the knight and hishorse settle down for alovely sleep themselves –but on a ratherunpredictable seat . . .

How the knight takes the kiss home makes aperfect bedtime story.‘The king’s kiss may have missed its mark

but this book certainly doesn’t.’Nicola Cowling, Librarian, Devon

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Why share The Iron Man?

� Fabulous modern fableraising questions about good and evil

� A mysterious story thatintroduces a brilliantlyimaginative creation

5-8years

The Iron ManTed HughesFaber

Taller than a house andwith a head the size of abedroom, the Iron Manappears at the top of thecliff at the beginning ofone of the greatestmodern fairy stories.Where he comes from,nobody knows. How hewas made, nobody knows.He topples over the cliffand breaks into manypieces. It looks like theend for the Iron Man buthe puts himself backtogether and begins areign of terror throughoutthe countryside as hesmashes up the farmers’tractors and diggers.

How the farmers try tobring down the Iron Manand how his powers endup being used to save theworld unfolds in thisbrilliant and mysteriousstory.

‘An endearing storyof friendship andhope that childrenenjoy listening toover and over.’

Holly de’SilvaOttakar’s Bromley

Why share Aladdin and theEnchanted Lamp?

� Brilliant retelling of a classic

� Magical use of language

� Richly coloured illustrationscreate a fairy tale world

5-8years

Aladdin and theEnchantedLampPhilip PullmanIllustrated by Sophy Williams

Scholastic

‘New lamps for old! Newlamps for old!’ is thefamiliar refrain of theclassic story of Aladdin.And there’s much, muchmore to it in PhilipPullman’s gloriousretelling which creates aworld of magic, mystery,mayhem and – finally –happiness.

When Aladdin’s ‘uncle’turns up out of the blue,his whole life changes ina flash – literally. Shut upunderground for threedays, Aladdin findshimself in a wonderfulcavern full of preciousjewels including amagical ring and, ofcourse, a magic lamp.

How Aladdin’s and hismother’s lives arechanged by their new-found riches and whatAladdin learns along the way makes for amagnificent adventure.

Lots of jokes pay tributeto Aladdin’s hugelypopular pantomimetraditions and there arelavish embellishments tothe familiar story.

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Why share Mrs Pepperpot Stories?

� A complete adventure in each short story

� A new look on life from a very small perspective

Mrs PepperpotStoriesAlf Proysen

Red Fox

An old woman whosometimes shrinks to thesize of a pepperpot iscertainly unusual. Butthat’s exactly whathappens to MrsPepperpot. For no rhymeor reason she maysuddenly become a tinyversion of her usual self.

Being only four inchestall has a lot ofdisadvantages and poses many suddendangers but, luckily,Mrs Pepperpot hasplenty of magic trickswhich can help her out.With a mixture ofcriticism and flattery,Mrs Pepperpot makesthe sun shine hotly todry her clothes, thepancakes do their owntossing in the pan andthe cat give her a ridethrough the snow driftswhich would otherwisebe right over her head.

Full of hilarioussurprises, the fortystories about MrsPepperpot are charmingand wholly original.

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5-8years

‘Will be enjoyed by listeners today as muchas when they were first published.’

Holly de’Silva, Ottakar’s Bromley

Why shareThe Story of Tracy Beaker?

� Tracy Beaker is a very special heroine

� The ups and downs of Tracy’s life are funny and sad and ring very true

The Story of Tracy BeakerJacqueline WilsonIllustrated by Nick Sharratt

Corgi Yearling

Tracy Beaker is ten yearsold and she lives in achildren’s home. Whatshe wants is to live in areal home with a realfamily but that doesn’tlook likely to work out.It’s not that peoplehaven’t tried – there wereAunty Peggy and UncleSid and then there wereJulie and Ted. SomehowTracy always ends upback in the children’shome. Of course, one day her glamorousmother will come andtake her away but, in themeantime, Tracy has tomuddle along. When avisitor comes to thehome, Tracy makes a newfriend. Could Cam be thefoster mother Tracy hasbeen looking for?

Tracy tells her own story in a moving butentertaining way which is also very funny.

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Why shareThe Tales of Olga da Polga?

� Humorous adventures withinthe secret world of guineapigs and their friends

� Olga da Polga is an originaland feisty character

5-8years

The Tales of Olga da PolgaMichael BondOxford

Olga da Polga is a veryspecial guinea pig – andshe knows it! From hervery grand nameonwards, everythingabout Olga da Polga isjust a little bit better thaneveryone else, and thestories she tells – even ifthey are not completelytrue – confirm it. Olga daPolga finds herself in awonderful new home.All goes well until sheoverhears a conversationabout her new name. Notbeing one to let mattersbe decided without her,Olga da Polga writes hername clearly in thesawdust for all to see.Clever Olga da Polga!More wonderfuladventures about a littleguinea pig with a verylarge imagination follow,as Olga da Polga makes anew friend, wins a prizeand goes off on hertravels.

‘Some of the best-loved children’sstories ever written.’

Sam HarrisonWaterstone’s

Why shareSnow White and the Seven Aliens?

� A seriously silly story thatmakes reading fun

� An old favourite is given a brilliant new look

5-8years

Snow White and the Seven AliensLaurence Anholt Illustrated by Arthur RobinsOrchard Books

Snow White has ambitionsto be a seriously cool popstar. She can sing, she candance and she can evenwrite her own songs. Butwith the Mean Queen,lead singer in theWonderful WickedWitches, as her step-mother, Snow Whiteknows she hasn’t got achance. Even the MeanQueen can’t help noticingthat Snow White isturning into a greatbeauty and when herweak-willed mirror finallyadmits it, Snow White issent packing to a citydestination which isdesigned to finish off herhopes for ever. Luckily,the seven singing aliensare on hand to provide allthe support Snow Whiteneeds to make it big inthe city!

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The Pony-MadPrincess:Princess Ellieto the RescueDiana Kimpton

Usborne

Princess Aurelia is meantto spend all her timepractising to be aprincess. She has to learnhow to smile and how tosit quietly in her pinkpalace bedroom. ButAurelia doesn’t want tobe a princess. All shewants is to be Ellie andto spend all her time inthe stables with herbeloved ponies. When anew groom arrives at thepalace, it looks as if Elliewill have her chance.Ellie is truly happytaking care of Sundanceand riding out with theother ponies. Butsomeone is watching.Can Ellie find out whoand can she rescue herbeloved Sundance whendisaster strikes? Ellie’scourage shows just whata great princess she is.

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Why share The Pony-Mad Princess?

� A perfect story for all thosewho are pony-mad

� An exciting adventure

5-8years

‘Fun and easy to read.’

Sam HarrisonWaterstone’s

Why shareThe Adventures of Captain Underpants?

� Stuffed with enough jokesabout underpants to makethis a sure-fire winner

� A new superhero is born with very special powers

The Adventuresof Captain UnderpantsDav Pilkey

Scholastic

Schoolboy friends Georgeand Harold are troublethrough and through –especially for theirheadteacher who loatheseverything they do, fromtheir endless pranks totheir silly giggling. Andhe particularly hates theCaptain Underpantscomic they write andproduce. But CaptainUnderpants and hisschoolboy inventors areirresistibly entertaining.

How Captain Underpantstakes on some importantissues of the world andespecially all issues to do with underpants ishilariously silly. Told inwords and picturesthrough stories and strip-cartoons, all theadventures unfold at a fastand furious pace, ensuringa feast of entertainment.

5-8years

‘Just perfect forreading in a bigdramatic voice withlots of sound effects.’

Roy Butlin, Ottakar’s Greenwich

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Why shareThe Worst Witch?

� Funny school story with anadditional magical element

� Mildred Hubble is anendearingly hopeless schoolgirl

The Worst WitchJill MurphyPuffin

Mildred never intends tobe the most hopeless newgirl at Miss Cackle’sAcademy for Witches butwhat do you do when justabout everything goeshorribly wrong? Firstthere’s flying: it’s harderthan it looks and, on herfirst trip out, Mildredbreaks her broomstick byflying into the yard wall.

Then there’s the questionof a cat. When it gets toMildred’s turn, all theblack cats have gone andMildred gets a sweet littletabby kitten instead. Andthen there’s the bigmistake she makesturning the teacher’s petinto a most unusualanimal. Nothing seems togo quite right for Mildredbut she survives onescrape after another – andgradually learns somemagic.

‘Reading the storiesout loud only doesjustice to JillMurphy’s colourfulcharacters.’

Angie CrawfordOttakar’s Edinburgh

Why share Pippi Longstocking?

� Everything is fun when PippiLongstocking is around

� Pippi Longstocking’sadventures show how much fun playing can be

Pippi LongstockingAstrid LindgrenIllustrated by Tony RossOxford

Pippi Longstocking isnine years old and livesall by herself inVillekulla Cottage with ahorse and a pet monkeyafter her father goesmissing on the high seas.But she’s never lonelyand she can do exactlywhat she likes! WhatPippi likes best is havingfun. She’s unusuallystrong, full of highspirits, has a host ofcrazy ideas and makesup games that no oneelse has thought of. So,it’s not surprising thatTommy and Annika nextdoor love having Pippiround to play, especiallyas she’s always generousand kind. But Pippi canbe stubborn too, anddoesn’t always obey therules!

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5-8years

Why shareOld Possum’s Book of Practical Cats?

� Witty poems about all kinds of cats

� Delightful illustrationscapture the individual cat characteristics

Old Possum’s Book of Practical CatsT. S. Eliot

Illustrated by Nicolas Bentley

Faber

Cats of every kind arebrilliantly portrayed in T. S. Eliot’s classiccollection of original andentertaining cat poems.Whatever kind of cat youlike, you can find afavourite in this collection.There’s Macavity, theMystery Cat, ‘He’s thebafflement of ScotlandYard, the Flying Squad’sdespair:/ For when theyreach the scene of crime –Macavity’s not there!’ OrGus, the Theatre Cat – adifferent kind of creaturealtogether who adores tobe centre stage. OrSkimbleshanks, theRailway Cat, whosepresence on board thenight train is essential ifthe journey is to go well.

Taken together, the fifteenpoems in this collectiongive a wealth of irrefutablecat lore.

Why shareThe Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog?

� Headlong fun as Trevor tries tokeep Streaker under control

� A brilliant insight into family life

� Dog-walking will never be the same again!

5-8years

The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour DogJeremy StrongIllustrated by Nick Sharratt

Puffin

Whoosh! What’s thatjust gone by?

That was Streaker. She’sno ordinary dog.Watching her, it’s easy tosee she’s got a touch ofFerrari about her. Notsurprisingly, no one inthe family is very keen towalk Streaker. But whenTrevor is offered £30 towalk her every day ofthe holidays, he finds itimpossible to resist.MAJOR BRIBERY doeswork!

Once landed with thejob, Trevor needs tothink up a clever plan ifhe is to survive theholiday . . .

‘Produces bursts of laughter andeven wins over the cat lovers!’

Nicola CowlingLibrarian, Devon

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5-8years

Why shareThe Velveteen Rabbit?

� A moving story about believing

� A touching insight into what toys might feel

� A classic story of toy magic

The Velveteen RabbitMargery WilliamsAdapted by Lou FancherIllustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

Simon and Schuster

“When a child loves youfor a long time, then youbecome real.” That’swhat the wise old SkinHorse tells the VelveteenRabbit when he findshimself abandoned in thetoy cupboard afterChristmas. What theVelveteen Rabbit wantsmost in the world is to bemade ‘real’ and when hisowner can’t managewithout him, he’s surethat it has happened tohim. But becoming ‘real’comes at a price.Wherever the little boygoes, the VelveteenRabbit goes too.Gradually his fur getsshabbier, and bit by bithis pink nose gets rubbedaway, but it’s all worth itin the end.

Why shareThe Troublesome Tooth Fairy?

� Funny and touching story

� Warm picture of therelationship betweengrandparent and grandchild

The Troublesome Tooth FairySandi Toksvig

Illustrated by Georgien Overwater

Corgi Pups

When Jessica loses herfirst tooth, her Granny hasa special story to tell her.When she lost her firsttooth, she had a ratherunusual and almostunfortunate experience.Her tooth was collectedby a trainee fairy. It washer very first job and, likeall trainees, this fairydidn’t really know whatshe was doing. Skippingthrough the pages of themanual, she took thechild rather than thetooth, shrinking Grannyto a suitable fairy-size andthen whisking her off totooth-fairy land. But thismagical country builtentirely from teeth is noplace for real children,and soon both the traineetooth fairy and Grannyare in serious trouble.

Perfectly pitched jokesabout a make-believeplace with lots of laughsabout teeth along the way.

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Why share Revolting Rhymes?

� Crackling with gruesome humour

� Rollicking verse with witty refrains

� Gives a fresh look on some familiar stories

Revolting RhymesRoald DahlIllustrated by Quentin Blake

Puffin

Six familiar stories aremade not-so-familiar inRoald Dahl’s hilarious,irreverent and sometimesvicious retellings.There’s Cinderella, stillsuffering torment fromher Ugly Sisters but nowa wiser girl who realizesthat the prince may notbe such a good bet as ahusband. And a new-look Red Riding Hoodwho’s still kind enoughto go and visit herGrandmother but alsoclever enough to carry apistol tucked into herknickers – just in case.Goldilocks and SnowWhite are similarly sassy.Breaking and entering isnever a nice crime andGoldilocks looks set tocome to an unhappy end.

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5-8years

‘The only problem is you’ll be asked to read it over andover . . . ’

Sarah DrakeOttakar’s Science Museum

The Princess and the PeaRetold by Susanna DavidsonIllustrated byMike Gordon

Usborne

Prince Patrick is sick ofall the princesses hisfather offers him tomarry. They are allboring and Patrick can’tbe sure that they are real.He wants to find his ownprincess so he sets off totravel the world to findexactly what he wants.And Peg, the kitchenmaid, stows away withhim. Together they visita witch who gives Patricksome tips on how to testthat a princess is real. Aprincess must be politeto one and all, kind torich and poor and havevery sensitive skin.Patrick searches highand low visitingPrincesses Prudence,Prunella, Primrose andPavlova. None of themcan pass the realprincess test. But,luckily, there is someonevery near at hand whoturns out to be exactlythe princess Patrick hasbeen looking for!

Why shareThe Princess and the Pea?

� A fresh version of a classic story

� A witty text is matched by amusing illustrations

5-8years

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Books that are good to read aloud are not as common as you mightthink. There’s got to be a good story, of course, but there must besomething special in the prose – a springiness, an energy, avividness of rhythm – if it’s to be enjoyable for both the reader andthe read-to. For my money, few writers approach Robert LouisStevenson as a supplier of this quality, and few books approach

PHILIPPULLMAN

I will always claim that I read aloud to our three children for theirbenefit. That it was good for their educational development to sitand listen last thing at night. That somehow, through hearing a story,their creative juices would be stirred. But it was, of course, for me.Nothing could beat the delight of disappearing into a new thrillingchapter. I am certainly no Stephen Fry, but the book is Harry Potterand the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. What a discovery it was,allowing me to show off my full repertoire of read aloud voices: posh,

The book that I've most enjoyed reading aloud to children is GreatExpectations. Even though some of these children might have been‘too young’, the book proves – among other things – how the spell ofwords can work even when a few of those words might not beunderstood. The opening pages are enough to prove the point. Themist rolling over the Kent marshes, the gravestones like ‘lozenges’,the atmosphere of menace and puzzlement – and then the shaggyfigure of Magwitch erupting out of nowhere, turning Pip upside downso he sees the church between his flying legs . . . It’s all brilliantly

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Treasure Island. But my very favourite book of all to readaloud is Norman Lindsay’s rumbustious The MagicPudding, an Australian children's classic of 1918, whichhas the added benefit of his hilarious drawings to look atand share. It’s the funniest children’s book ever written.Nothing matches it.

cockney, camp and Cornish. My camp Cornish deliveryis, I believe, unique. Forget the Harry Potter hype, J.K.Rowling created a book that left children desperate formore. And I bet I am not the only parent who, havingturned out the light said goodnight to their gratefuloffspring, sat down on the stairs and read on to find outjust how beastly Draco Malfoy could be . . .

real and definite, and a wonderful example ofsymbolic writing as well. After all, it’s a book in whichnormal ideas about ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ are oftenupside down. The criminal Magwitch is kind; the do-gooders are horrible - and so on. Anyway: the bookhypnotized me when I was a child, and it's wonderfulto see it having the same effect as the years roll by . . .

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Once upon a time (when time ran byclockwork), a strange event took place in a littleGerman town. Actually, it was a series of events,all fitting together like the parts of a clock, andalthough each person saw a different part, no-one saw the whole of it; but here it is, as well asI can tell it.

It began on a winter’s evening, when thetownsfolk were gathering in the White HorseTavern. The snow was blowing down from themountains, and the wind was making the bellsshift restlessly in the church tower. Thewindows were steamed up, the stove was blazingbrightly, Putzi the old black cat was snoozing on

Enjoy thissample extractfrom a popularchildren’sclassic.Thispiece gives the sense of the language ofthe story and also givesthe reader achance to tryout somedifferent voices!

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the hearth; and the air was full of the rich smellsof sausage and sauerkraut, of tobacco and beer.Gretl the little barmaid, the landlord’s daughter,was hurrying to and fro with foaming mugs andsteaming plates.

The door opened, and fat white flakes of snowswirled in, to faint away into water as they metthe heat of the parlour. The incomers, HerrRingelmann the clockmaker and his apprenticeKarl, stamped their boots and shook the snowoff their greatcoats.

‘It’s Herr Ringelmann!’ said the Burgomaster.‘Well, old friend, come and drink some beerwith me! And a mug for young what’s his name,your apprentice.’

Karl the apprentice nodded his thanks and wentto sit by himself in a corner. His expression wasdark and gloomy.

‘What’s the matter with young thingamajig?’ saidthe Burgomaster. ‘He looks as if he’s swalloweda thundercloud.’

‘Oh, I shouldn’t worry,’ said the old clockmaker,sitting down at the table with his friends. ‘He’sanxious about tomorrow. His apprenticeship iscoming to an end, you see.’

‘Ah, of course!’ said the Burgomaster. It was thecustom that when a clockmaker’s apprenticefinished his period of service, he made a newfigure for the great clock of Glockenheim. ‘So

Clockwork orAll Wound UpPhilip PullmanIllustrated byPeter BaileyCorgi Yearling

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we’re to have a new piece of clockwork in the tower! Well, I look forward to seeing ittomorrow.’

‘I remember when my apprenticeship came toan end,’ said Herr Ringelmann. ‘I couldn’t sleepfor thinking about what would happen when myfigure came out of the clock. Supposing I hadn’tcounted the cogs properly? Supposing thespring was too stiff ? Supposing – oh, athousand things go through your mind. It’s aheavy responsibility.’

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‘Maybe so, but I’ve never seen the lad look sogloomy before,’ said someone else. ‘And he’s nota cheerful fellow at the best of times.’

And it seemed to the other drinkers that HerrRingelmann himself was a little down-hearted,but he raised his mug with the rest of them andchanged the conversation to another topic.

‘I hear young Fritz the novelist is going to readus his new story tonight,’ he said.

‘So I believe,’ said the Burgomaster. ‘I hope it’snot as terrifying as the last one he read to us.D’you know, I woke three times that night andfound my hair on end, just thinking about it!’

‘I don’t know if it’s more frightening hearingthem here in the parlour, or reading them lateron your own,’ said someone else.

‘It’s worse on your own, believe me,’ saidanother. ‘You can feel the ghostly fingerscreeping up your spine, and even when youknow what’s going to happen next you can’thelp jumping when it does.’

Then they argued about whether it was moreterrifying to hear a ghost story when you didn’tknow what was going to happen (because ittook you by surprise) or when you did (becausethere was the suspense of waiting for it). Theyall enjoyed ghost stories, and Fritz’s in particular,for he was a talented storyteller.

‘Exciting, scary,romantic and

deliciouslyreadable’

Guardian

Charmed LifeDiana Wynne JonesHarperCollinsChildren’s Books

When Gwendolen andCat’s parents aredrowned in a boatingaccident, everyone saysthat it is Gwendolen’spowers as a witch thatsave the siblings. Itseems that her gift formagic is exceptional andso the two orphans areswept up to stay atChrestomanci Castle,home of the greatestwizard of all.

At Chrestomanci Castle,nothing is quite what itseems. And Gwendolen’spowers are not what theyappear to be either.

With so much magicaround, it’s no wonderthat things do not alwaysgo according to plan. Why share Charmed Life?

� Awesome magic makes the everyday special but still credible

� Chrestomanci is an enchanter with exceptional appeal

� Charmed Life opens a doorinto a whole new world

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8-11years

SkelligDavid AlmondHodder

Who is Skellig? That’swhat Michael needs to find out when hediscovers the mysteriouscreature living in thetumbledown garage atthe back of his parent’snew home. He appearsto be human, asking fora meal from the Chinesetakeaway, but he liveshalf-hidden underspiders’ webs and deadflies, and he has wingsand he isn’t like anyhuman Michael has everseen before. Is he anangel? Michael needssomeone to help him.His baby sister isseriously ill and Michaelknows there is a real riskthat she’ll die. WithMina, the girl who livesnearby, Michaelbefriends Skellig. Theyfinally bring him out intothe light, and Michael’slife changes for ever.

Why share Skellig?

� A rich story that asks seriousquestions about what is realand what is imaginary

� A beautifully written storyabout a child’s fears

8-11years

‘A great story forchildren who thinkthey are too grownup to be read to.’

Lesley SimLibrarian, West Sussex

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HolesLouis SacharBloomsbury

Stanley Yelnats is anunlucky boy. When he isstruck by the familycurse and falsely accusedof stealing a pair oftrainers, he is sent offto Camp Green Lake(which is not a camp,not green and not near a lake), a boys’ detentioncentre in the middle ofthe desert. Every dayevery boy in the camphas to dig a hole five footdeep and five foot acrossbecause, the Wardensays, it’s good for them.

How can Stanley provethat the Warden has adifferent and far moresinister motive forwanting so many holes tobe dug?

Working as a team withZero, Armpit and Squid,Stanley outwits theWarden and also breakshis family curse. Aboveall, he ends the diggingof holes!

Ingeniously plotted,Holes is an original andfunny story aboutsurviving.

Why share Holes?

� A fabulous story of friendship

� An exceptionally original plot

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8-11years

‘Brilliant reading for anyonewith a quirky sense of humour.’

Debbie WilliamsWaterstone’s

Clockwork orAll Wound UpPhilip PullmanIllustrated by Peter BaileyCorgi Yearling

It’s a cold winter’s night,the snow is falling andseveral stories begin tocollide. There’s the storyof Karl, the clockmaker’sapprentice who is aboutto fail his first challengeand whose mean spiritand weak temperamentbring about his downfall;there’s Fritz, whosespine-chilling storyunfolds to a critical point but then comes to an abrupt and uneasyend, and there’s thesinister presence ofDr Kalmenius, whoseunusual power lies at thecentre of the whole plot.

A brilliant interweavingof stories of hope andambition, cowardice andgreed, all as delicatelybalanced as clockwork.

Why share Clockwork?

� A spooky story that sendsshivers down the spine

� Fantastic cast of characters –both real and clockwork

� Gothic storytelling full ofsurprise and intrigue

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‘A stunning,intricately woventale which suprisesfrom beginning to end.’

Debbie WilliamsWaterstone’s

Journey to theRiver SeaEva IbbotsonMacmillan

Orphaned Maia is sentoff to stay with herrelatives far, far away inthe heart of the Amazonjungle. The journey, thethought of life in astrange and differentcountry and the prospectof a new family all fillher with excitement.

Imagine her terribledisappointment whenshe arrives and finds thather twin cousins,Gwendolyn and Beatrice,are horrid little girls andthat her aunt is terrifiedby everything that livesin the jungle. How willMaia survive?

Luckily, she has beenaccompanied on herjourney by the wonderfulgoverness Miss Mintonand together the two ofthem manage to find thekind of adventures thatonly somewhere asstrange and special asthe jungle could reveal.

A charming and magicaladventure story that isfull of wisdom, warmthand understanding.

Why share Journey to the River Sea?

� A story that brings the Amazonto life for all readers

� Maia is a feisty heroine whoknows what she needs to do to survive

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8-11years

‘Will captivate and enthral listeners atstorytime . . . simply beautiful.’

Emma Swabey, Ottakar’s Science Museum

The Amazing Story of Adolphus TipsMichael MorpurgoIllustrated by Michael ForemanHarperCollinsChildren’s Books

Adolphus Tips is noordinary cat. When thevillage of Slapton isevacuated during theSecond World War,Adolphus Tips is meantto leave too. But whenher owner, Lily, and therest of her family moveinto Uncle George’sfarm, Tips is nowhere to be found.

How will Tips survivewhen the village is givenover to training soldiersas practice for the D-daylandings?

Through the story of onebrave cat, MichaelMorpurgo movingly re-tells a true story of howa whole community gotcaught up in the war.

Why share Adolphus Tips?

� Exceptionally poignant story ofhow lives are touched by war

� Written as a diary, each entry makes a perfectepisode to share

� A touching account of a little-known episode of the Second World War

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The Wolves of Willoughby ChaseJoan AikenRed Fox

‘You are an orphan, MissGreen, like your cousin,and from now on it is Iwho have sole say in youraffairs. I am yourguardian.’

Miss Slighcarp is aschilling as her wordssound and she is now incharge of Bonnie andSylvia. How will theyever escape from herclutches? It would behard in anycircumstances but it isespecially hard since thesnow lies thick on theground aroundWilloughby Chase andthe wolves are snappingcloser and closer.

Helped on their way bySimon and the flock ofgeese he is taking tomarket, Bonnie andSylvia’s journey is athrilling adventure – andnot for the faint-hearted!

Why share The Wolves of Willoughby Chase?

� Fabulous historical fantasy

� Satisfyingly scary

� Strong heroines

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8-11years

‘A fabulous story toread on a coldwinter’s night.’

Angie CrawfordOttakar’s Edinburgh

Mortal EnginesPhilip ReeveScholastic

London is moving: it hasbeen lying low to avoidthe other towns whichare bigger and morepredatory but now it’s onthe move, chasing asmall mining townacross the dried-up bedof the old North Sea.Tom is a mere ThirdClass Apprentice but heis as excited as anyoneby the movement of thetop-heavy, old city. It’sthe beginning of afabulous adventure,especially for Tom andHester whom he meetsafter both are pushed outof the speeding City.Tom is desperate to getback on board so that hecan unravel the mysterybehind what ishappening within themany layers of London.But in doing so, he putshis own and Hester’slives in danger. Thequestion is, can he savethem both?

Why share Mortal Engines?

� Thrilling adventure

� The creation of an exciting new world

� Brilliant characters

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‘Start reading andyou’ll be hooked forever.’

Debbie WilliamsWaterstone’s

Wolf BrotherMichelle PaverOrion

In the ancient darknessof the forest, in a worldsteeped in naturalmagic and primitiveterror, Torak mustsurvive. Alone after thedeath of his father andwith a mission to fulfil,he must use all hisknowledge and his bestinstincts to stay alivewithin the harshenvironment of theforest. But he alsoneeds help. Who canTorak trust in a worlddivided into clans fromwhich he is an outcast?Luckily, Torak findssomeone, an orphanedwolf cub, as lost andalone as he is. Together,Torak and hiscompanion, the trustedWolf Brother, travel tothe home of the WorldSpirit in the HighMountains.

A wonderful quest set ina wholly convincingbackground andpeopled with genuinelybrave spirits.

Why share Wolf Brother?

� A story of courage and survival

� A thrilling adventure setagainst a richly describedlandscape

� An insight into an ancientworld and how the people in it lived

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8-11years

‘Simply amazing.’Debbie Williams

Waterstone’s

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The BadBeginningLemony SnicketEgmont

As its title warns, The

Bad Beginning is not ahappy book. It tells thesorry story of three veryunlucky children and themisfortunes that befallthem. Like most sadstories, it begins with aterrible accident. Thethree Baudelaire childrenare enjoying themselveson the beach when theirparents are killed in aterrible fire whichdestroys everything thefamily own. Klaus, Violetand baby Sunny mustnow go and live withCount Olaf, a distantrelative whom they havenever met.

How they survive life inthe filthy house of thisdisgusting villain whotries to steal theirfortune, gives them itchyclothes to wear and feedsthem cold porridgemakes gloriouslydepressing reading. Alugubriously funny storyfor everyone who enjoysdisasters and misfortune.

Why share The Bad Beginning?

� Hilarious dark humour

� Highly original style

� Terrific adventure

8-11years

‘The gloomy narration is hilarious andperfect for reading out loud.’

Roy ButlinOttakar’s Greenwich

Harry and theWrinkliesAlan TemperleyScholastic

When Harry is suddenlyorphaned things look as ifthey are going to getpretty awful. He isdreading being sent off tolive with his elderly great-aunts but he soon gets agreat shock. They maylook old but from themoment he discovers justhow fast and furiouslythey drive, Harry realizesthat his aunts are a mostunusual pair. When hefinds them plotting lateinto the night it’s clearthat they are up to nogood. He discovers thathis aunts’ night-timeadventures are not exactlyregular or legal! Thatmakes them especiallygood fun for Harry. Nowall he has to do ispersuade them to let himjoin in their daringadventures . . .

Why shareHarry and the Wrinklies?

� A gloriously outrageousadventure

� Larger than life characters

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8-11years

‘Fast-paced narrative and good jokes.’Gllian Macdonald, Ottakar’s, Edinburgh

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StormbreakerAnthony HorowitzWalker Books

Alex Rider is fourteenwhen his whole world isturned upside down.Already an orphan, hisguardian is killedsuddenly and Alex finds himself forciblyrecruited into MI6 totrain as a superspy. Afterrigorous training withthe SAS, Alex is sent offon his first mission.Even though he’s armedwith the most up-to-dategadgets available to theservice, Alex soon findshimself in danger.Terrible danger. It takesall his courage to survive. . . A fabulous story thatcrackles with suspenseand daring and showsthat a bit of cheek willtake you a very long way.

Why share Stormbreaker?

� Fabulous fantasy of schoolboywho saves the world

� Rip-roaring adventure from start to finish

8-11years

‘Watch children getcloser to the edge oftheir seats as thetension mounts.’

Nicola CowlingLibrarian, Devon

Measle and theWrathmonkIan OgilvyIllustrated byChris Mould

Oxford

Measle Stubbs is thinand weedy. And, worsethan that, he hasn’t had abath for years. And, evenworse than that, he hasto live with his horribleold guardian, BasilTramplebone. In fact,there’s nothing muchthat’s good aboutMeasle’s life. Little doeshe know, however, thatthings are about to getworse. When Measle ismysteriously zapped intothe world of Basil’s toytrain set, everythingtakes on a completelynew look. There’ssomething very nastylurking in the rafters andthere’s a giant cockroachon his tail. Measle mustdo something – andquick!

Why share Measle and the Wrathmonk?

� Rattling adventure of abrilliantly original kind

� Measle is a loveable herowho readers will want things to go well for

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MillionsFrank Cottrell BoyceMacmillan Children’s Books

When a bag stuffed fullof money drops out of apassing train and intotheir makeshift camp bythe railway line, Damianand Anthony suddenlyfind that they are rich.Very, very rich, to beprecise. But there is aproblem. They only havea few days in which tospend the money. Whenthe Euro arrives, all theirpounds will be worthless.

Damian and Anthony setto work spending with awill. But it’s hard tospend without questionsbeing asked and, as theysoon discover, moneycan’t buy everything youwant. Worse still, thereare others out for themoney and they aregetting frighteninglyclose.

Why share Millions?

� A poignant and funny story about money and what it can do

� A pacy adventure in whichthe children have to keepahead of the game

8-11years

‘A gripping novelwhich both childrenand adults will love.’

Debbie WilliamsWaterstone’s

Artemis FowlEoin ColferPuffin

Artemis Fowl is onlytwelve years old but he isalready famous as acriminal mastermind.Skilled in the planningand the execution of hiscrimes, he is used tobeing able to get what hewants. But when hekidnaps a fairy in hisruthless bid to steal thefairy gold, he finds hehas gone a step too far.Captain Holly Short ofthe LEPrecon unit ismore than a match evenfor Artemis. She’s asskilled and dangerous ashe is – and she can drawon some extra-specialpowers to help. And sheis not acting alone.Behind her, there’s herboss, Commander Root,an elf who’ll stop atnothing to get her back.In the headlongadventure that follows,Artemis discovers thatfairies are not thecreatures that he hadbeen expecting.

Why share Artemis Fowl?

� Fairies, crime and fun – a fabulous adventure

� A hi-tech mission with an explosive and originalshoot-out

118

8-11years

‘Entertaining andfunny, this makes anexciting storytime.’

Roy ButlinOttakar’s Greenwich

119

The Killer UnderpantsMichael LawrenceOrchard Books

When Jiggy’s mum getsan idea into her head,there’s no stopping her.This time, she’sabsolutely sure that Jiggyneeds a new pair ofunderpants. His old onesare just too holey eventhough, as Jiggy pointsout, holes are good inunderpants. Jiggy useshis best powers ofpersuasion to stop herbut to no avail. Newunderpants it is! Buteven Jiggy couldn’t have known just howmuch trouble theseunderpants would cause.They are evil. They make Jiggy scratch,they make Jiggy itch,and whatever Jiggy saysunder the influence ofthe underpants happens.When Jiggy finds outthat the man who soldthem to his mum isNeville the Devil whosemotto is Mischief is MyBusiness, he knows he’llhave to think upsomething very specialindeed to free himselffrom the terribleunderpants.

Why share The Killer Underpants?

� Good clean fun around aridiculously silly subject

8-11years

‘You won’t be able to read itwithout bursting into giggles.’

Angie CrawfordOttakar’s, Edinburgh

The Giggler Treatment Roddy DoyleScholastic

When Mister Mack stepsout to catch the train tohis work in the biscuitfactory one morning,little does he know thathe is about to step into ahuge pile of stinking dogpoo. Why is he about tostep in the dog poo?Because the Gigglershave put it there to payMister Mack back for what he did last night.Who are the Gigglers?The Gigglers protectchildren from adults whoare unkind. But, for once,they’ve made a mistake.Mister Mack was onlyunkind for a moment andthe dog-poo treatment isnot necessary. Can theGigglers, helped by Roverwho supplied the poo,stop Mister Mack beforehis foot makes thesquelchy, squishycontact?

A hectic adventureprevents a nasty accident!

Why share The Giggler Treatment?

� Hilarious fun of a (nearly)disgusting nature

� Every child needs to knowabout the Gigglers!

120

8-11years

‘Silly and funny andall about poo! Whatcould be better?’

Roy ButlinOttakar’s Greenwich

121

Awful EndPhilip ArdaghFaber

When Eddie Dickens’parents are struck downby a strange disease thatturns them a ratherpeculiar shade of yellowand makes them smelllike old hot water bottles,Eddie is sent to live atAwful End. He’s worriedthat things will not gowell. And he’s right.After all, his Mad UncleJack, the thinnest of thinbeaky-nosed gentlemen,and his Even MadderAunt Maud who has astuffed stoat calledMalcolm, live at AwfulEnd and, with themaround, no one couldhave very high hopes ofhow things could turnout. The things thathappen at Awful End areextremely daft, extremelysmelly and extremelygood fun.

Why share Awful End?

� Ludicrous fun in a smelly environment

� Enjoy a host of unusualcharacters – and grow to love them

8-11years

Cloud BustingMalorie Blackman

Corgi

Davey is the new boy andhe is odd. Everyonethinks so, but it is Samwho leads the way, givingDavey the nickname‘Fizzy Feet’ and findingevery way possible ofmaking fun of him. Butit’s worse than that.When Sam and Davey arealone, they are firmfriends and Sam knowsthat Davey is odd, yes,and different, but alsospecial. He even knowssomething secret aboutDavey – and promisesnever to tell. But Samcan’t resist. Surely itwon’t matter?

Written as a series ofpoems using differentforms including limerick,haiku and blank verse,Cloud Busting is a hugelythoughtful insight thatpenetrates right to theheart of the issue: howdo I be true to myself ?

Why share Cloud Busting?

� Celebration of theimportance of friendship

� A wise exploration of peer pressures

� Different poetic forms giveoriginal and special impact

122

8-11years

123

Lizzie DrippingHelen Cresswell

Oxford

Lizzie Dripping is adreamy girl who has ahabit of not doinganything quite right.It is not surprising really,as she is always off onan adventure inside herown head which makesher forget what she ismeant to be doing.

There’s the time thatLizzie ‘forgets’ that sheis being all grown up andlooking after her babybrother, and sets offblackberry pickinginstead . . .

And then there’s thewitch whom Lizzie findssitting in the graveyardbusy doing her knitting.Of course, no onebelieves Lizzie. After all,why would there be awitch in the graveyardand why can only Lizziesee her?

Five delightful storiesabout Lizzie, a little girlwith a very special giftfor causing mayhemaround her!

Why share Lizzie Dripping?

� A strong-minded girl who has great adventures

� Anyone who knows what itfeels like to be in the wrongwill love Lizzie Dripping

� Perfectly created blend of themagical and the everyday

8-11years

Ruby HollerSharon Creech

Bloomsbury

Yes. Love can changepeople. It’s true! That’swhat Dallas and Floridafind when they are askedto go and live with Tillerand Sairy Morley.

Dallas and Florida havelived all of their lives inBoxton Creek Home.And that’s where theyexpect to stay as no oneelse ever seems to wantthem for long.

But the Morleys do wantthem to stay and make anew life in Ruby Holler.The Morleys aredifferent. They playgames with Dallas andFlorida and they leadthem on some wildadventures. They knowthat in Ruby HollerDallas and Florida maybecome differentchildren. And, slowly butsurely, they do.

Why share Ruby Holler?

� A moving story about healing through love

� Wonderfully written and full of insight into how pain can be soothed

� A story of hope and trust –and cookies!

124

8-11years

‘Sensitively written,this book tacklesissues of familylearning, loyalty andbelonging.’

Grace PrintOttakar’s Bromley

125

Witch ChildCelia Rees

Bloomsbury

Mary’s diary of 1659 tellsthe story of her life fromthe moment when shefirst finds herself ingrave danger after thearrest, imprisonment,‘trial’ and finally hangingof her grandmother forwitchcraft. These aretroubled times but Maryis helped to escape tosafety and set on theroad to a new life and anew identity over the seain America. But there’sprejudice there too, andMary has to keep herwits about her and herskills hidden to survivethe mistrust that is rifeamongst the newsettlers. Mary’s insightinto the true motives ofmany of the so-called‘good’ people isshocking but convincingwhile the courage sheshows as she weaves herway through theircorruption and falsevalues is inspiring.

Why share Witch Child?

� A deeply moving story of one child’s courage in theface of adversity

� A brilliant picture of lifeunder the Puritans

8-11years

‘Listeners will becaptivated by thisbeautifully writtenstory.’

Jonathon LloydOttakar’s Greenwich

The More the Merrier Anne FineDoubleday

Love it or loathe it,Christmas is a time forfamilies to get together.The plan is for them tohave fun but, in Ralph’shouse at least, that iseasier said than done!There’s Uncle Tristramwhose idea of a goodtime is to throw thespuds at the cat, Great-Aunt Ida who’s lost mostof the plot already, thetwins Sylvester andSylvia, and worst of allfrom Ralph’s point ofview at least, CousinTitania. Can Ralph (andindeed his mother)survive the festiveseason?

Why share The More the Merrier?

� A witty look at the fun andnot-so-much-fun moments ofChristmas

� Anne Fine’s sharp eyecaptures all the best and worst moments of family life

126

8-11years

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IndexAdventures of Captain Underpants, The 89

Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp 83

All Join In 60

Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, The 109

Angry Arthur 58

Artemis Fowl 118

Awful End 121

Bad Beginning, The 113

Bear Snores On 48

Charmed Life 104

Clockwork or All Wound Up 107

Cloud Busting 122

Cosmo and the Magic Sneeze 77

Dear Zoo 16

Dig Dig Digging 64

Doing the Animal Bop 66

Elephant and the Bad Baby, The 56

Fergus Crane 79

Giggler Treatment, The 120

Gruffalo, The 46

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy 32

Handa’s Surprise 40

Harry and the Wrinklies 114

Holes 106

Horrid Henry’s Big Bad Book 78

Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog, The 93

Iron Man, The 82

Is It Bedtime Wibbly Pig? 34

Journey to the River Sea 108

Killer Underpants, The 119

Kiss That Missed, The 81

Lighthouse Keeper’s Rescue, The 26

Lizzie Dripping 123

Measle and the Wrathmonk 116

Millions 117

More the Merrier, The 126

Mortal Engines 111

Mrs Pepperpot Stories 84

No Matter What 30

Not Now, Bernard 44

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats 92

Olivia 42

One Snowy Night 22

Owl Babies 50

Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, The 36

Pants 18

Pippi Longstocking 91

Pony-Mad Princess: Princess Ellie to the Rescue,The 88

Princess and the Pea, The 97

Pumpkin Soup 52

Revolting Rhymes 96

Rosie’s Walk 24

Ruby Holler 124

Sheep-Pig, The 80

Skellig 105

Snow White and the Seven Aliens 87

Stormbreaker 115

Story of Tracy Beaker, The 85

Tales of Olga da Polga, The 86

That’s Not My Puppy 68

There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly 62

Tiger Who Came to Tea, The 28

Troublesome Tooth Fairy, The 95

Velveteen Rabbit, The 94

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt 20

Where the Wild Things Are 38

Winnie the Witch 54

Witch Child 125

Wolf Brother 112

Wolves of Willoughby Chase, The 110

Worst Witch, The 90

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With grateful thanks to:

Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt, Julia Eccleshare,David Higham Associates, Colman Getty PR

Kelly Cauldwell, Ian Lansley,Naomi Cooper, Alison Gadsby

Malorie Blackman, Cherie Booth QC,Anne Fine, Shelia Hancock, Charlie Higson,

Ruth Kelly MP, Michael Morpurgo,Andrew Motion, Michael Palin, Philip Pullman,

J.K. Rowling, Imogen Stubbs,Eleanor Updale, Terry Wogan

Andersen Press, Bloomsbury, Child’s Play,Egmont, Faber, HarperCollins Childrens Books,

Hodder Children’s Books, Macmillan Children’s Books,Orchard Books, Orion, Oxford University Press,

Puffin, Scholastic Children’s Books,Simon and Schuster, Usborne,Walker Books

Borders, Ottakar’s,Waterstone’s,WHSmith,Peters Library Services, Scholastic Clubs and Fairs