Search results for ""macmillan""

My Stars: Cancer is a perfect gift for children born between 21st June and 22nd July. Children will learn all about their star sign, including: Science: Children will discover their constellation in the night sky and a die-cut finger trail to trace.Myth: Each star sign has roots in Greek myth, which is retold for young readers, along with the classic symbol for the star sign. All About You: Little ones will find out about the personality traits associated with their sign, along with the colour, gemstone and flowers!With wonderful illustrations by bestseller Lizzy Doyle, My Stars is an innovative series of board books that make beautiful and personal gifts.

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A powerful collection from the T. S. Eliot Prize-shortlisted Annie Freud. Hiddensee represents Annie Freud’s most ambitious work to date, not least because it is a book about ambition and its necessity, the need to go beyond oneself, and to do what one cannot: Freud dives into other ways of thinking, other art forms, the taboos of illness and desire, and – spectacularly – other languages. This ambition has also emboldened Freud to pursue and confront the complex truth of herself: her German Jewish inheritance, her teachers, the remarkable minds of the exiled individuals who raised her – and the exiles she herself then pursued. The book also celebrates the work of the French-language Swiss poet Jacques Tornay, whom Freud identifies as a spiritual brother – and a route back into her own French and symbolist influences. These astonishing and generous versions of Tornay remind us that our voices should not and cannot be uncomplicatedly our own. Hiddensee is named for the Baltic island where Annie Freud’s grandmother spent her summers before the war (and its famous artistic community, whose members included George Grosz and Käthe Kollwitz). In its unselfconscious internationalism and breathtaking cultural range, Hiddensee offers a radically European and multilingual perspective to counter the cultural narrowness and closing borders of the current age, and again confirms Freud as one of our most essential poets.

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From the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Things, Sara Barnard's A Quiet Kind of Thunder is stunning love story about the times when a whisper means more than a shout. Now with a bold cover look.She doesn't talk. He can't hear. They understand each other perfectly.Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life – she's been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He's deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she's assigned to look after him. To Rhys it doesn't matter that Steffi doesn't talk and, as they find ways to communicate, Steffi finds that she does have a voice, and that she's falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it.Love isn't always a lightning strike.Sometimes it's the rumbling roll of thunder . . .

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The Secrets of the Lake is a gripping wartime novel, by the author of The Silk Weaver, Liz Trenow.'Masterful storytelling, immersive locations, and characters that inhabit your heart from the first page' – Gill Paul, author of The Secret Wife.The war may be over, but for Molly life is still in turmoil. Uprooted from London after the death of her mother, Molly, her father and younger brother Jimmy are starting again in a quiet village in the countryside of Colchester. As summer sets in, the heat is almost as oppressive as the village gossip. Molly dreams of becoming a journalist, finding a voice in the world, but most of the time must act as Jimmy’s carer. At just ten years old he is Molly’s shadow, following her around the village as she falls under the spell of local boy Kit. Kit is clever, funny and a natural-born rebel. Rowing on the waters of the lake with him becomes Molly’s escape from domestic duty. But there is something Kit is not telling Molly.As the village gossip starts building up with whispers against Molly’s father over missing church funds, everything Molly thought she knew is turned upside down. And on one stormy night, when she sneaks out of the house to try to put things right, Jimmy vanishes. Never to be seen again.Decades later, Molly is an elderly woman in sheltered housing, still haunted by the disappearance of her brother. When two police officers arrive to say that the remains of a body have been found at the bottom of the lake, it seems like Molly will at long last have her answer . . .

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A classic he-said-she-said romantic comedy, with bonus content including a Q&A with the author.All I've ever wanted is for Juli Baker to leave me alone. For her to back off – you know, just give me some space.Juli has been making Bryce's life hell from the moment they met. All he wants is to live a normal life, without some crazy person mooning after him.The first day I met Bryce Loski, I flipped. Honestly, one look at him and I became a lunatic. It's his eyes.But she doesn't see it that way. In her eyes, they're meant for each other, even though he might not realize it yet.That is, until the eighth grade, when everything flips. And just as Juli starts to realize that Bryce may not be all he seemed, Bryce begins to think that there's more to Juli than meets the eye . . . Wendelin Van Draanen's Flipped is a modern-day classic about first love and not judging a book by it's cover. A romantic comedy-of-errors told in alternating chapters by two fresh, funny voices.

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‘Dazzlingly and daringly written’ Rachel Cooke, ObserverW-3 is a small psychiatric ward in a large university hospital, a world of pills and passes dispensed by an all-powerful staff, a world of veteran patients with grab-bags of tricks, a world of dishevelled, moment-to-moment existence on the edge of permanence.Bette Howland was one of those patients. In 1968, Howland was thirty-one, a single mother of two young sons, struggling to support her family on the part-time salary of a librarian; and labouring day and night at her typewriter to be a writer. One afternoon, while staying at her friend Saul Bellow’s apartment, she swallowed a bottle of pills.W-3 is a vivid – and often surprisingly funny – portrait of the extraordinary community of Ward 3 and a record of a defining moment in a writer’s life. The book itself would be her salvation: she wrote herself out of the grave.Originally published in 1974 and rediscovered forty years later, this is the first edition of W-3 to be published in the UK. With an original introduction by Yiyun Li, author of Where Reasons End.‘W-3 is one hell of a debut’ Lucy Scholes, Paris Review‘Howland is finally getting the recognition that she deserves’ Sarah Hughes, iNews

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THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLEREdward Snowden, the man who risked everything to expose the US government’s system of mass surveillance, reveals for the first time the story of his life, including how he helped to build that system and what motivated him to try to bring it down.In 2013, twenty-nine-year-old Edward Snowden shocked the world when he broke with the American intelligence establishment and revealed that the United States government was secretly pursuing the means to collect every single phone call, text message, and email. The result would be an unprecedented system of mass surveillance with the ability to pry into the private lives of every person on earth. Six years later, Snowden reveals for the very first time how he helped to build this system and why he was moved to expose it.Spanning the bucolic Beltway suburbs of his childhood and the clandestine CIA and NSA postings of his adulthood, Permanent Record is the extraordinary account of a bright young man who grew up online – a man who became a spy, a whistleblower, and, in exile, the Internet’s conscience. Written with wit, grace, passion, and an unflinching candor, Permanent Record is a crucial memoir of our digital age and destined to be a classic.

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Zippo is fed up with being an ordinary hippo. He wants to have a super power – something exciting, something amazing, something BIG! But being good at swimming and splashing in mud aren't considered superpowers. Perhaps he can learn to fly like his best friend Roxi the oxpecker. But who's ever heard of a flying hippopotamus? Especially one with such a big bottom . . .From the bestselling author/illustrator pairing of You're Called What?!, Kes Gray and Nikki Dyson, Zippo the Super Hippo is fantastically funny, and this big-bottomed superhero will be flying into children's imaginations everywhere!

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Love Our Earth is a young and playful picture book about caring for our Earth. With lots to spot and count, and a fold-out surprise at the end!Meet planet Earth and come on a colourful adventure across mountains, rivers, jungles and oceans. Spot and count the friendly animals along the way. And say hello to the smiling flowers, trees and hills.Includes a surprise fold-out ending, with simple tips on how to look after our amazing planet.With warm, playful illustrations from Jane Cabrera and a gentle read-aloud text, this is the perfect introduction to the wonders of life on Earth. Created in collaboration with EarthDay.org.

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For all those who imagine escaping to a château and living the dream . . . to find that even dreams can have their complications.Steph, Jo and Meredith have been friends since school. Their lives have all taken very different paths across the years, but when Meredith buys a romantic château in an idyllic village in the Dordogne she finds she can’t do it alone – so who better to enlist for help than her two old friends? Together they hope to bring the château back to life and create the most romantic wedding venue in France.And it seems that the nearby village of Bratenac has much more to offer than sun, wine and delicious French food when a handsome chef and his equally charming son, a local ladies’ luncheon club, a winemaker from New Zealand, and a British bulldog all join the party.Friends and lovers, old and new, come together and fall apart in deepest France, culminating in a very special château wedding. A Very French Wedding is funny, uplifting and poignant – this is Maeve Haran, bestselling author of The Greek Holiday, at her very best.

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True leadership is about character – this is the key to winning ‘the right way’. In a world where we’re bombarded by messages of ‘winning at any cost’, dishonest politicians, CEOs committing fraud, disgraced military commanders and cheating athletes, integrity matters more than ever. The Character Edge explains the powerful role character plays in trust, culture and leadership, and offers readers tools to exercise and strengthen their own.Reaching from the battlefield to the classroom and beyond, former superintendent of West Point Robert Caslen and professor of psychology Dr. Michael Matthews, explore the vital link between strong character and strong leadership, and explain why the latter cannot exist without the former.‘Caslen and Matthews show how and why this fundamental inner architecture of leadership can – and must – be built.' Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great.

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Join Moomintroll, his family and their friends in beautiful Moominvalley, where everyone is welcome. Surprising things happen every day in Moominvalley - luckily the Moomin family and their friends embrace the unexpected with their characteristic humour, kindness and charm. This beautiful book contains nine exciting adventure stories - all closely based on the warm and whimsical Moomin world and characters created by the celebrated writer, artist and illustrator Tove Jansson.Presented in chronological order, each story in Adventures in Moominvalley is taken from an episode of the 3D animation series and set in the idyllic and peaceful valley where the round blue Moominhouse stands. The stories describe the adventures of Moomintroll, his parents, Moominmamma and Moominpappa and their eclectic and happy band of friends – Little My, Snufkin, Snorkmaiden, the hattifatteners and other famous characters from the classic stories.The stories in this collection will delight Moomin fans of all ages. In one story Moomintroll sails to the mysterious Hattifattener island and in another, he finds a tiny dragon. The Moomins temporarily move house, Snufkin composes a new spring tune and Moomintroll encounters the mysterious Groke.

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Secrets of the Jam Factory Girls is a moving saga novel of friendship set in the heart of pre-WWI London from bestselling author, Mary Wood.Elsie’s worked her way up at Swift’s Jam Factory from the shop floor to the top, and now it’s her time to shine. But when she’s involved in an incident involving her half-sister Millie’s new husband, she is forced to keep it secret – the truth could threaten their sisterly bond.Dot is dogged by fear, coming to terms with her mother’s rejection of her. She should be enjoying the happiness she craves with her beloved Cess; instead, she’s trapped in an asylum, haunted by the horrifying cries of inmates. All she wants is to get married, but what chance is there for her if she’s locked away?Millie is trying to build a life with her new husband. But the man she loves is not all he seems . . .Can the Jam Factory girls create the future they all deserve?This historical saga series begins with The Jam Factory Girls.

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From the Costa Award-winning author Hilary McKay, comes a moving World War II story of family and friendship on opposite sides of a devastating conflict. The Swallows' Flight is the stunning companion novel to The Skylarks' War.'It’s not necessary to have read The Skylarks’ War (though many beloved characters make reappearances) to be instantly and joyfully lost in this evocative, moving novel, showing McKay at the very top of her game.' – Imogen Russell-Williams, The Guardian'Funny, poignant, wise and emotional. Full of achingly real characters (and also an excellent dog) . . . I eked out the final pages, not wanting it to end.' – Fiona Noble, The BooksellerErik and Hans are German boys. Ruby and Kate are English girls. They grow up in worlds that would never meet, until war tumbles their lives together.Then one September afternoon there are choices to be made.How is courage lost, and found?Who is really the enemy?And what does friendship truly mean, in the middle of a war?Meanwhile Rupert and Clarry work secretly for peace – and a brighter future for them all . . .'. . . a resounding success. . . McKay refuses to dumb down the history, writing with such clarity and understanding that you can’t fail to be caught up in the cares of her loveable cast.' – Alex O'Connell, The Times Book of the Week'McKay is a glutinously atmospheric writer, and this dense, action-packed saga – written during lockdown – is every bit as satisfying as its predecessor.' Emily Bearn, The Telegraph'Separately and together, The Skylarks’ War and The Swallows’ Flight are pinnacles of children’s literature.' –Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times Book of the Week'Meticulously researched, intelligent, warm and witty — this is McKay at her peerless peak.' Sally Morris, The Daily Mail

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Caddy's World is the prequel to Hilary McKay's laugh-out-loud, award-winning Casson Family series.Best friends, boyfriends, problem parents, pink hair. Brothers, sisters, fireworks and unexpected babies. Welcome to Caddy's World.Travel back to when Caddy was a young girl and Rose had not been born, in this moving and comical prequel to the award-winning Saffy's Angel.Follow the family's adventures in the rest of the beloved series: Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After and Forever Rose.

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The Half Sister is the compelling, twisty novel from Sandie Jones, the author of The Other Woman. Perfect for fans of Sally Hepworth’s The Mother-in-Law and Michelle Frances’ The Daughter.Her arrival will ruin everything . . .Kate and Lauren. Sisters who are always there for each other. But as they gather for their weekly Sunday lunch, a knock on the door changes everything.The new arrival, Jess, claims to be their half-sister, but that would mean the unthinkable . . . That she’s the secret daughter of their beloved, recently deceased father Harry. Their mother Rose is devastated and Kate and Lauren refuse to believe Jess’s lies. But as the fall-out starts it’s clear that each is hiding secrets and that perhaps this family isn’t as perfect as they appear.Where there was truth, now there are lies and only one thing is certain, their half-sister’s arrival has ruined everything . . .

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Brilliant, bold and thrilling, The Thousand Eyes by A. K. Larkwood is the epic fantasy sequel to The Unspoken Name.Could you sacrifice your dreams to escape a nightmare?Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal survey abandoned Echentyr worlds to make a living. The empire’s ruins seem harmless but fascinating. Yet disaster strikes when they stumble upon ancient magic during a routine expedition. This revives a warrior who’d slept for an age, reigniting a conflict thousands of years old. And the soldier binds Csorwe to her cause.Shuthmili is desperate to protect the woman she loves. However, as events escalate, she’s torn. Can she help Csorwe by clinging to her own humanity or by embracing her eldritch powers?Tal heads home, but his peace is shattered when a magical catastrophe hits his city. The wizard Sethennai is missing and Tal can’t face seeking his former lover to ask for help. So, he flees – but there’s no escaping the future. For throughout the Echo Maze’s linked worlds, fragments of an undead goddess are waking. Soon all must choose a side.Praise for The Unspoken Name:‘An outstanding debut . . . unlike anything I’ve read before’ – Nicholas Eames‘Richly detailed, enthralling and extraordinary’ – Jenn Lyons‘Stylish, classy and timeless . . . I cannot recommend it enough’ – Tamsyn Muir‘An adventure I couldn’t put down’ – S. A. Chakraborty

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'Brown Baby is a beautifully intimate and soul-searching memoir. It speaks to the heart and the mind and bears witness to our turbulent times.' - Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, OtherHow do you find hope and even joy in a world that is prejudiced, sexist and facing climate crisis? How do you prepare your children for it, but also fill them with all the boundlessness and eccentricity that they deserve and that life has to offer?In Brown Baby, Nikesh Shukla, author of the bestselling The Good Immigrant, explores themes of sexism, feminism, parenting and our shifting ideas of home. This memoir, by turns heartwrenching, hilariously funny and intensely relatable, is dedicated to the author’s two young daughters, and serves as an act of remembrance to the grandmother they never had a chance to meet. Through love, grief, food and fatherhood, Shukla shows how it’s possible to believe in hope.

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'Tense and intimate… an education.' Geoff Dyer'Written with sensitivity and humanity... a remarkable insight into prison life.' Amanda Brown'Authentic, fascinating and deeply moving.' Terry Waite'Enriching, sobering and at times heartrending... a wonder' Lenny Henry__________Can someone in prison be more free than someone outside? Would we ever be good if we never felt shame? What makes a person worthy of forgiveness?Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. Every day he has conversations with people inside about their lives, discusses their ideas and feelings, and listens as they explore new ways to think about their situation.When Andy goes behind bars, he also confronts his inherited trauma: his father, uncle and brother all spent time in prison. While Andy has built a different life for himself, he still fears that their fate will also be his. As he discusses pressing questions of truth, identity and hope with his students, he searches for his own form of freedom too.Moving, sympathetic, wise and frequently funny, The Life Inside is an elegantly written and unforgettable book. Through a blend of memoir, storytelling and gentle philosophical questioning, it offers a new insight into our stretched justice system, our failing prisons and the complex lives being lived inside.__________'Strives with humour and compassion to understand the phenomenon of prison' Sydney Review of Books'A fascinating and enlightening journey... A legitimate page-turner' 3AM

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A Lollies Book Award-winning funny story, all about wee, packed full of animal facts! The follow-up to the hilarious Poo! Is That You?Lenny the lemur is on holiday in Alaska. He's skipping across the snow, when he slips in a puddle. It's wet, yellow and smelly... WEE! But whose wee could it be?Lenny is on a quest to find out... Along the way, he meets various animals and learns all about their weeing habits! But the real question is: will he find that pesky puddle-piddler?Learn about caribou, turtles, wolves and more in the piddle-tastic Wee? It Wasn't Me! written by Clare Helen Welsh and illustrated by Nicola O'Byrne. Cleverly interweaving facts throughout, it also contains an information page at the back of the book, with a photo of each animal.

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A beautiful debut collection from Jamaican poet Safiya Sinclair that draws on our colonial history and speaks powerfully to our present moment.Shortlisted for Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2021 A Guardian most anticipated book for 2020'Safiya Sinclair bursts onto the shelves with this richly powerful debut collection' – ScotsmanColliding with and confronting Shakespeare's The Tempest and postcolonial identity, the poems in Safiya Sinclair's Cannibal beautifully evoke the poet's Jamaican childhood and reach beyond to explore history, race relations in America, womanhood, otherness, and exile. She evokes a home no longer accessible and a body at times uninhabitable, often mirrored by a hybrid Eve/Caliban figure. Blooming with intense lyricism and fertile imagery, these full-blooded poems are elegant, mythic, and intricately woven. Here the female body is a dark landscape; the female body is cannibal. Sinclair shocks and delights her readers with her willingness to disorient and provoke. Cannibal marks the arrival of a thrilling and essential lyrical voice.'Cannibal is nothing less than an entrancing debut that reveals the teeming intellect and ravishing lucidity of a young poet in full possession of her literary powers.' – Major Jackson

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Is the truth as simple as black and white? Mark My Words is the searing novel from Branford Boase Award-winner and 2020 World Book Day author Muhammad Khan, asking who you can trust when all you see is lies.'A brilliant and powerful story that kept me on the edge of my seat. The protagonist is extremely compelling and relatable, a warrior through and through - you'll root for Dua the entire way!' - Nikita Gill'A bold and timely book about protest and finding your voice.' - The ObserverFifteen-year-old Dua Iqbal has always had trouble minding her own business. With a silver-tongue and an inquisitive nature, a career in journalism seems fated. When her school merges with another, Dua seizes her chance and sets up a rival newspaper, exposing the controversial stories that teachers and the kids who rule the school would rather keep buried.Dua's investigations are digging up things she shouldn't get involved with about family, friends and her community and as exams rattle towards her, she needs to make some hard decisions about when to leave things alone. But when she discovers that some kids at school are being blamed for selling drugs when the real perpetrator is right in front of their noses, she can't keep quiet any longer.'A voice long overdue in British fiction' – Alex Wheatle on I Am Thunder'Khan has created a book steeped in drama and empathy, as well as providing two iconic superheroes' – Nikesh Shukla on Kick the Moon

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Sometimes I am Angry helps young children to start managing their emotions. They can lift the flaps, slide the tabs and turn the wheel to explore what anger is, why they might get angry and how they can calm their anger.With delightful illustrations from Marie Paruit on every page, this is the perfect book for parents and carers to share with young children who may be experiencing episodes of anger and to develop their emotional intelligence. Explanations, hints and tips from Early Years expert Dr Janet Rose will provide parents with all the extra guidance they need.The Little Big Feelings series has been endorsed and recommended by Dr Amanda Gummer’s Good Play Guide.Learn more about sharing emotions in the Little Big Feelings series: I Like to be Kind, Sometimes I am Worried and When I am Happy.

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Join Max's quest to become a knight! The second book in the New York Times bestselling illustrated series is full of even more laughs, more magic and more (mis)adventure – from the creator of Big Nate!'Epic fun! Epic laughs!' – Jeff Kinney, bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.'Another masterpiece!' – Dav Pilkey, bestselling author of the Dog Man series.Byjovia is under attack, and it's up to Max and her best friends – the Midknights – to save the day! The quest is on as the Midknights set out to face the beastly Bodkins, powerful spells and their greatest foes yet.With his trademark comic book-style illustrations, Lincoln Peirce brings epic adventure, riotous fun and medieval silliness in Max and the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins, book two in the Max & the Midknights series.

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Rock-a-Bye Rumpus is a delightful collection of sweet and fun action poems for the very young, specially chosen by bestselling author, Julia Donaldson and beautifully illustrated by Sebastien Braun.This gorgeous gift book and accompanying audio CD is made up of seven charming sections, including 'Fingers, Toes and Faces', 'Hop, Skip and Jump' and 'Tea, Bath and Bed' - each featuring much-loved classic rhymes such as Incy Wincy Spider and Hush, Little Baby as well as carefully selected poems from contemporary poets, including brand new poems by Julia Donaldson herself. With irresistible illustrations from bestselling illustrator, Sebastien Braun, Rock-a-Bye Rumpus is sure to become a firm favourite and a must-have for every child.

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A magical adventure about a girl, a bear and some very special shoes from the bestselling creators of What the Ladybird Heard and Sugarlump and the Unicorn.When Josephine leaves the shoe shop after buying some new running shoes, she hears an unusual sound – Click-click! Click-click! A bear with a backpack is following her! Luckily for Josephine, her new shoes are anything but ordinary – these are magic shoes. But can they help her escape the bear when there's a mountain, a bog and even a lake in her way?The Girl, the Bear and the Magic Shoes is an exciting adventure from the stellar picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, creators of What the Ladybird Heard. Full of action and imagination, and with a delightfully unexpected ending, this gorgeous book is one to enjoy over and over again.Enjoy more stories from Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks: The Princess and the Wizard, The Singing Mermaid, Sugarlump and the Unicorn, What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard Next and What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday.

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Meet The Googlies by Jo Lodge! In It's Lunchtime, Monkey! children will learn first words to do with meal times! Bold, googly eyes and a sliding mechanism bring this adorable monkey to life, while children share the simple story and point at the bright pictures. An ideal book for babies, this title combines bright illustrations, a simple story and first words – perfect as an introduction to meal time routines for your little one! Read more in the series: Let’s Play, Cheetah; Time for Bed, Panda; Let’s Go Out, Elephant

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Meet The Googlies by Jo Lodge! In Time for Bed, Panda, children will learn first words about their bedtime routine. Bold, googly eyes and a sliding mechanism bring this adorable panda to life, while children share the simple story and point at the pictures. An ideal book for babies, this title combines bright illustrations, a simple story and first words – a perfect introduction to bedtime routines.Read more in the series: Let’s Play, Cheetah; It's Lunchtime, Monkey!; Let’s Go Out, Elephant

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The Earthquake Bird is Susanna Jones's stunning, prize-winning first mystery - now a major motion picture starring Alicia Vikander.Winner of the CWA New Blood Dagger for Best Debut Crime Novel of the YearWinner of the John Llewellyn Rhys PrizeEarly this morning, several hours before my arrest, I was woken by an earth tremor. I mention the incident not to suggest that there was a connection. . . for in Tokyo we have a quake like this every month. I am simply relating the sequence of events as it happened. It has been an unusual day and I would hate to forget anything . . . So begins The Earthquake Bird, a haunting novel set in Japan which reveals a murder on its first page and takes its readers into the mind of the chief suspect, Lucy Fly – a young, vulnerable English girl living and working in Tokyo as a translator. As Lucy is interrogated by the police she reveals her past to the reader, and it is a past which is dangerously ambiguous and compromising . . . Why did Lucy leave England for the foreign anonymity of Japan ten years before, and what exactly prompted her to sever all links with her family back home? She was the last person to see the murdered girl alive, so why is she not more forthcoming about the circumstances of their last meeting? As Lucy’s story unfolds, it emerges that secrets, both past and present, obsess her waking life . . .

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Have fun celebrating the spooky season with Halloween! Lift the giant flaps to reveal and touch the shimmery ghost, the furry werewolf and the witch's silky hat! Bright and friendly illustrations from Tiago Americo bring the scenes to life and, with something to spot or count on every page too, each colourful book in the My First Touch and Find series provides lots of fun for older babies and toddlers. Also available in this tactile series: Dinosaurs, Beach, and Things That Go.

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A sinister killer is hiding the bodies of his victims in Glasgow's derelict cinemas in Picture Her Dead, the eighth novel in Lin Anderson's forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod.When art student Jude Evans disappears on a trip to photograph one of Glasgow’s many derelict cinemas, her friend Liam reports her missing to the local police. Unable to get the authorities to take him seriously, he enlists the help of his mother, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod, in his search for the missing girl.In an attempt to retrace the last known steps of Jude, they begin working through the list of cinemas she had intended to visit. Their efforts lead them to make a grisly discovery, hidden behind one of the cinema’s crumbling walls, and soon a murder hunt is under way.Dealing with personal trauma arising from the unknown fate of a close friend, Rhona must maintain focus as the investigation gains momentum. Fearing the girl’s disappearance could be linked with something she wasn’t supposed to see at the ruined picture house, time is running out, and if she’s not found soon it could be too late . . .

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Set in urban Manchester, Running Scared is a nerve-shredding thriller by bestselling author Mandasue Heller.When teenager Alexis ‘Lexi’ James falls out with her best mate Nicole over ‘bad boy’ Ryan King, it’s just the beginning of a chain of events that go from bad to worse to deadly.Returning home one night to her high-rise flat, she is faced by a terrifying scene that changes her life forever – and matters are made worse when she is put into care in another town.Years later, Lexi has left school and is back in Manchester. A chance meeting with Nicole and her so-called ‘other half’ Ryan ends in disaster, and she vows never to see them again. Then one night she is saved from a vicious attack by a charming stranger. He takes her home and their acquaintance blossoms into something much deeper.When her new man receives a call in the middle of the night and leaves in a hurry, she is horrified when he returns with someone she never thought she would see again. It soon becomes obvious that Lexi doesn’t know her new lover as well as she thought, and she is forced to make a decision that will have devastating results . . .

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Set in urban Manchester, Running Scared is a nerve-shredding thriller by bestselling author Mandasue Heller.When teenager Alexis ‘Lexi’ James falls out with her best mate Nicole over ‘bad boy’ Ryan King, it’s just the beginning of a chain of events that go from bad to worse to deadly.Returning home one night to her high-rise flat, she is faced by a terrifying scene that changes her life forever, and matters are made worse when she is put into care in another town.Years later, Lexi has left school and is back in Manchester. A chance meeting with Nicole and her so-called ‘other half’ Ryan ends in disaster, and she vows never to see them again. Then one night she is saved from a vicious attack by a charming stranger. He takes her home and their acquaintance blossoms into something much deeper.When her new man receives a call in the middle of the night and leaves in a hurry, she is horrified when he returns with someone she never thought she would see again. It soon becomes obvious that Lexi doesn’t know her new lover as well as she thought, and she is forced to make a decision that will have devastating results . . .'Heller doesn’t mince words, her gritty plots create a Manchester underworld to rival Martina Cole’s raw and rough East End – Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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Walk into the deep dark wood with Mouse in this this amazing pop-up carousel book, and discover what happens when he comes face to face with a fox, an owl, a snake . . . and a hungry Gruffalo!Read the much-loved story, then press out the play pieces and join in all the fun with three stunning pop-up play scenes. There are lots of holes to peep through, things to spot and flaps to open, so you can explore the deep dark wood with Mouse. Discover Fox's underground house, Owl's treetop and Snake's logpile – but watch out for the Gruffalo hiding in the trees! The Gruffalo Carousel Book includes a special envelope for safe storage of the 9 play pieces and a ribbon closure. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern classic and has become a best-selling phenomenon across the world with over 13.5 million copies sold. This award-winning rhyming story of a mouse and a monster has found its way into the hearts and bedtimes of an entire generation of children and will undoubtedly continue to enchant children for years and years to come.

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Perfect for newborns, the high-contrast images in Baby's Very First Cloth Book Farm are designed to help babies focus.This bestselling cuddly cloth book also has crinkly pages for tactile fun, a mirror for stimulating the senses – and a handy verlcro strap to attach to a pram!Illustrated by Jo Lodge and packaged in a delightful gift box, it will make the perfect present for new babies.Also available: Baby’s Very First Cloth Book Faces

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'Twisty and unnerving' – Holly Jackson, author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.From the author of the bestselling Wilder Girls comes a twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mystery – until she decides to return to her mother's hometown, where history has a tendency to repeat itself . . .Ever since Margot was born, it's been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot's questions. No history to hold on to. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.But that's not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And when she finds a photograph pointing her to a town called Phalene, she leaves. But when Margot gets there, it's not what she bargained for.Margot's mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what's still there?Burn Our Bodies Down is a blistering horror-thriller from Rory Power that will grip you from its very first page, and won't let you go until long after you've put it down . . .

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Football 4 Every 1 by Paul Cookson, is a brilliant collection of funny upbeat poems about football – playing it, supporting it, living it, breathing it. It's perfect to enjoy as you follow your team in Euro 2020. From the excitement of going to your first game, to the thrill of playing with your mates in the park, this book captures all the emotions involved in following the beautiful game.

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Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with a billion copies of her novels sold. Her international bestsellers include The Whittiers, The High Notes and The Challenge. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California.

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Palazzo is a spellbinding story of love, family and legacy set in the cut-throat world of Italian fashion, from billion-copy bestselling author Danielle Steel.After her parents perish in a tragic accident, Cosima Saverio must assume leadership of her family’s haute couture Italian leather brand. While navigating the challenges of running a company at just twenty-three, Cosima must also maintain the elegant four-hundred-year-old family palazzo in Venice and care for her younger siblings: Allegra, who survived the tragedy that killed their parents, and Luca, who has a penchant for wild parties, pretty women and poker tables.Cosima handles her responsibilities with a wisdom beyond her years, but success has come at a cost. Her needs are always secondary, and her free time is given to those who rely on her . . . until she meets Olivier Bayard, the founder of France’s most successful ready-to-wear handbag company.But as Luca’s gambl

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A day to remember . . .The Wedding Planner is a sparkling story about the winding road to happily ever after, from billion-copy bestseller Danielle Steel.Faith Ferguson is one of New York’s most sought after wedding planners. Realizing dreams and making magic happen are part of why Faith loves her job. But weddings aren't always champagne and roses, and this particular year brings challenges both professionally and personally.On an estate in the Hamptons, the Alberts' event – with orchid swans, a firework extravaganza and added family strife – does not come without its problems. Morgan and Alex’s tasteful celebration in a handsome New York townhouse runs like clockwork, until a last minute addition to the guest list threatens to derail it. And a stiff, formal reception at a city club with a groom who cares more for his colleagues than his bride-to-be sends warning signals to Faith.Faith has come close to marriage twice – with disastrous consequences. She loves making magic happen for others, yet believes it isn't meant for her. But maybe the saying ‘never say never’ is true . . .

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A dedicated CIA agent becomes an unexpected ally to a woman haunted by the kidnapping of her family in Suspects, a thrilling novel from international number one bestselling author Danielle Steel.Theodora Morgan is fashion royalty. Founder of a wildly popular online shopping service, she is one of the most successful businesswomen in the world, although she prefers to keep a low profile, especially in recent months. It was a year ago when the unthinkable struck her family: her husband, industry mogul Matthieu Pasquier, and their son were kidnapped and held for ransom – a nightmare that ended in tragedy.The case has gone cold, despite evidence linking the crime to Matthieu’s foreign competitors. Theo has reluctantly gone back to work running her company. On the flight to a launch party for one of her highly anticipated pop-up shops in New York City, she crosses paths with high-society ‘networkist’ Pierre de Vaumont. Theo politely invites him to her event – unaware that Pierre has been flagged by the CIA.Senior supervising CIA operative Mike Andrews investigates Pierre’s suspicious foreign contacts and clears him to enter the country but, when he realizes that Theodora Morgan is on the same flight, he becomes concerned for her safety. Posing as a lawyer, Mike begins a covert mission – starting with Theo’s opening party. When Mike and Theo meet, their connection is instant, but Theo is completely unaware of Mike’s true objective or identity . . . or that the life she is rebuilding is in grave danger.Find yourself gripped by Suspects, a story of wealth, fear, revenge and love, by the world's favourite storyteller.

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A renowned supermodel’s world is torn apart in an instant, sending her on an unexpected journey of discovery in Beautiful, from the billion-copy bestselling storyteller, Danielle Steel.Véronique Vincent is a star. At twenty-two, she is one of the most sought-after models in fashion, gracing the covers of magazines and walking runways across the world. But Véronique does not seek the limelight, preferring to spend time at home with those she loves most.But on a much-anticipated getaway, tragedy strikes, changing her life forever. She is forced to confront the harsh reality that neither her personal and professional life will ever be the same, and secludes herself, hiding the truth from the industry that adored her.As Véronique struggles to find herself after losing so much, she discovers long-held family secrets. These new bonds help her see a light beyond the darkness and to find peace helping others. She begins to understand what it truly means to be beautiful as she uncovers a life more meaningful than she could ever have imagined.

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In this compelling novel from No. 1 bestselling author Danielle Steel, a gifted young woman must grapple with the legacy of a troubled childhood in order to pursue her dreams.When destiny shines the spotlight on you, do you stay . . . or run?Antonia Adams is the product of a loveless marriage between a beautiful young model and a wealthy entrepreneur. As a child, she is abandoned in the chasm between them. Unprotected and unloved, she learns that the only way to feel safe is to draw as little attention as possible, to be invisible.In her isolation, films are her escape, and she dreams of one day becoming a screenwriter. During a summer job at a Hollywood studio, she meets a famous filmmaker, and is invisible no longer. He wants to put her in a movie and make her a star. It is a dazzling opportunity but a terrifying one. Suddenly she is thrust into the public eye – even more so when they fall in love. Antonia never lets go of her true dream of becoming a filmmaker, but to make that leap she will have to expose herself in ways she never has before. When tragedy strikes, she must decide whether she will remain center stage or retreat to safety once more. Will she face her demons, or run and hide?In this extraordinary novel, Danielle Steel tells the story of a woman who must decide the price of pursuing her passion, and whether it is possible to stay true to herself while she does.

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Sometimes a crisis can bring people together . . .Meredith White was one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her career short and alienated her from her family. For the last fifteen years, Meredith has shut herself away from the world, living in her San Francisco mansion.Then, on a late summer day, a devastating earthquake strikes, plunging the city into chaos. Without hesitation, Meredith invites her now homeless neighbours into her largely undamaged house as the recovery begins. From the respected doctor, to the beautiful young woman whose boyfriend views her as a rich man’s toy, to the brilliant concert pianist in his eighties, each has a story and a closely guarded secret that will slowly be revealed.Strangers become friends and relationships are forged as they support each other through not just the aftermath of the earthquake, but their own personal crises.As Meredith finds herself venturing back into the world she suddenly sees her isolation, her estranged family and even her career in a whole new light. And thanks to the suspicions of one of her new acquaintances, a shocking truth in her own life is exposed.Neighbours, by the world’s favourite storyteller Danielle Steel, is a novel of friendship, support, trust and love, and what it takes to bring people together.

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The Monster Doctor: Revolting Rescue is the second in a howlingly hilarious series of monster adventures from John Kelly that will have you laughing your head off . . . literally.WARNING! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. There's been a major Q-T incident reported in Cringetown – we need the monster doctor, stat!Q-Ts are highly dangerous to all monsters – they have huge eyes, tiny noses, squeaky high-pitched voices and are covered in a disgustingly soft fur-like material. Physical contact with these revolting creatures is to be avoided AT ALL COSTS! Ozzy is an ordinary human – an unusual trait for a monster doctor in training! – and he can't understand why monsters are so scared of these Q-Ts. So when the doctor receives a desperate phone call reporting a Q-T sighting, she and Ozzy race to save the horrible creature before the abominable Inspector Pincher arrives . . .

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Hilarious, heartwarming and full of charm, It Wasn't Me! is a fun and reassuring tale of friendship, falling out and forgiveness from CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominee and BookTrust Time to Read favourite, Marta Altés.Meet Ellis and Charlie: two friends, living happily on their very own island. Everything they do, they do together, and everything they have, they share. Until, that is, things start to go missing . . .NOBODY is owning up and NOBODY is happy about it. But if it isn't Ellis and it isn't Charlie, then WHO IS IT?Children will love spotting the real culprit in this funny and engaging tale, which shows that even the firmest of friends sometimes fall out - but not, usually, for very long!

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Celebrating ten years of this much-loved story, Ernest: 10th Anniversary Edition is a wonderfully imaginative book about a moose with a big problem from the award-winning Catherine Rayner.Ernest is a rather large moose with a rather large problem. He is so big he can’t fit inside his book! What is a moose to do? Luckily Ernest is also a very determined moose, and he and his little chipmunk friend aren’t going to give up easily. Will they find a way for Ernest to fit in? Featuring a surprise fold-out ending, children will love this brilliantly funny book from the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal-winning Catherine Rayner, illustrator of The Go-Away Bird by Julia Donaldson. Celebrating ten years of this much-loved story, Ernest: 10th Anniversary Edition is a charming addition to every child's bookshelf.

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From Costa Award-winner Hilary McKay comes The Time of Green Magic: a beautiful, spell-binding novel about family, magic, an old house and a mysterious visitor . . .Abi and her two step-brothers, Max and Louis, find that strange things happen when they are alone in their eerie, ivy-covered new house.Abi, reading alone, finds herself tumbling deep into books, while Louis summons a startling guest through his bedroom window. Even Max has started to see shapes in the shadows . . .Their busy parents see none of it – but Louis’ secret visitor is growing too alarming to keep secret, and he finds he cannot manage without Max and Abi’s help.Can they find out where the mysterious creature has come from – and how to get it back there?'An instant classic' New York Times'Wise and kind . . . full of characters you will give your whole heart to' Anna James'The emotions of real families have always been [McKay's forte], but in this evocative novel she makes something fantastical happen' Sunday Times

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