Special Collections

Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now

A witty and insightful book about worries, starring Clarice Bean. Created by Children's Laureate Lauren Child and read by Claire Skinner, star of the BBC's 'Outnumbered'.It's the worry you hadn't even thought to worry about that should worry you the most. At least that's how it looks to Clarice Bean, who has been writing her worries in a notebook - things like Worry no. 1: infinity, or Worry no. 3: change. And now that her worst never-imagined worry has happened - her utterly best friend is moving away forever - Clarice doesn't even care about her tickets to the Ruby Redfort, girl detective, film premiere. That is, unless something happens to change things again... Lauren Child's trademark wit combines with spot-on insight in this hugely engaging story about childhood worries, unwanted changes and finding friendships in the most surprising places.'A comic and poignant journey' - The Sunday Times(P) Orchard Books 2013

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Clarice Bean Spells Trouble

Clarice Bean is back and starring in her second novel! By Children's Laureate Lauren Child.There are so many things in life you can't explain. Like why isn't YOU spelt U? Why isn't WHY spelt Y? And why can just opening your mouth get you into some very BIG trouble?Clarice Bean is in non-stop trouble these days - almost as much as Karl Wrenbury, and he is the naughtiest boy in school. Clarice just wants to star in the school play and impress Mrs Wilberton in the spelling bee, but things aren't quite going to plan...Read by Claire Skinner, star of the hit BBC series 'Outnumbered'.(P) Orchard Books 2013

Date Added: 03/30/2022

The Dragon and Her Boy

A story of a the very last living dragon, stuck living in a tunnel under London, and the boy who unintentionally finds himself as her protector. When Stick discovers there is a dragon living underneath the streets of London, he finds himself unintentionally drawn into an epic adventure and a quest -- but how can he find a place for a dragon to live in London when dragons aren't supposed to exist? And with foes at every corner who want to exploit the dragon for themselves, it's going to take a daring plan and a bit of help for Stick to find a safe place for his dragon -- and for himself.

Date Added: 05/23/2022

Wilder

A desperate town. A child who emerges from the marshes. A hawk that helps her save them all.

The child—if child it was—came out of the wild-ness. It came out of the sparse bleak marsh where few dared go and none came back. And though the town grew accustomed to the creature they did not forget from whence it came. And they whispered that there was no knowing whether she was sent as a blessing or a bane.

When the child emerges from the wilderness, no one in the town knows what to do with her. She is odd—half-wild, without speech and seems to have an unnatural bond with animals—especially the falcon, who is always circling above her. The wise-woman of the town takes her in, and names her Rhodd, but the rest of the town remain suspicious.

Over the years, as Rhodd grows, the town realises that the river, which is their connection to the wider world, is beginning to die, and eventually a dark sickness begins to spread. Soon, too soon, the townspeople turn their suspicion on Rhodd and her falcon.

And so, Rhodd sets out to discover what - or who—is causing the river to dry up…to protect her mother, her falcon and herself…

A beautiful and enthralling adventure about love, belonging, the delicate balance of nature—and the wildness within us all, for fans of The Last Wild.

(P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/12/2023

Atticus the Storyteller

Atticus the Storyteller is determined to take part in the great Storytelling Festival near Troy. He leaves his family in Crete and sets off on a year-long journey round Greece with his donkey, Melissa; and wherever he goes he tells his favourite myths to anyone who'll listen.The 100 myths include all the favourites, such as the wanderings of Odysseus, the labours of Heracles, the stories of King Midas, Daedalus and Icarus, and Theseus and the Minotaur.Volume 3, read by Simon Russell Beale.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 04/14/2022

Halo Moon

Bravery, friendship and the magic of an unknowable universe combine in this extraordinary adventure from the heart. Great for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce and David Almond. In Ethiopia, Ageze has unearthed an ancient device that can make predictions. It tells him: there is a date, there is a place, there is a moment when it will happen. A disaster that will change everything. Halo Moon loves stars, and the night sky is full of them in her remote Yorkshire village. It's a place where nothing interesting ever happens, let alone a catastrophe. So when a stranger appears at the end of a near-impossible journey and tells her lives are at risk, she can barely believe it. But if she doesn't help Ageze, everything and everyone she knows might disappear for ever ... As Halo says: there's a hundred ways to start this story, a hundred ways to tell it. Each one is impossible. Each one, unbelievable. But it did all happen and I promise it's all true.HALO MOON is Sharon Cohen's second novel. Her first novel, THE STARMAN AND ME, was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award 2018 and shortlisted for the Essex Book Awards 2018. It has also been shortlisted for the East Sussex Children's Book Awards 2019 and nominated for the Northern Ireland Book Award 2019. (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 04/25/2022

The Starman and Me

E.T. meets Stig of the Dump in a page-turning adventure for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce and David Almond'A proper adventure story for all curious middle graders ... heartily recommended' The Bookbag*Highly commended for the Branford Boase Award 2018, shortlisted for the Essex Book Awards 2018, the East Sussex Children's Book Awards 2019 and nominated for the Northern Ireland Book Award 2019*He wasn't an alien, I was sure of that. It was more like he'd walked in through an ancient door from the past ... except he was here, in my bedroom and his misty forest was somewhere real on Planet Earth.Twelve-year-old Kofi first spots the prehistoric human on a supermarket roundabout. He is small and dark and curled into a tight ball. His name is Rorty Thrutch and he has zero memory of how he ended up in the unexceptional village of Bradborough, or why he's being hunted... Kofi soon finds out that Rorty can do amazing things. He can copy, paste and delete objects, using only the power of his mind. This is the discovery of the century and mad, greedy scientists will stop at nothing to track him down.Kofi and best friend Janie are on a mission. Not only must they protect Rorty, but they have to find his missing girlfriend Pogsy Blue, too. Our prehistoric ancestors have crashed headlong into the 21st century and time is running out to save them...THE STARMAN AND ME explores where we have come from and where we are moving to - it's about the magic of DNA, the power of identity, and the importance of caring for each other.

Date Added: 03/30/2022

The Wishing Spell

Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change....Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, twins Alex and Connor leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.© Hachette Audio 2013

Date Added: 03/30/2022

How to Train Your Dragon

THE STORY CONTINUES in the third volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs, narrated by David Tennant.Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. Hiccup's memoirs look back to when Hiccup was just an ordinary boy, and finding it very hard to be a Hero.Climbing on to a Roman Dragon Rustling ship by mistake in your first 'Boarding an Enemy Ship' lesson is bad enough. But to then discover that Alvin the Treacherous is also on board proves to Hiccup he couldn't have been more wrong, especially when he steals his copy of How to Speak Dragonese. Can Hiccup save the dragons and the day?How to Train Your Dragon is now a major DreamWorks franchise starring Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett and Jonah Hill and the TV series, Riders of Berk, can be seen on CBeebies and Cartoon Network. Read all of Hiccup's exploits in the series: How to Train Your Dragon, How to Be a Pirate, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to Twist a Dragon's Tale, A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons, How to Ride a Dragon's Storm, How to Break a Dragon's Heart, How to Steal a Dragon's Sword, How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel, How to Betray a Dragon's Hero and How to Fight a Dragon's Fury. Check out the brilliant website at www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com It's the place to go for games, downloads, activities and sneak peeks!(P) Hodder Children's Books 2005

Date Added: 03/30/2022

How to Train Your Dragon

The story continues in the ninth volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs read by David Tennant.Bad times have come to the Archipelago. Ever since the woods of Berserk burned down, it is almost as if the world is cursed. Dragons are starting to revolt against their Masters. The waters have risen, flooding fields and washing whole villages away. But worse still, the wicked witch Excellinor has returned. Can Hiccup find the King's Things and win the sword-fighting contest to stop Alvin the Treacherous from becoming King of the Wilderwest?How to Train Your Dragon is a DreamWorks film starring Gerrard Butler, America Ferrera and Jonah Hill, out on DVD adapted from the best selling How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell. Listen to the rest of Hiccup's exploits in How to Train Your Dragon, How to Be a Pirate, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to Twist a Dragon's Tale, A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons, How to Ride a Dragon's Storm and How to Break a Dragon's Heart. Check out the website for games, downloads, activities and sneak peeks! Hear all about Hiccup and all of your favourite characters, learn to speak Dragonese and train your own Dragon to do tricks!(P) Hodder Children's Books 2013

Date Added: 03/30/2022

How to Train Your Dragon

Enjoy the books that inspired the How to Train Your Dragon films, narrated by David Tennant.THE STORY CONTINUES in the fourth volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs ... Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. Hiccup's memoirs look back to when Hiccup was just an ordinary boy, and finding it very hard to be a Hero. Fishlegs has been struck with deadly Vorpentitis. The only cure is rare and almost impossible to find ... a potato. But where on Berk will Hiccup find such a thing? Hiccup will have to dodge Sharkworms, battle Doomfangs and outwit crazy Hooligans if he's going to be a Hero ... again.How to Train Your Dragon is now a major DreamWorks franchise starring Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett and Jonah Hill and the TV series, Riders of Berk, can be seen on CBeebies and Cartoon Network. Read all of Hiccup's exploits in the series: How to Train Your Dragon, How to Be a Pirate, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to Twist a Dragon's Tale, A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons, How to Ride a Dragon's Storm, How to Break a Dragon's Heart, How to Steal a Dragon's Sword, How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel, How to Betray a Dragon's Hero and How to Fight a Dragon's Fury. Check out the brilliant website at www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com It's the place to go for games, downloads, activities and sneak peeks!(P) Hodder Children's Books 2007

Date Added: 03/30/2022

How to Train Your Dragon

Hear the books that inspired the Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragon films.THE STORY BEGINS in the first volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs read by David Tennant... Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, was a truly extraordinary Viking Hero. Warrior chieftain, awesome sword-fighter and amateur naturalist, he was known throughout Vikingdom as 'the Dragon Whisperer', on account of his amazing power over these terrifying beasts.But it wasn't always like that. In fact, in the beginning, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not loud enough to make himself heard at dinner with his father, Stoick the Vast; not hard enough to beat his chief rival, Snotlout, at Bashyball, the number one school sport and CERTAINLY not stupid enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet...Hear the rest of Hiccup's exploits in the How to Train Your Dragon series in How to Be a Pirate, How to Speak Dragonese, How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to Twist a Dragon's Tale, A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons, How to Ride a Dragon's Storm, How to Break a Dragon's Heart, How to Steal a Dragon's Sword, How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel, How to Betray a Dragon's Hero and How to Fight a Dragon's Fury.Check out the Hiccup website at www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com. It's the place to go for games, downloads, activities and sneak peeks! Read all about Hiccup and all of your favourite characters, learn to speak Dragonese and train your own dragon to do tricks!(P) Hodder Children's Books 2004

Date Added: 03/30/2022

How to Train Your Hogfly

Read by David Tennant, this brand new story follows Hiccup on one of his earlier adventures, before the start of the Great Dragon Rebellion.Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a smallish Viking with a longish name. Hiccup's father is chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribe which means Hiccup is the Hope and the Heir to the Hairy Hooligan throne - but most of the time Hiccup feels like a very ordinary boy, finding it hard to be a Hero.When Hiccup's father decides to host the Inter-Tribe BURY THE HATCHET Games, he fails to invite some rather important guests and ends up in MORTAL DANGER. Can Hiccup save his father's life and prevent a new Blood Feud breaking out? All he has to do is train an untrainable dragon...How to Train Your Hogfly is published in print as part of the 20th anniversary edition of How to Train Your Dragon.

Date Added: 05/06/2024

The Sky Over Rebecca

Winner of The Bath Children's Novel Award 2019.

There was a single trail of footprints, the first I'd seen all morning. They were fresh tracks, I saw, the edges of the impressions in the snow quite hard. Small feet. Like mine. Someone my age. Then they stopped.

When mysterious footprints appear in the Stockholm snow, ten-year-old Kara must discover where they've come from—and who they belong to. They lead Kara to Rebecca, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl, and her younger brother Samuel. Kara realises they are refugees—from another time, World War Two—and are trying to find their way home.

The grief and loneliness that Rebecca and Samuel have endured is something Kara can relate to—feeling like you're always on the outside looking in—and she finds herself compelled to help them.

Through her eyes, we rediscover the magic that lies in the world around us, if only we have the courage to look for it. Kara is a heroine for modern times: fragile but fierce, in this utterly compelling story from a stellar new voice in children's literature, Matthew Fox.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/12/2023

The Bone Sparrow

Sometimes, at night, the dirt outside turns into a beautiful ocean. As red as the sun and as deep as the sky. I lie in my bed, Queeny's feet pushing up against my cheek, and listen to the waves lapping at the tent. Subhi is a refugee. Born in an Australian permanent detention centre after his mother fled the violence of a distant homeland, life behind the fences is all he has ever known. But as he grows, his imagination gets bigger too, until it is bursting at the limits of his world. The Night Sea brings him gifts, the faraway whales sing to him, and the birds tell their stories. The most vivid story of all, however, is the one that arrives one night in the form of Jimmie, a scruffy, impatient girl who appears from the other side of the wires, and brings a notebook written by the mother she lost. Unable to read it, she relies on Subhi to unravel her own family's love songs and tragedies. Subhi and Jimmie might both find a way to freedom, as their tales unfold. But not until each of them has been braver than ever before.

Date Added: 05/23/2022

Playtime Rhymes

37 familiar rhymes, songs and games, ranging from the traditional Ring-a-ring o' Roses to Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear from the original book Playtime Rhymes.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

The Red Necklace

The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead.Yann is spirited away to London but three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out Kalliovski's darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror. THE RED NECKLACE is not only a tremendous adventure story but a vibrant and passionate picture of Paris in turmoil and of a large cast of memorable characters.Read by Tom Hiddleston(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 04/14/2022

The Silver Blade

With Sido safely in England and the Terror at it's height, Yann returns to France to smuggle out aristocratic refugees who will otherwise face the guillotine. But when Sido is kidnapped, he must use all his strength and courage to outwit the evil Count Kalliovski, and rescue her for a second time. Set against a vivid historical background, prize winning author Sally Gardner brings to life the horrors of the French Revolution in this breath-taking adventure, complete with intrepid heroism and a touching love story. Perfect for 9+ readers and fans of The Red Necklace and I, Coriander.Read by Janet Suzman(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 04/14/2022

You Got This

'A book that every teenage girl needs to read ... and every grown woman will wish she had read' Fearne Cotton'Bold. Brilliant. Bryony! This is the ultimate guide to growing up happy' Dr Max PembertonI wanted to be a unicorn. I wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to be an astronaut. But the thing I really wanted to be, more than anything else, was a little less like me.It was only recently that I realised not wanting to be me was at the heart of every dumb decision I ever made. And so now I am writing this book containing all the life lessons I wish someone had taught me. A book for the teenage girl in me. And for every teenage girl out there. Because the most powerful thing you can be when you grow up is yourself.-------Frank and fearless, You Got This openly explores topics like self-respect, body image, masturbation and mental health, making it the perfect companion for young women.

Date Added: 05/25/2022

A Rabbit and Bear Audio Omnibus

A bumper audio edition including all four Rabbit and Bear books! This brilliantly funny collection brings Rabbit and his friend Bear to audio for the very first time: tales of friendship, gravity, and just a little bit of poo. 'A perfect animal double-act.' The Times, Book of the WeekIn Rabbit's Bad Habits, Bear wakes up early and decides to make a snowman. Rabbit wants to build an even better one. But with an avalanche and a hungry wolf heading his way, Rabbit realises having a friend might not be so bad after all.In The Pest in the Nest, Rabbit decides Something Simply Has To Be Done about Bear's snoring and Woodpecker's BANG!BANG!BANG! noise from up in the tree. But perhaps Bear can show Rabbit how to see the world differently.In Attack of the Snack, a Mysterious Thing lands in Rabbit and Bear's peaceful summer lake. And when Rabbit accidentally turns the Best Day Ever into the Worst Day Ever, only his friend Bear can help him turn the day around.In A Bite in the Night, even Bear is surprised: the trees seem to be flying south for the winter. There's a new creature in Rabbit and Bear's valley, and he's trying to Change Everything ... This audio omnibus is perfect for bedtime, or long journeys! Narrated by actor, writer and director Colleen Prendergast.(P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/23/2022

Flora Stormer and the Golden Lotus

Flora Stormer sets off to discover a magical flower hidden deep in the rainforest - and ends up finding . . . HERSELF! A brand-new series combining the magic and adventure of Jumanji with a message celebrating difference and self-acceptance. Flora Stormer, a talented young artist with Tourette's Syndrome, is helping her father prepare for an expedition to search for the legendary golden lotus - a plant with magical healing properties. But when her dad falls ill, Flora bravely sets sail in his place, hoping the mythical plant might save him. Equipped with her paints and a magical map, Flora treks through the rainforest, encountering dangerous animals and poisonous plants along the way. But the greatest threat she faces is from a greedy collector determined get his hands on the flower first. Can Flora and her new friends stop him from stealing the golden lotus and cursing the rainforest forever?

Date Added: 05/06/2024

Julia and the Shark

A captivating, powerful and luminous story from a bestselling, award-winning author about a mother, a daughter, and the great Greenland shark. Narrated beautifully with atmospheric sound effects, this is a perfect audiobook for 9+ fans of David Almond and Frances Hardinge.'A truly beautiful book, with text and illustrations in perfect harmony. A book to treasure!' Jacqueline Wilson'Julia and the Shark is deep, beautiful and true. The art shines and the writing soars - a classic from cover to cover' Eoin Colfer'A rich, immersive and wondrous journey, through deep darkness to hope and light' Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken LegsThe shark was beneath my bed, growing large as the room, large as the lighthouse, rising from unfathomable depths until it ripped the whole island from its roots. The bed was a boat, the shark a tide, and it pulled me so far out to sea I was only a speck, a spot, a mote, a dying star in an unending sky...Julia has followed her mum and dad to live on a remote island for the summer - her dad, for work; her mother, on a determined mission to find the elusive Greenland shark. But when her mother's obsession threatens to submerge them all, Julia finds herself on an adventure with dark depths and a lighthouse full of hope...A beautiful, lyrical, uplifting story about a mother, a daughter, and love - with timely themes of the importance of science and the environment.(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 04/25/2022

The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory

The biscuit factory in Haddie's hometown is absolutely 100% NOT a Super-Secret Science Lab. Or a portal to another dimension. With orange fluffy monsters. OH NO. DEFINITELY NOT. Or ... is it? A laugh-out-loud biscuit-bonkers adventure for fans of My Brother is a Superhero and Kid Normal. *Winner of the Northern Writers' Award*I live near a biscuit factory. Sounds like a dream come true, right? But it's not all fun and jammie dodgers. You see, the biscuit factory is really a Super-Secret Science Lab. Everyone pretends it makes biscuits. It just makes life easier. Until today. Because the biscuit factory tore a hole through dimensions, and now HUGE ORANGE MONSTERS are climbing through.Oh, and if we don't do something, the world is going to go KABLOOEY in the next thirty minutes. NOT ON MY WATCH. You coming? 'So funny you'll snort custard creams out of your nose' Mr J Dodger(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 04/25/2022

The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams

Welcome to the Shop of Impossible Ice Creams! Step inside to discover a delicious world of magical adventure, from bestselling author Shane Hegarty. First in a comic and heart-warming audio series, for 7+ fans of The Nothing to See Here Hotel and Charlie Changes into a Chicken.

Limpet's mum is opening an ice-cream shop, full of her favourite new flavours: mushroom and tuna ice cream, anyone? Roast parsnip and gravy? Limpet's not sure about this. He likes a nice, safe life. His favourite ice-cream flavour is vanilla.

But when wicked Mr Fluffy arrives with his Mega Emporium of Amazing and Spectacular Ice Creams, Limpet knows he's got to fight back. And there are magic ingredients on his doorstep which can solve all his worries, if only he can get the recipe just right….

Written by the bestselling author of Boot, this story will make you fall in love with reading.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/12/2023

Blue Bottle Mystery

The well-loved adventure story about a boy with Asperger's who finds a mysterious magic bottle...This is a warm, fun-filled fantasy story for children with a difference: the hero is Ben, a boy with Asperger Syndrome. When Ben and his friend Andy find an old bottle in the school yard, they little realize the surprises about to be unleashed in their lives. Bound up with this exciting mystery is the story of how Ben is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and how he and his family deal with the problems and joys that come along.Blue Bottle Mystery is a delight to read that is more than just another kid's book. For the first time, the issues and frustrations that a child may have with Asperger Syndrome are explored within a fictional format especially for children. Its portrayal of Ben as the central character offers other children with autistic spectrum disorders and their peers a positive role model. It is a valuable teaching tool that demystifies children with Asperger Syndrome, justifying their individuality as valid and interesting.In Blue Bottle Mystery Kathy Hoopmann has combined her love of children with her passion for fantasy literature to produce a delightful read for anyone who loves an adventure and wants a unique insight into the mind of an Asperger child.(P) 2017 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 06/06/2022