Special Collections

The Great (Food) Bank Heist

Written with great empathy and Rauf's trademark humour, The Great (Food) Bank Heist is a moving story that gives a child's-eye view of the increasing problem of food poverty.

On Thursdays, Nelson, Ashley and Mum head out to the bank. But not just any old bank—the food bank. With its shining tins and packets of food stacked from floor to ceiling, Nelson thinks it's the best kind of bank there is.

But there's a thief in town, and the shelves of the food bank are getting emptier each day, leaving people hungrier than ever. For the sake of his family and everyone else's, Nelson needs to make them stop. But can he and his friends really be the ones to catch the bank robber?

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/12/2023

The Letter with the Golden Stamp

From Onjali Q. Rauf, author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, comes another incredible story, told with humour and heart. Touching on the challenges navigated by children caring for loved ones at home, this story brings into focus their hardships and worries, alongside the unexpected, invisible sources of kindness which can change their lives.10-year-old Audrey has a secret. A secret no one - not her friends, her teachers, not even her neighbours - knows about. And to keep it hidden she has become one of the best actresses on the planet. As soon as she steps out of the front door, the show is on, and all the world becomes her stage! No-one would ever guess that she is a nurse and doctor for her mam, the family food shopper (and sometimes shoplifter), a medicines collector, and even bedtime-reader for her younger siblings.But when Audrey's mam gets sicker, things go from difficult to impossible. If Mam's condition doesn't improve, there's a chance the family will be separated. And so Audrey becomes determined to find a way of to get her mam the best treatment available, so that they won't ever need to be apart. The only problem is, the treatment will cost her thousands. Thousands that Audrey doesn't have.As Audrey sets about trying to make her dream for her family come true with a plan that involves her precious stamp collection, an unsuspecting postal system, and a journey all the way from Wales to London, someone else on the street embarks on a secret mission of their own. One that will alter Audrey's life - and that of her family - forever.

Date Added: 05/06/2024

Where Magic Grows

From Onjali Q. Raúf, author of The Boy at the Back of the Class, comes a collection of seven unique fables, filled with humour, heart and messages of hope.Have you heard the story about the bird that turned to stone? Did your parents warn you about the extra-specially-super-deliciously-fantastically naughty boy who got a frog stuck in his throat? No? Well, never fear: Onjali Q Raúf is here to entertain you with her sparkling collection of fables for kids who want to make the world a better place!Written with Onjali's trademark heart and humour, this is the perfect gift that will entertain while also gently conveying messages of hope and the power of love and compassion.Stories include: The Bird That Turned to Stone, The Extra-Specially-Super-Deliciously-Fantastically Naughty Boy (& the Secret Frog in his Throat), Francesca's Feet and the Old Man's Shoes, The Axe that Married a Tree and others.(P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/06/2024

This Book Will (Help) Make You Happy

Discover how you can cut the stress, catch up on sleep and breathe a little easier with 50 practical tips to really make you feel happier! The world is a pretty stressful place, and we all need some help reminding us to take care of ourselves. But the good news is that there are loads of easy tips and tricks to keep yourself feeling happy, from customising your own bedtime ritual to how to resolve arguments with your parents. Complete with simple breathing exercises, yoga poses and even advice on the best food to eat when you're feeling down, this is a one-stop guide to transform worried kids into happy, confident ones. Author Suzy Reading, a mum of two as well as being a chartered psychologist and yoga teacher, knows that the emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults. Funny, engaging and practical - and brought to life with illustrations by Alex Paterson - this is the ideal book to help readers cope with their emotions and face each day raring to go.(P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/31/2022

Stonebird

When ten-year-old Liam moves house to be closer to his dementia-suffering grandma, he's thrown into an unfamiliar place with a family that seems to be falling apart. Liam doesn't remember what his grandma was like before she became ill. He only knows the witch-like old woman who snaps and snarls and eats her birthday cards. He wants to fix it, but he can't. Walking his dog one day, Liam discovers an old stone gargoyle in a rundown church, and his life changes in impossible ways. The gargoyle is alive. It moves unseen in the night, acting out Liam's stories. And stories can be dangerous things... Seeking revenge against the bullies at his new school, Liam tells a story about the gargoyle attacking them. When one of them ends up in hospital, a regretful Liam vows never to go near the gargoyle again. But his grandma's illness is getting worse, his mum isn't coping, and his sister is skipping school... What if the gargoyle is the only thing that can save Liam's family?(P)2015 WF Howes Ltd

Date Added: 04/25/2022

King Flashypants Three Book Collection

The first three audiobooks in the laugh-out-loud series. 'Brilliantly original and hilarious ... it's nearly as good as one of my books' - David WalliamsIn King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor, the evil Emperor Nurbison has arrived, accompanied by scary striding music. He has had his eye on King Edwin's kingdom for some time and intends to take over! When the emperor builds a fake dragon out of a cow, green crepe paper, furry monster novelty slippers and two birthday cake candles, to scare Edwin's peasants, Edwin must come up with the first sneaky plan he's ever had in his life...King Flashypants and the Creatures from Crong: When rumours of a huge and terrifying monster called the Voolith reach Edwinland, King Edwin Flashypants decides that, to be a proper king, he needs to go and fight it. Meanwhile, Emperor Nurbison has had a similar idea, but he has a much sneakier plan for what he can do with the Voolith. And it involves squishing Edwinland.In King Flashypants and the Toys of Terror, Something weird is happening in Edwinland - Emperor Nurbison isn't evil any more! He's doing stuff like smiling and making toys of himself for the peasants. Is he up to something? Probably. But what can it be?Hold tight for three thrilling Flashypants adventure, with jousting, vegetables, fire-breathing toads and plenty of FOO-HOO-HOOing.

Date Added: 06/06/2022

Grizzly Tales

Grizzliness is out there. Every child has the makings of mischievousness, and can be lured into committing dastardly deeds. The six stories in each of the Grizzly Tales books show the rise and hard fall of vile and villainous children. In this book, unspeakable things happen to pets - but the real nasty little beasts are the children themselves, all of them get their comeuppance in the end, consigned to the Hothell Darkness...Read by Rupert Degas(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 04/14/2022

Lily Grim and the City of Undone

Lily Grim's life is a mystery. She has lived with her guardian Gabriel, in their rundown second-hand shop in the City of Undone, for as long as she can remember.

For years, the city-dwellers have lived in uneasy discord with The Others—a community of wanderers forced to shelter within the city walls, after they were driven from their nomadic camps in the wilderness. But Undone is a dark and dangerous place to live, especially if you're an Other: feared for their special gifts, they are persecuted by the cruel Master of the City, and taken to the Ring—a prison from which few ever return.

When the Master captures Gabriel and throws him into the Ring, Lily is saved by a young Other boy called Dekka. He introduces her to a whole Otherworld that exists beneath the City of Undone. To her astonishment Lily discovers she is an Other, too—with powerful gifts—and is now in grave danger: because the Master wants her dead. But why?

Can Lily find answers about who she is, and where she's from. And can the new friends rescue Gabriel, before it's too late?

Date Added: 05/12/2023

Floodland

A gripping, prizewinning novel about a girl surviving in a devastated world.

Imagine that a few years from now England is covered by water, and Norwich is an island. Zoe, left behind in the confusion when her parents escaped, survives there as best she can. Alone and desperate among marauding gangs, she manages to dig a derelict boat out of the mud and gets away to Eels Island. But Eels Island, whose raggle-taggle inhabitants are dominated by the strange boy Dooby, is full of danger too.

The belief that she will one day find her parents spurs Zoe on to a dramatic escape in a story of courage and determination that is handled with warmth and humanity.

This book was the winner of the Branford Boase Award 2001 and marked the start of author Marcus Sedgwick's multi-award-winning career.

(P) 2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited and Listening Library

Date Added: 05/12/2023

Don't Cook Cinderella

It's just an ordinary day at Mother Goose's Academy. There's Miss Good Fairy teaching the Three Little Pigs, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood to read and write, while Miss Bad Fairy is inciting the Ugly Sisters, the Big Bad Wolf, Troll, Wicked Stepmother, Wicked Witch and Jealous Queen to gobble them all up. The result? Chaos!Witty, fast-paced and anarchic, this is a complete story with ten short chapters ('C.A.T. Spells Dog', 'What Troll Learned', 'Snakes and Snails for Lunch') that take us through the school day. This is a wonderful romp that Horrid Henry fans will revel in.'[Simon Russell Beale's] Big Bad Wolf is growlier than Marlon Brando, and his Jealous Queen more languorous than a casting-couch seductress. Inviting mimicry , too, are the snorts of the three little pigs and the lip-smacking 'yumyumyum' of the nasty but dim Troll' Daily Telegraph(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Do You Speak English Moon

A little boy getting ready for bed looks up at the moon and wonders whether it can speak English as it shines all over the world. He tells the moon about his day - it's not lonely falling asleep when you share your day's adventures with the moon.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman

Building a snowman brings out Henry's competitive streak; he sets up his Monstrous Makeovers business to rival Moody Margaret's Miraculous Makeovers; things go badly wrong when a famous author comes to school; and he thinks 'You'll all be sorry when I'm dead' and spends a rainy day writing his will.Read by Miranda Richardson(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse

Four hilarious unabridged stories with really horrid music and sound effects:Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse Horrid Henry's HobbyHorrid Henry's Homework Horrid Henry's Swimming LessonRead by Miranda Richardson(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry and the Secret Club

Includes four hilarious unabridged stories with really horrid music and sound effects :-Horrid Henry's InjectionHorrid Henry and the Secret ClubPerfect Peter's Horrid DayHorrid Henry's Birthday PartyRead by Miranda Richardson(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry and the Zombie Vampire

Four new stories in which Horrid Henry terrorizes his classmates at a school sleepover in the museum; plays with Perfect Peter and tricks him into handing over all his money; gets out of writing his own story for Miss Battle-Axe by adapting one of Peter's; and meets the Nudie Foodie, a celebrity chef, who comes to the school to improve school dinners. No more burgers! No more chips!Read by Miranda Richardson(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry Gets Rich Quick

These are the stories of Horrid Henry 'the child that every teacher has nightmares about. Four complete and unabridged stories with really horrid music and sound effects:Horrid Henry has a bad day and runs away - only to be lured back by pancakes. He cheats in every possible way at sports day. He thinks of a novel way to get rich quick and ensures by devious means he gets what he wants for Christmas.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry's Haunted House

These are the stories of Horrid Henry, the child that every teacher has nightmares about. This download inlcudes four unabridged stories with really horrid music and effects:-Horrid Henry and the Comfy Black ChairHorrid Henry's Haunted HouseHorrid Henry's New Teacher Horrid Henry Minds his MannersRead by Miranda Richardson(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry's Krazy Ketchup

The 23rd Horrid Henry storybook containing four brand new stories - including Horrid Henry's Ketchup, Horrid Henry's Chicken, The Revenge of the Bogey Babysitter and Horrid Henry Tells It Like It Is.Discover the one thing Horrid Henry is scared of, watch out for the return of Rabid Rebecca, find out what happens when Henry makes a film about his family and lots more in the most hilarious and horrid storybook yet. Horrid Henry is illustrated by Tony Ross, who also illustrates David Walliams' children's books, as well as his own picture books.Read by Miranda Richardson. Miranda Richardson has appeared in films such as THE HOURS, SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE CRYING GAME, EMPIRE OF THE SUN and HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. TV work includes A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME, JACKANORY, Queen Elizabeth in BLACKADDER and Queen Mary in THE LOST PRINCE. She has won two Spoken Word awards for her inspired readings of HORRID HENRY AND THE SECRET CLUB and HORRID HENRY'S STINKBOMB audiobooks for Orion.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry's Nightmare

Four hilarious new HH stories - HH's Mother's Day, probably not the day his mum looks forward to most in the year, HH's Nightmare where Henry's chased by a ghost bunny with huge teeth, a wailing graveyard ghost and, for good measure, a slimy zombie, then a new story about one of his greatest enemies in The Return of the Demon Dinner lady and last but not least Fluffy Struts Her Stuff.Read by Miranda Richardson. Miranda Richardson has appeared in films such as THE HOURS, SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE CRYING GAME, EMPIRE OF THE SUN and HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. TV work includes A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME, JACKANORY, Queen Elizabeth in BLACKADDER and Queen Mary in THE LOST PRINCE. She has won two Spoken Word awards for her inspired readings of HORRID HENRY AND THE SECRET CLUB and HORRID HENRY'S STINKBOMB audiobooks for Orion.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry's Revenge

Wickedly subversive, hilariously funny and bang up to date, Horrid Henry's fame is spreading. In this collection, enhanced by Miranda Richardson's inspired reading and really horrid music and sound effects, Henry accompanies his father to the office, hacks into his parents' computer, meets the Demon Dinner Lady and plans the ultimate revenge on Perfect Peter.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy

Four hilarious unabridged stories with really horrid music and sound effects:Horrid Henry tries to fool the Tooth Fairy into giving him some money despite the fact that his teeth appear to be "superglued to his gums".He creates havoc as a pageboy at a wedding.He gets rid of Moody Margaret, an unwanted guest.He "breaks in" the new teacher.Read by Miranda Richardson

Date Added: 03/30/2022

Opal Moonbaby: Opal Moonbaby

Martha's decided friends are stupid. Especially if they're anything like Colette and Chloe. She never wants another friend. Ever.But it's the first day of the summer holidays, and there's not that much to do... until she spots a strange little furry creature who leads her to Opal Moonbaby. Opal's been sent down from her planet on a mission: to work out what on earth people are (and my goodness - people are strange) and to make a friend.Read by Chris Barrie. To his legions of fans across the world, Chris is best known as Rimmer - the Red Dwarf character who made love only once in his life. To others he is Hilary, Angelina Jolie's butler in Tomb Raider; or Gordon Brittas, the most irritating manager in the history of the British leisure centre industry. After moving to London from his native Northern Ireland, Chris started out in the comedy clubs as an impressionist then he was picked up by the producers of Spitting Image, and he went on to provide the voices for a stream of characters from HRH Prince Charles to Paul Daniels. Other acting roles include the part of Alexander Pope in the Channel 4 production of Handel: Honour, Profit and Pleasure, Zastrozzi, televised in April 1986 and a lead role in Plague of Goodness, the controversial Radio 4 Monday Play.(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 04/21/2022

The Dragon Diary

The fire-breathing fiction series continues! Two young dragonologists set off on a daring, wing-borne mission — while rushing to crack an ancient Dragonish code. Fresh from recovering the Dragon's Eye, apprentice dragonologists Daniel and Beatrice Cook eagerly await the hatching of the dragon's egg in their care. But just as the shell begins to crack, their mentor, Dr. Ernest Drake, is called off to India to look for their missing parents and tend to the gravely ill naga dragons they've left behind. Meanwhile, the siblings receive a tip that the secret to curing dragons may lie in an age-old Dragon Diary, if only they could decipher it! Dragon lovers will soar breathlessly along with the plucky pair as (dragon baby in tow) they fly away on the furtive Dragon Express, traversing the globe on one dragon after another while struggling to solve the mystery of the Dragon Diary — before it's too late.

Date Added: 05/23/2022

The Dragon's Eye

THE DRAGON'S EYE tells the story of Dr Drake, the world famous dragonologist working in London and Sussex. When two young apprentice dragonologists, Beatrice and Daniel Cook, are taken into his care to attend his Dragonology summer school, all sorts of trouble ensues. The three must deal with wayward dragons, missing diaries and the evil antics of the terrible Ignatius Crook, who is intent on stealing the dragon's eye and claiming the title of Dragon Master for himself. This brilliant novel, spanning the British Isles, brings to life many of the elements that fascinated readers in Dragonology. Find out more about SASD - the Secret and Ancient Society of Dragonologists - meet some dragons in the flesh, hear them tell their own secrets and learn all about dragons and how to keep an indispensable dragon.

Date Added: 05/23/2022

Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories

'The wonderful Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories collects, for the first time, nine festive stories originally written for annuals and magazines in the 1940s and 1950s . . . As ever, Streatfeild's children always feel utterly real and relatable. A beautifully produced treat' Anna Carey, Irish Times In this captivating collection of stories by the author of Ballet Shoes, there are auditions on stage and antics on ice, trips to the pantomime, holiday adventures, and laughter shared with family and friends. Charming, heartwarming and funny, this collection will bring joy to readers of all ages.Originally written in 1940s-60s for annuals, magazines and the radio, these stories have never been collected before.With enchanting line drawings by by Peter Bailey.Stories include:The AuditionThe Bells Keep Twelfth NightThe Moss RoseThimbleThe PrincessThe ChainChristmas at CollersThe Pantomime GooseSkating to the Stars

Date Added: 05/17/2022