Recommended Reads for Year 3

Classics

Charlotte’s Web

On foggy mornings, Charlotte's web was truly a thing of beauty . Even Lurvy, who wasn't particularly interested in beauty, noticed the web when he came with the pig's breakfast.

And then he took another look and he saw something that made him set his pail down. There, in the centre of the web, neatly woven in block letters, was a message. It said: SOME PIG!This is the story of a little girl named Fern, who loves a little pig named Wilbur - and of Wilbur's dear friend, Charlotte, a beautiful large grey spider.

When Fern's uncle decrees that Wilbur must become bacon, Fern, Charlotte, Templeton the rat and all Wilbur's farmyard friends come up with an ingenious plan to fool the humans, and save their very special pig. Joyful, funny, and deeply moving, Charlotte's Web is a story about the power of friendship, and celebrating what makes everyone special. It is rightly heralded as one of the greatest children's books ever written.

Varjak Paw

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

The BFG

One dark, silvery moonlit night, Sophie is snatched from her bed by a giant!Luckily it is the Big Friendly Giant (the BFG), who is no ordinary bone-crunching giant, but instead prefers snozzcumbers and frobscottle to children. But there are other giants in Giant Country. And those giants have a plan to gallop far and wide to find some tasty human beans to eat.

Can Sophie and the BFG stop them?The text in this edition of The BFG was updated in 2022 for young independent readers.

The Sheep Pig

When Babe, the little orphaned piglet, is won at a fair by Farmer Hogget, he is adopted by Fly, the kind-hearted sheep-dog. Babe is determined to learn everything he can from Fly. He knows he can't be a sheep-dog.

But maybe, just maybe, he might be a sheep-pig.

The Abominables

How do you smuggle a family of yetis from Tibet to England? When Agatha Farlingham is kidnapped by a yeti on a mountain in Tibet, she soon discovers that the hairy monster is clever and noble. His children are in danger from the modern world and he needs her help.

She sends them on a top-secret journey to England and the safety of her ancestral home. But first she must teach them some manners.

Fantasy

Dragon Force

Twelve-year-old Lance Lo, his younger sister Zoe and new friends haven enrolled at Camp Claw to learn all the skills they need to become protectors of the new world. But when the camp is mysteriously attacked and an evil plot exposed, it’s up to the latest recruits to prove they’ve got what it takes to save the day!

Amelia Fang & the Barbaric Ball

Meet Amelia Fang! Everyone’s favourite little vampire. Welcome to the world of Nocturnia, where darkness reigns supreme, glitter is terrifying, and unicorns are the stuff of nightmares! Amelia Fang would much rather hang out with her pet pumpkin Squashy and her friends Florence the yeti (DON'T CALL HER BEAST!) and Grimaldi the reaper than dance at her parents' annual Barbaric Ball. And when the King’s spoiled son Tangine captures Squashy, Amelia and her friends must escape the party to plan a daring rescue! In their race against time, they begin to realise things in Nocturnia may not be quite what they seem … Join Amelia on her very first adventure.

The Legend of Podkin One-Ear

A thick white blanket covers the wide slopes of the band of hills known as the Razorback Downs… Podkin is the son of a warrior chieftain. He knows that one day it will be up to him to lead his warren and guard it in times of danger. But for now, he's quite happy to laze around annoying his older sister Paz, and playing with his baby brother Pook. Then Podkin's home is brutally attacked, and the young rabbits are forced to flee.

The terrifying Gorm are on the rampage, and no one and nowhere is safe. With danger all around them, Podkin must protect his family, uncover his destiny, and attempt to defeat the most horrifying enemy rabbitkind has ever known.

The Lost Happy Endings

What would happen if we lost the happy endings to stories - imagine the tears at bedtime! A fantastic and magical tale about what happens when, one night, a wicked witch steals the happy endings to bedtime stories. It is up to Jub, the keeper of the happy endings, to save the day and ensure sweet dreams everywhere in this lyrical story about storytelling. In the tradition of classic fairy tales for children, Carol Ann Duffy and Jane Ray have created a truly compelling, surprising and beautiful story for children of all ages.

The Naughtiest Unicorn

What would happen if we lost the happy endings to stories - imagine the tears at bedtime! A fantastic and magical tale about what happens when, one night, a wicked witch steals the happy endings to bedtime stories. It is up to Jub, the keeper of the happy endings, to save the day and ensure sweet dreams everywhere in this lyrical story about storytelling. In the tradition of classic fairy tales for children, Carol Ann Duffy and Jane Ray have created a truly compelling, surprising and beautiful story for children of all ages.

Adventure

Ten-year-old Ray Grey lives in the magical Weatherlands, high in the sky. Ray is surrounded by Weatherlings with astounding weather power at their fingertips… but she doesn't have ANY magic! Then, after a trip to Earth, Ray’s life changes forever. She is transformed from Ray Grey into RAINBOW GREY! With the help of her best friends (and exploding cloud cat, Nim) now all Ray has to do is master her powers AND save the world from a mysterious, powerful enemy.

Leonora Bolt Secret Inventor

Leonora Bolt spends her days creating incredible inventions in her TOP SECRET laboratory, under the watchful eye of her terrifying uncle. Everything changes one day when a strange boy washes up on an inflatable lobster and reveals that Uncle Luther has been stealing her inventions and selling them on the mainland. Leonora, armed with her most important inventions, must leave Crabby Island for the first time EVER to embark on an unforgettable journey that will test her brainpower to its limits.

With the help of an otter with a special skilll, a questionable cook and a singing sea captain, can Leonora dream up an invention that will defeat her evil uncle once and for all?

Race to Fire Mountain

Destiny is Calling... When Jarell discovers that the fantasy world he is obsessed with doodling is actually real, he is launched into an incredible adventure. Ulfrika, the land of his ancestors, is in trouble and he is the hero they need.
With the help of brave and wise-cracking Kimisi, Jarell must stop the evil Ikala. The future of Ulfrika depends on it... A winning blend of future tech gadgets and a fantasy world inspired by the mythology of Africa and its diaspora.

My Brother is a Superhero

Luke is a comic-mad eleven-year old who shares a treehouse with his geeky older brother, Zack. Luke's only mistake is to go for a wee right at the wrong time.

While he's gone, an alien gives his undeserving, never-read-a-comic-in-his-life brother superpowers and then tells him to save the universe. Luke is massively annoyed about this, but when Zack is kidnapped by his arch-nemesis, Luke and his friends have only five days to find him and save the world...

The Wild Robot

The heartwarming and action-packed illustrated novel exploring what happens when nature and technology collide. When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is - but she knows she needs to survive.

After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realises that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home - until, one day, her mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

Mystery

Libby & the Parisian Puzzle

Mystery-lover Libby is excited but nervous when she's sent to live with her aunt while her mother is working abroad. Aunt Agatha is the headmistress of an extraordinary travelling school that moves from country to country. Libby joins it in Paris, where she is just starting to find her feet when her aunt is arrested, accused of a daring jewel robbery.

Can Libby and her new best friend Connie find the real thief and save her aunt?

The Arrowhead Moor Adventure

For Aiden, Chloe, Ava and Josh, holidays at their grandparents' cottage mean wild beaches, no curfew, Bella the dog, and most of all - adventure! A picnic at a stately home takes a suspicious turn when the cousins discover a jewel heist unfolding around them. But how can they take down a gang of clever thieves when all they've got is their bikes and a very risky plan? By being braver, smarter, and sneakier than the villains they're chasing…

Detective Stanley & the Mystery at the Museum

Detective Stanley has barely sat down for his breakfast pancakes when he receives an invitation he cannot refuse. The Art Museum has been raided on the opening day of the Bleat Mondrian show and Stan has been called to investigate.

The most perplexing thing about the case: Nothing has been stolen! But now Stanley finds himself in a tight spot even his powers of deduction could not detect. Can he get himself out of trouble and can he solve the mystery of the Art Museum?

Murder at the Museum

Many people go their whole lives without noticing anything that is afoot, amiss, or even untoward; without ever experiencing that toe-tingling, stomach-twisting sensation that a mystery is about to unfold. Not Bonnie Montgomery – the world’s best detective.

Not that anyone (other than Grampa Banks) has heard of her… But they might have heard of the great Montgomery Bonbon, the well-dressed gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. Their newest case: solving the mystery surrounding a highly suspicious death at the Hornville Museum. Together they'll interview some dodgy witnesses, scour the scene for clues and – above all – hope no one notices that Bonnie and Montgomery are never in the same room at the same time...

Space Detectives

Dog lost in space? Grown an extra head and don't know why? Pocket money stolen by a green blob? You need the Space Detectives!Connor and Ethan are spending their summer holidays aboard the world's first orbiting city, Starville (basically Beverley Hills in space!). The amazing space station is bursting with celebrities and the mega-rich. But Connor and Ethan are too busy selling ice cream to see the sights.

However, neither of our heroes can resist a mystery and when they discover the space station is hurtling on a collision course with the moon (eep!) they know they need to step in. This is a case for the SPACE DETECTIVES!Can Connor and Ethan find the culprit and save Starville from its impending doom?

Funny

Diary of a Big Bad Wolf

I need to raise my game again now spring is here, and get back in shape. Show the pack and the rest of these woods I’m BIG and I’m BAD, and I’m not to be messed with.' The big bad wolf hasn’t had a great winter. He's cold, lonely and hungry… But things are about to change – he’s going to take the Fairytale Woods by STORM. But while he knows he’s BIG and BAD, no one else seems to be scared of him, they just keep meddling with his plans – the troll under the bridge, the three annoying pigs, and that pesky Little Red Riding Hood! This is going to take all his brain power and his most cunning smile, to catch Grandma and reclaim his place at the top of the food chain!

Fairy Vs Boy

Before you read my diary here is some stuff you need to know: 1 I’m 11 years old 2 I love drawing cartoons 3 I have two pet rats called Tony and Noah. 4 I also have a FAIRY called Stink. Danny Todd is desperate to be normal and fit in at school so he isn’t happy when he opens a fairy door and a REAL fairy flies out.

Stink turns Danny’s life upside down. She hides in his hair, swims in his cereal, rides his rats and accidentally shrinks his best friend. Danny HAS to get rid of Stink, but she won’t go away until he’s helped her earn gold nuggets to get new wings.

Can Danny help Stink do a good deed or is he going to be stuck with his fairy forever?

The Great Crisp Robbery

Izzy and friends are excited to find that their school trip involves an overnight train ride. But when they get on board, they're shocked to discover that EVERYTHING is STRANGE. And the BUNK BEDS are TINY!And then their teacher disappears...

OH NO! Miss Jones has been kidnapped! EVERYONE PANIC!!!

An Alien in the Jam Factory

Scooter McLay’s cerebral palsy affects how quickly he can move his body, but his hyper-creative brain is a constant fizz of brilliant ideas. He spends every day inventing top secret recipes and machines for his family’s jam factory. There’s just one thing missing ... a pet, to share it all with. Or better still, a friend.

When a tiny alien named Fizzbee crashes through the factory window, she might just be the answer. Now it’s all hands on deck, as they team up to save the factory from dastardly neighbour Daffy Dodgy.

Rex Dinosaur in Disguise

Rex is king of the dinosaurs: carnivores want to be him and herbivores want to be eaten by him... That is, until a pesky Ice Age comes along and he winds up frozen solid in a glacier. When he wakes up, 65 million years later, human beings rule the roost – and if they get their hands on Rex, he'll wind up in a zoo. (Or, worse: a MUSEUM.)Lucky for him, Rex isn't the only undercover creature in town. He's whisked out of danger by the one and only Bigfoot, who has been surviving among the humans undetected for years.

Bigfoot and his friends show Rex how to get by in the humans' world, and soon there's only one thing left for him to do: GET A JOB. But that's easier said than done ... and with a meddling nine-year-old neighbour to deal with, and the constant risk of discovery, life couldn't be harder for a dinosaur in disguise.

Animal Stories

Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable

Squirrel and Duck might seem strange housemates but they are drawn together by their secret – they are the only two talking animals in the world.

When bulldozers arrive to redevelop the abandoned theme park they call home, they flee with nothing but Mr Spikes, Duck’s beloved ‘pet’ cactus. Overhearing a conversation between two nincompoop art thieves puts them on the trail of untold riches (according to Squirrel) or a great deed to help the nation (as far as Duck’s concerned).

A Hedgehog Called Snuffle

Jasmine's dad is a farmer, and her mum is a vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble.

Unfortunately, this often means she gets into hot water herself... Jasmine is delighted to be nursing an injured hedgehog back to health until, on the afternoon of Bonfire Night, Snuffle escapes. As darkness falls and everyone prepares their bonfire celebrations, can Jasmine find Snuffle's hiding place before the first match is lit?

The Boy Who Met a Whale

Razi, a local fisherboy, is watching turtle eggs hatch when he sees a boat bobbing into view. With a chill, he notices a small, still hand hanging over the side...

Inside is Zheng, who's escaped a shipwreck and is full of tales of sea monsters and missing treasure. But the villains who are after Zheng are soon after Razi and his sister, Shifa, too. And so begins an exhilarating adventure in the shadow of the biggest sea monster of them all...

Bad Panda

Are you sick of being utterly adorable?Tired of being cuddled and hugged?Fed up of having your head confused for your bottom because you just so happen to be SOOOOPER-DOOOOOPER fluffy?Lin: If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you're in the right book. Everyone thinks that Lin is the cutest panda in the world. So much so that they ship her off to the local zoo, away from her beloved brother, to be ogled at by the masses.

But Lin HATES being cute, and now she will do everything in her power to prove that she's the baddest, meanest, most un-cute animal in the zoo.

Einstein the Penguin

When the Stewarts spend a sunny, frosty December day at London Zoo, they’re enchanted by one small penguin. At the delight of young Imogen and Arthur, Mrs Stewart insists the penguin “must come and stay with them whenever he likes.” But not one Stewart expects the penguin to turn up at their door that evening, rucksack labelled “Einstein” on his back… The family’s new feathered friend helps Arthur to come out of his shell and makes massive demands on Imogen’s amateur sleuthing.

But together they must find out why Einstein came to them and they must keep away from the mysterious white-coat man. And Einstein can’t stay forever, can he…?

Our World

The Lost Book of Adventure

If you are reading this, it means my notebooks have been found.

I am leaving them here at camp for safekeeping along with a few other belongings that I won’t be taking with me. The notebooks are a lifetime’s worth of knowledge, which I’m passing on the you. So reads an excerpt from the weatherworn letter discovered by nature enthusiast Teddy Keen on a recent trip to the Amazon, along with sketchbooks filled with details of extraordinary adventures and escapades, expedition advice and survival methods, annotated with captivating coloured-pencil drawings.

It is thought that the sketchbooks were created for two young relatives of the author. Drawing on Teddy’s knowledge of the outdoors, the pages of the sketchbooks have been carefully transcribed for young readers, as they were originally intended.  You’ll be transported by riveting adventure tales from around the globe, like being dragged off by a hyena in Botswana, surviving a Saharan dust storm, being woken by an intrepid emperor penguin in Antarctica and coming face-to-face with a venomous bushmaster (one of the most dangerous snakes on the planet) – all told in lyrical prose and illustrations that wonder at the mysterious beauty of the wild.

Spin to Survive: Frozen Mountain

You are about to embark on a dangerous adventure. With this game in a book, use the pop-out Survival Spinner to learn your fate as you face peril after peril in a wild, rugged landscape. You become lost in the mountains after an emergency landing.

Among the snowy peaks, you are at risk from dangers including falling victim to hypothermia, being buried by an avalanche or stumbling into a deep crevasse. In your backpack, you have a sleeping bag, a thermal roll-mat, a bottle of water, a bag of nuts, waterproof matches, a pair of binoculars, a camera, a first aid kit and an old survival journal belonging to your grandfather. As you confront each life-threatening challenge in this adventure-filled game book, place the Survival Spinner found inside the cover of the book on one of the circles on your current page, and spin.

The place where the spinner points when it stops tells you if you have survived, are still living but injured or that you have perished, with a corresponding page number to turn to for each fate. Throughout, you will learn about real-life survival techniques, including how to: Make a snow shelter Build a fire Survive a bear attack Treat a wound Use the sun and moon to navigate Cross a frozen lake Harrowing tales of real-life wilderness survivors provide glimmers of hope as you deal with the consequences of your choices. One bad decision could lead to disaster…

Keisha Jones Takes on the World

Brimming with ideas and passion, Keisha's determined to stamp down injustices and stand up for what she believes. When Grandpa Joe tells Keisha about Great Aunt Bee, who was a lawyer and an activist, Keisha is determined to follow in her footsteps. Forming the Bee Squad, she enlists her friends KD and Paisley to help put an end to inequality.

Soon they have their first cause. Incensed by the fact that her local pet shop is selling male rabbits for more than female ones, Keisha lobbies the manager who explains that he's overrun with female rabbits. The cheaper price is just a sales incentive. Uh-uh. It's time to stand up for rabbits' rights. But mixing up the bunnies has consequences far beyond those Keisha could have imagined!

Princess Olivia Investigates the Sea of Plastic

Everyone talks about how powerful the oceans are, how huge, how mysterious, all those underwater creatures living down there in the deep. But they've got no one to stand up for them!Olivia Alez is loving her life away from the royal palace. Now she isn't a princess anymore she's even more determined to be a science investigator, finding out things about the world around her.

When she goes to visit her uncle Cassander for a holiday, she realises there's a huge problem. The oceans are filled with rubbish, and she can't see any fish swimming about. They're nothing like the bright blue seas full of life that she's seen before. When Captain Max and his parrot turn up, Olivia and her best friend Ravi decide that getting on board their pirate ship as they hunt for treasure might be a good way to find out what's going on in the water. But they quickly realise that they've got more to discover than they ever imagined…

The Panda’s Child

In a faraway forest a baby is lost and found, protected by a she-panda. Nine years later another baby, the panda's child, is in great danger, and only a boy and the spirit of the forest can save him. This magical, powerful story by Jackie Morris, co-creator of The Lost Words, and award-winning illustrator Cathy Fisher, is a book for all ages to treasure, exploring our most vital connection with wild nature.

Friends & Family

Ballet Besties Yara’s Chance to Dance

Pirouette your way into the Shimmer & Shine dance studio, where the ballet besties are ready to put on a show!When Yara joins Shimmer & Shine, a community dance school, she meets lots of other children her age, who are there to either start their training or just for the fun of it. Soon she has a group of ballet besties she loves to dance with. But then Dame Clougston-Wilmott, their grumpy, dance-hating landlady, threatens to close the studio.

Suddenly it's up to Yara and her new friends to keep Shimmer & Shine open!Will putting on a performance of The Sleeping Beauty reawaken the Dame's love for dance? Will Yara have the chance to dance her dream role of Aurora? And most importantly of all, can the ballet besties save their studio?

Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts

Sam Wu is NOT a scaredy-cat (except he is).

When a trip to the Space Museum goes terrifyingly wrong, Sam begins a mission to prove to the school bully, and all of his friends, that he is a fearless space adventurer. A truly laugh-out-loud, voice-led and madcap story of ghost hunting, snakes and mischievous pet cats called Butterbutt

The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife

Scarlett Fife has BIG FEELINGS. And when she has BIG FEELINGS, they explode out of her like an over-squeezed stress ball. Scarlett's in big trouble after a BIG FEELINGS episode leads to a runaway hamster getting into the vicar's trousers at her aunty's engagement party.

If she loses her temper ONE MORE TIME, she's going to miss out on her trip to Mega Awesome Sicky Fun World, the best theme park on the planet. But feelings are like slime in a party bag. No matter how much someone tells you to keep it in, it'll always find its way out. And very soon, Scarlett notices that every time she pushes her feelings down, something explodes. Like ... really, properly explodes.

It might be her teacher's slimy green smoothie. A huge pot of purple paint. Or a massive pile of elephant poo at the zoo. And let's hope Scarlett doesn't get mad at Aunty's wedding - that wedding cake is HUGE ...

Charlie Changes into a Chicken

Charlie McGuffin has an incredible secret… He can change into animals. All sorts of animals: a flea, a pigeon, even a rhino. Trouble is, he can't decide when - it only happens when he gets worried.

And right now, Charlie has quite a lot to worry about:· His brother (who is in hospital)· His parents (who are panicking about it)· And the school bully (who has Charlie in his sights)And even though every kid wants a superhero power, Charlie isn't keen on changing into a chicken in the middle of the school play. So with the help of his three best friends, Charlie needs to find a way of dealing with his crazy new power - and fast!

The Accidental Diary of B.U.G

Meet Billie Upton Green and her VERY accidental diary - and don't you DARE call her B.U.G!Billie has taken the new girl at school under her wing. She'll teach her the important stuff - Biscuit Laws, Mrs Patterson and of course where to sneakily eat a Jaffa Cake. She might even get invited to the EVENT OF THE YEAR (Billie's mums' are getting married).

But then suspicion sets in. The new girl seems VERY close to Billie's best friend Layla. And she knows a LOT about the big school heist - the theft of Mrs Robinson's purse. But, Billie is on to her. Well, as long as Patrick doesn't catch her eating biscuits first.

Non Fiction

The Street Beneath My Feet

When you’re out walking around, whether on the city streets or a country trail, there’s always so much to see and hear. But do you ever stop and look down? Have you ever wondered what’s going on deep in the ground under your feet? There are so many amazing sights to see! One side of the foldout shows the ground beneath the city, whilst the reverse side shows the ground beneath the countryside.

The underground scenes include tunnels and pipes, creatures’ burrows, layers of rock and the planet’s molten core, each running seamlessly into the next. Mixing urban and rural settings, covering subjects such as geology, archaeology and natural history, The Street Beneath My Feet offers children the opportunity to explore their world through a detailed learning experience. And its foldout, laperello (or concertina) style, which extends to 2.5 metres in length, is ideal for spreading out on the floor to pore over for hours.

A Day in the Life of a Caveman, a Queen and Everything in Between

The hilarious minds behind A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You have teamed up once again – this time to give a taste of the daily lives of the people, animals and objects who made history. Featuring a day in the life of early humans as they paint mammoths on the walls of a cave, a fierce gladiator battling in the Colosseum and the first woman in space.

And not forgetting the animals of history – from an Egyptian cat (worshipped as a god, of course) to an albatross flying over Rapa Nui and a dog in the trenches of the First World War. Readers can also discover the stories behind famous constructions, including the Great Wall of China and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and delve into the secret diaries of a Viking, Isaac Newton’s cat and the wooden panel that became the Mona Lisa.

The Universe

Take a journey through the solar system and on towards distant clusters of stars with the ultimate guide to the universe. This spectacular reference book for children aged 7-9 explores the vast universe, beginning with the Big Bang and looking forward to the future of space travel. The Universe covers the planets of the Solar System, comets, nebulae, constellations, types of galaxies, space missions, and much more, showcasing amazing astrophotography that brings each topic to life.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World

Kate Pankhurst, descendent of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, has created a wildly wonderful and accessible book about women who really changed the world. Discover fascinating facts about some of the most amazing women who changed the world we live in!· Fly high with incredible explorer and pilot Amelia Earhart· Discover the Wonderful Adventures of medical pioneer Mary Seacole· Fight for your rights with legendary civil rights activist Rosa Parks· Change the face of books forever with superstar novelist Jane Austen

A Street Through Time

Have you ever wondered what your street was like thousands of years ago? This illustrated history book for children takes you on a 12,000-year journey to find out the story of a single street. Think of the street you live on. Now think of how it may have looked in the Stone Age in 10,000 BCE, or in Victorian times during the Industrial Revolution, or how it may look 50 years from now.

There’s No Such Thing as a Silly Question

A brilliantly silly question-and-answer book, fact-checked by world-leading experts from across the University of Cambridge. Did you know that there's no set number of bones in the human body? Most babies are born with around 300 bones, but by the time they've grown up, they usually have between 206 and 213. Covering a range of subjects from science, technology, engineering and mathematics to evolution, zoology, social history and more, this hilarious yet clever book expertly answers 213 of the most unusual and interesting questions you never thought to ask about the world - one for at least every bone in your body! There really is no such thing as a silly question.

Poetry

Out of This World

What would it be like to live in the future? Or underwater? What would you do if you could go back in time? Or be a cat? Or a blood cell? What would happen if a monster ate every letter of the alphabet? In this extraordinary collection of brand new poems, beloved writer and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen will make you laugh, make you smile, make you think, and take you out of this world.

Smile Out Loud

From the fantastic duo behind Poems Aloud comes twenty five original poems designed to be read aloud to project confidence, conjure happiness, make you laugh or cheer others up. Some are odes, some can be said as personal mantras or just poems full of words that you can't help but smile when you hear them. This is a book for any child who wants to build confidence reading aloud, or wants a way to channel their speech and drama confidence.

It is a book to foster a love of words and the power that comes with the spoken word. It will show children how speaking a poem aloud has a certain magic, almost like reading a spell.  Poems can be read aloud to an audience, muttered quietly to oneself or whispered in the ear of someone who needs to hear some cheerful words. 

Apes to Zebras

This gorgeous collection of animal poems from Roger Stevens, Liz Brownlee and Sue Hardy-Dawson will entrance and delight in equal measure. Combining poetry with art, these wonderful words are arranged to cleverly bring a variety of animals to life on the page!Featuring a full alphabet of animals, birds, and insects, with the odd extinct or imaginary creature thrown in, these beautiful shape poems are a perfect way to introduce children to poetry. Some funny, some serious, there is something here for everyone.

The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods

Rene's dreams have finally come true! She's opened a café beside an enchanted wood, and with the help of a newfound waiter, Glumfoot, she is ready to serve the finest cuisine! But the locals seem to favour a most peculiar palette, requesting all sorts of disgusting things. Can Glumfoot's quick-thinking save the day? Join Rene and Glumfoot in this incredible other-worldly story full of magical humour, mythical creatures and culinary curiosities.

My Heart Was a Tree

Discover the beauty and wonder of trees in this stunningly illustrated collection of poetry and stories celebrating trees and what they mean to the world around us . . .

Inspired by the woods around his home, the mighty forests that support our life on Earth, and the Ted Hughes poem which gives this book its title, My Heart Was a Tree is a celebration, and Sir Michael Morpurgo's love letter to trees. There are stories from an ancient olive remembering Odysseus and Penelope, and from a eucalyptus that gave shelter to a koala; from a piece of driftwood that was made into a chair, and from a tiny sapling carried by a refugee as a reminder of home. These are poems and stories that will amuse, move and energise families and readers of all ages to appreciate the beauty and wonder of trees.

Graphic Novels

Peng and Spanners

When the school pizza parlour disappears and a giant robot suddenly appears, Pengtastic and Spanners know that only they can help the headmaster find his parlour before the school inspectors arrive and shut him down. There's just one massive pesky robot to defeat, Cinderella the caretaker, who roars about rules and an incredible jail break to get out of first.

Agents of S.U.I.T

Meet Cilantro the Chameleon! Newly appointed Agent of S.U.I.T!*Cilantro finally has a chance to prove herself… but her first big case is OUT OF THIS WORLD.

As she begins to uncover a sheep-led worker’s rights revolt and an alien invasion conspiracy, can Cilantro earn her V.E.S.T.** and catch the bad guys?

Pizazz

Being a superhero is the best thing ever, right? WRONG!HELLO! My name is Pizazz and I’m a superhero…You probably think that's really AWESOME and while it can be, it's also REEEEEEEAAALLLLY annoying. Don’t believe me? Well, I have to wear the same outfit ALL THE TIME?! I'm always dashing off to save the world right in the middle of fun stuff.

Plus I have to be the good guy even when I might not want to be. And sometimes I just want to be, well, normal. You see, it’s not easy being SUPER …PS. DON’T even ask me about my super “POWER”…

The Bad Guys

They sound like the Bad Guys, they look like the Bad Guys... and they even smell like the Bad Guys. But Mr Wolf, Mr Piranha, Mr Snake and Mr Shark are about to change all of that — whether you want them to or not! EPISODE ONE: THE BAD GUYS Mr Wolf has a daring plan for the Bad Guys' first good mission. The gang are going to break 200 dogs out of the Maximum Security City Dog Pound.

Will Operation Dog Pound go smoothly? Will the Bad Guys become the Good Guys? And will Mr Snake please stop swallowing Mr Piranha? EPISODE TWO: MISSION UNPLUCKABLE The Bad Guys next mission? Rescue 10,000 chickens from a high-tech cage farm. But they are up against sizzling lasers, one feisty tarantula, and their very own Mr. Snake...who's also known as "The Chicken Swallower." What could possibly go wrong?

Barb the Brave

Barb is a Berzerker, one of a group of warriors sworn to protect the land of Bailiwick from monsters. But the fearsome crew soon meet their match in the evil villain Witch Head.

Using power from his magical sword, he tricks the Zerks and takes them captive… All except Barb, who escapes, taking Witch Head’s sword with her. Together, with her best friend, Porkchop the yeti, Barb must free her fellow warriors so they can stop Witch Head from taking over the land. On the way, she’ll battle vampire goat fiends, snotgoblins and a giant with serious foot odour issues (but please don’t mention that to him – he’s very sensitive about it)! The deeper Barb gets into her quest, the harder it is to keep the blade’s awesome power under control .

Will she be able to rescue her fellow warriors before it’s too late?