Search results for ""MACMILLAN""

It's hard being a little monkey in a big troop, in an even bigger jungle – and this little monkey has had enough of always missing out! She's off to climb to the top of the tallest tree in the jungle and she's going to do it all on her own.Except that there's someone following close behind. Someone with claws and stripes and rather sharp teeth . . .Little Monkey is a beautiful, funny and empowering picture book from bestselling author-illustrator, two times CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominee and BookTrust Time to Read favourite, Marta Altés, which shows us that the world is a big, wild and wonderful place where anything is possible.

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Blade of Light is the nineteenth gripping addition to the phenomenally successful Inspector Montalbano Sicilian mysteries by Andrea Camilleri.When a gentleman arrives at Montalbano's police station to report an armed robbery on his wife that ended with a kiss, the inspector's suspicions are aroused.As he delves deeper into the case, Montalbano finds that none of the witnesses' stories are adding up, and he can't help but feel that they're not meant to. When a body turns up showing all the signs of a mafia hit, the inspector knows he must excavate the truth from what he is being led to believe.Meanwhile there's a case that keeps winding its way back to Montalbano's office. A locked door has suddenly appeared on a farmer's disused shed, and then, just as quickly, the door disappears. The anti-terrorist police soon intervene, but why are they so keen to keep this away from the inspector? And why does he sense that this case is connected to him somehow?With deceit at every turn and a distraction of the heart taking over his head, Inspector Montalbano must focus if he is ever going to solve this mystery.Blade of Light is followed by the twentieth book in the Sicilian mystery series, A Voice in the Night.

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Andrea Camilleri's sensational and darkly humorous Inspector Montalbano series continues in the fourteenth instalment, The Age of Doubt. A chance encounter with a strange young woman leads Inspector Montalbano to Vigàta harbour – and into a puzzling new mystery. The crew of a mysterious yacht – the Vanna – due to dock in the area has discovered a corpse floating in the water, the dead man's face badly disfigured. It isn't long before Montalbano becomes suspicious of the Vanna's inhabitants. Who is the yacht's owner, the glamorous and short-tempered Livia Giovannini? How has she accrued her riches? And why does she spend so much time at sea? Meanwhile Montalbano finds himself getting into tangles with the dreaded Commissioner, the exasperating Dr Lattes and a very beautiful young woman at the harbour, with whom he becomes dangerously besotted . . . Can the Inspector clear his head long enough to unravel this murky mystery?The Age of Doubt is followed by The Dance of the Seagull, the fifteenth book in the series.'Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb' - Sunday Times

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August Heat by Andrea Camilleri is the tenth installment in the Inspector Montalbano series, now adapted as a major BBC4 television series. The lazy, slow month of August at the height of the Sicilian summer is, Inspector Montalbano assures his girlfriend Livia as they prepare for a relaxing holiday in a villa he has found for them, far too hot for any murders to be committed. But when Livia's friends' young son goes missing, a chain of events is sparked which will certainly ruin the Chief Inspector's pleasant interlude. A secret apartment and a grisly find in an old trunk are just the beginning, as Montalbano navigates his way through the case, as well as coping with the sweltering heat, the suspicious death of an Arab labourer and the tempting lure of a beautiful girl . . .August Heat is followed by the eleventh book in the series, The Wings of the Sphinx.

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Once upon a golden day, beside a silver brookAlice and her older sister sat and read a book...But when a talking rabbit runs past, Alice follows him down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, where she meet iconic characters of children's literature such as the grinning Cheshire Cat, the Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. From joining in with the Hatter's tea party to painting the white roses red, the familiar scenes from Lewis Carroll's beloved original story are reimagined in this charming introduction to Alice and her adventures in Wonderland suitable for younger readers.Jeanne Willis' re-telling of Carroll's beloved story in bouncy rhyming verse is a fresh venture into Wonderland, brought to life by Ross Collins' vibrant illustrations.

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'The best collection I've read in ages: every poem contains something unexpected and unexpectedly powerful. This is serious, modern, ambitious and bold work – the kind of poetry you hope to find, and rarely do' – Nick LairdJohn Ashbery called Timothy Donnelly’s previous collection, The Cloud Corporation, ‘The poetry of the future, here today’. The Problem of the Many sees Donnelly, one of the most influential poets of his generation, focused less on the future than the end of history: these richly textured and intellectually capacious poems often seem to attempt nothing less than a circumscription of the totality of human experience. The book contains the already widely praised ‘Hymn to Life’, which opens with a litany of what we have made extinct; elsewhere, from an immediately contemporary vantage, Donnelly confronts the clutter and devastation that civilization has left us as he strives towards a beauty that we still need, along the way enlisting agents as various as Prometheus, Jonah, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, NyQuil, Nietzsche, and Alexander the Great.The Problem of the Many refers to the famous philosophical problem of what defines the larger aggregate – a cloud, a crowd – which Donnelly extends to address the subject of individual boundary, identity and belonging. Donnelly’s solutions may be wholly poetic, but he has succeeded in speaking as deeply to these profound and urgent issues as any writer currently at work.

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'A thrilling journey into a magical world packed with Rob’s brilliant humour.' – David WalliamsSuperstar, author and illustrator Rob Biddulph dazzles in Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City, the first title in an adventure series for boys and girls of 8+. This exciting, funny, middle-grade debut is from the bestselling creative genius behind #DrawWithRob and is illustrated in black and white throughout.Some legends are born, some are drawn . . .Drawing feels like magic to Peanut Jones. But art can't fix her problems. Her dad has gone missing, and she's stuck in a boring new school. Until the day she finds a unique pencil turbo-charged with special powers. Suddenly she's pulled into a world packed with more colour, creativity, excitement and danger than she could ever have imagined. And maybe, just maybe, she might find out what happened to her dad.'Peanut Jones is AWESOME. I loved this book from start to finish - the story is packed with twists and turns, and Rob’s illustrations are full of wit and warmth' – Nadia Shireen'A vividly illustrated, immersive romp that will leave readers desperate for the next instalment' – Guardian'A wildly imaginative, big-hearted celebration of creativity' - Anna James, bestselling author of the Pages & Co series'Look at this utter beauty . . . This book is EPIC' - Laura Ellen Anderson, bestselling author of Amelia Fang

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'An engrossing and evocative read. Jenny Quintana captures layered atmosphere and complex emotions beautifully, alongside writing a compulsive tale. I loved it' – Kate Hamer, author of Crushed From the bestselling author of The Missing Girl and Our Dark Secret, comes The Hiding Place: a story about identity, love, long-buried secrets and lies.'A credible mystery, intriguingly unravelled over two timelines, that kept me guessing to the very end' – Anita Frank, author of The Lost Ones Some houses have their secrets. But so do some people . . .Abandoned as a baby in the hallway of a shared house in London, Marina has never known her parents, and the circumstances of her birth still remain a mystery.Now an adult, Marina has returned to the house where it all started, determined to find out who she really is. But the walls of this house hold more than memories, and Marina’s reappearance hasn’t gone unnoticed by the other tenants.Someone is watching Marina. Someone who knows the truth . . .

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Could you sacrifice one of your children to save the other?*SUNDAY EXPRESS BEST BOOKS OF 2023**AN IRISH TOP TEN BESTSELLER*‘A gripping crime narrative which blends so seamlessly with emotional family drama’ - Erin KellyAn unbearable decisionHeld up at gunpoint by two vicious killers, Christina Hardwicke is ordered to make an unthinkable choice – between the life of her daughter or her son.An unsuspecting familyWhen the Hardwicke family set off on a holiday to the Scottish Highlands, the last thing they expected was to be confronted by a deadly couple on a killing spree.A nightmare come to lifeTailed closely by Detective Saul Anguish, the damaged pair have committed a string of ruthless killings across the country, all leading to this moment.Will the detective be able to reach the Hardwicke family before catastrophe strikes?Everyone is talking

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Shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2023Into the Dark is the gripping crime thriller from Fiona Cummins about revenge, greed, ambition and the true cost of friendship.‘Complex. Inventive. Twisting. Unsettling’ – Sarah Vaughan, bestselling author of Anatomy of a ScandalThe Place: Seawings, a beautiful art deco home overlooking the sweep of the bay in Midtown-on-Sea.The Crime: The gilded Holden family – Piper and Gray and their two teenage children – have vanished from the house without a trace.The Detective: DS Saul Anguish, brilliant but with a dark past, treads the narrow line between light and shade.One late autumn morning, Piper’s best friend arrives at Seawings to discover an eerie scene – the radio is playing, phones are charging on the worktop, the cars are in the garage. But the house is deserted.In fifteen-year-old Riva Holden’s bedroom, scrawled across the mirror in blood, are three words:MakeThemStop.What happens next?

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In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And in Wayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong.In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward.For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages -- and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she's smuggled an American Normal into London, and now she isn't sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough.Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet.This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest.Carry On was conceived as a book about Chosen One stories; Any Way the Wind Blows is an ending about endings. About catharsis and closure, and how we choose to move on from the traumas and triumphs that try to define us.

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In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And in Wayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong.In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward.For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages – and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she's smuggled an American Normal into London, and now she isn't sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough.Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet.This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest.Carry On was conceived as a book about Chosen One stories; Any Way the Wind Blows is an ending about endings. About catharsis and closure, and how we choose to move on from the traumas and triumphs that try to define us.

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A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and an instant New York Times bestseller'One of the most riveting books I've read in a long time' - Louise Candlish, author of Our House'Marple meets Succession' – Sunday Times StyleFor fans of The White Lotus and Big Little Lies, Ellery Lloyd's The Club is an exhilarating, addictive read, telling a story of ambition, excess, and what happens when people who have everything - or nothing - to lose are pushed to their limit.There’s no place like Home . . .The Home Group is a collection of ultra-exclusive private members' clubs and a global phenomenon. So the opening of its most ambitious project yet – Island Home, a forgotten island transformed into the height of luxury – is billed as the celebrity event of the decade.But as the first guests arrive, the weekend soon proves deadly. It turns out that even the most beautiful people can keep the ugliest secrets and, in a world where reputation is everything, they'll do anything to keep them.If your name's on the list, you're not getting out . . .'Smart, topical and immensely entertaining' - T.M. Logan, author of The Holiday'Glitzy and twisty and tons of fun' – Observer

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Jonathan Blitzer is a staff writer at The New Yorker. He has won a National Award for Education Reporting as well as an Edward R. Murrow Award, and was a 2021 Emerson Fellow at New America. He lives with his family in New York City.

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In a magical ancient Britain, bards sing a story of treachery, love and death. This is that story. For fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, Lucy Holland's Sistersong retells the folk ballad ‘The Twa Sisters.''A beautiful reimagining of an old British folklore ballad, Sistersong weaves a captivating spell of myth and magic' – Jennifer Saint, author of AriadneKing Cador’s children inherit a land abandoned by the Romans, torn by warring tribes. Riva can cure others, but can’t heal her own scars. Keyne battles to be seen as the king’s son, although born a daughter. And Sinne dreams of love, longing for adventure. All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people’s last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky – bringing Myrdhin, meddler and magician. The siblings discover the power that lies within them and the land. But fate also brings Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart. Riva, Keyne and Sinne become entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak, and must fight to forge their own paths. It’s a story that will shape the destiny of Britain.Sistersong is a powerfully moving story, perfect for readers who loved Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale.

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In Eva Carter's How to Save a Life, saving a life is only the start of the story . . .'A sweeping, brave, epic love story. I was hooked from the very first page' - Josie Silver, author of One Night on the IslandEighteen-year-old Kerry has had a crush on Joel for years, but knows he's out of her league. Then something extraordinary happens: minutes before midnight on the eve of the millennium, Joel collapses and Kerry saves his life.As Kerry supports Joel through his recovery, they discover a connection neither of them anticipated – until, haunted by what might have been, he abruptly ends their relationship.Over the course of the next two decades, the two are bound by that moment of life and death; each time they believe they’ve found love, discovered their vocation, or simply moved on, their lives collide again. But Joel got a second chance at life; will Kerry get a second chance at love?Because bravery isn’t just about life or death decisions; it’s also about what happens next . . .'I couldn't put it down until I reached the final page' - Beth O'Leary, author of The Flatshare

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Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2021'A dazzling piece of historical re-imagining and a revolutionary sermon, a furious denunciation of inequality' - The judges of the International Booker prize.The fight for equality begins in the streets.From the internationally bestselling author of The Order of the Day: Éric Vuillard once again takes us behind the scenes at a moment when history was being written.The history of inequality is a long and terrible one. And it’s not over yet. Short, sharp and devastating, The War of the Poor tells the story of a brutal episode from history, not as well known as tales of other popular uprisings, but one that deserves to be told.Sixteenth-century Europe: the Protestant Reformation takes on the powerful and the privileged. Peasants, the poor living in towns, who are still being promised that equality will be granted to them in heaven, begin to ask themselves: and why not equality now, here on earth?There follows a violent struggle. Out of this chaos steps Thomas Müntzer: a complex and controversial figure, who sided with neither Martin Luther, nor the Roman Catholic Church. Müntzer addressed the poor directly, encouraging them to ask why a God who apparently loved the poor seemed to be on the side of the rich.Éric Vuillard tells the story of one man whose terrible and novelesque life casts light on the times in which he lived – a moment when Europe was in flux. As in his blistering look at the build-up to World War II, The Order of the Day, Vuillard 'leaves nothing sleeping in the shadows' (L'OBS).

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My Stars: Aquarius is a perfect gift for children born between 20th January and 18th February. 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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My Stars: Leo is a perfect gift for children born between 23rd July and 22nd August. 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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Return to the world of Amy Wilson's A Girl Called Owl in this sparkling seasonal novel Owl and the Lost Boy, from 'the rising star of children's fantasy'. Being stuck in an eternal summer is not fun. Especially when you're Jack Frost's daughter. Owl's friend Alberic – who also happens to be the Earl of Autumn's son – is missing. Determined to find him and end the perpetual summer, Owl and her best friend Mallory embark on an adventure that will take them deep into the magical world of time itself. But Alberic's disappearance is shrouded in secret, and there's more going on than meets the eye. As an epic battle of the elements approaches, will Owl and Alberic be able to control their magic and restore the natural world?Lose yourself in this glittering story of friendship, nature and the elements told with Amy Wilson's trademark magic and heart.'A story of wild winds and bitter frosts with the warmth of friendship at its heart' Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song on A Girl Called Owl'It was such a treat to be back in Owl’s world - Amy Wilson spins her magic like a glittering winter cloak' Jasbinder Bilan, author of Asha & the Spirit Bird

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Hotel Raphael, Rachael Boast’s fourth collection, charts a journey through heat, drought and pain, and describes not only the reality of chronic illness, but living with it at a time of global crisis.Raphael is the patron saint of travellers and pilgrims, and also of healing; in the search for remedy, we pass through the balm of landscape, and brush against the worlds of artists, writers and filmmakers, whose angels broadcast to us from other rooms. We also encounter the biblical figure of Job, who poses the question of a terrible forbearance: how much suffering can we take, and what can we realistically change?While we fight to relieve our own pain, address the planet’s ecological imbalance and make efforts, large or small, to right its shocking injustices, we must also simply find a way through. Hotel Raphael sees Boast compose an extraordinary travelling song, one that shows us how to bear our pain without trying to erase its source.

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They say you can't choose your family . . . But what if they're wrong?Chloe lives a quiet life. Working as a newspaper archivist in the day and taking care of her nan in the evening, she's happy simply to read about the lives of others as she files the news clippings from the safety of her desk.But there's one story that she can't stop thinking about. The case of Angie Kyle – a girl, Chloe's age, who went missing as a child. A girl whose parents never gave up hope.When Chloe's nan is moved into care, leaving Chloe on the brink of homelessness, she takes a desperate step: answering an ad to be a lodger in the missing girl's family home. It could be the perfect opportunity to get closer to the story she's read so much about. But it's not long until she realizes this couple isn't all they seem. In a house where everyone has something to hide, is it possible to get too close?Anna Wharton’s debut, The Imposter, is a thought-provoking story of obsession, loneliness and the lies we tell ourselves in order to live with ourselves.'Evocative and compelling' – Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend and The Last Wife

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Set deep in the Yorkshire Dales, Diane Allen’s A Child of the Dales is a sweeping novel of family, deceit, separation and love.Abandoned as a baby on the steps of a remote inn, Ruby Blake has been raised by the innkeeper’s wife, Martha Metcalfe, unknowing of the family searching for her. One wild stormy night, Ruby is reunited with her long-lost father, who wants to whisk her away to Banksgill Farm for a happy life with her true family. Feeling betrayed by Martha, Ruby follows her father for the chance of a new life.However, for her Romani heritage, Ruby is quickly outcast from her real family by everyone – everyone except the charming stable hand, Tom Adams.Struck with loneliness in a village of people who find ways to make her miserable, she seeks friendship and love in Tom. As their relationship blossoms, Ruby is faced with the temptations of a handsome local miner and, when rumours begin to spread, Ruby feels more lost and confused than ever.With his long-lost daughter now safely under his wing, Reuben Blake is still desperately searching for Ruby’s mother, and vows he will not rest until he finds his true love. With Rueben’s mission leading him to the darkest corners of Brough Hill, his search shows only signs of heartbreak and despair.As neither father or daughter feel quite whole, will either finally find where they truly belong?

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An irresistible tall tale full of warmth, wit, cake and . . . penguins! Perfect for small children with big imaginations."I did not eat the cake."A cake has gone missing from the kitchen and Dad wants to know where it has gone. But Albert says it wasn't him. Oh, no. It was eaten by some very naughty penguins who then kidnapped Albert and took him on a madcap adventure involving international travel in a giant jar of marmalade and a snowball fight with kangaroos. Albert's dad is not impressed. But Albert swears he's telling the truth. HE DID NOT EAT THE CAKE! Could his story really be true?

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Set on the coast of Sicily, The Safety Net is the twenty-fifth novel in the bestselling Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri.***Adapted for BBC4's Inspector Montalbano series***Vigàta is bustling as the new filming location for a Swedish television series set in 1950. In the production frenzy, the director asks the locals to track down movies and vintage photos to faithfully recreate the air of Vigàta at that time. Meanwhile, Montalbano is grappling with a double mystery, one that emerges from the past and another that leads him into the future . . .Engineer Ernesto Sabatello, rummaging in the attic of his house, finds some films shot by his father between 1958 and 1963, always on the same day, 27th March, and always the same shot: the outside wall of a country house. Montalbano hears the story and, intrigued, begins to investigate its meaning. Meanwhile, a middle school is threatened by a group of armed men, and a closer look at the case finds Montalbano looking into the students themselves and delving into the world of social media.

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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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Lift the flaps and join in the winter fun in this Tales from Acorn Wood story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo – perfect for sharing at Christmas!It's snowing in Acorn Wood, and Squirrel wants to build a snowman. Will she and her friends find everything they need? Lift the flaps to find out in this wonderful wintry tale.With sturdy flaps on every spread and rhyming stories that are a joy to read aloud, Squirrel's Snowman joins the bestselling Tales from Acorn Wood preschool stories which have been delighting parents and children for over twenty years.Enjoy more lift-the-flap adventures from Acorn Wood with Dormouse Has a Cold, Mole's Spectacles and Badger's Band.

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For the record, it was never my intention to fall in love. But you know Cupid: he'll get you when you least expect it . . .Tilly isn't looking for a girlfriend, but her best friend Teddy is.Enter Katherine Cooper-Bunting: beautiful, charming, and perfect for Teddy. So why does Tilly find herself using any excuse to join the theatre production they're starring in?And why can't she stop thinking about Katherine?Cupid's Revenge by Wibke Brueggemann is a hilariously honest novel full of heart, from the acclaimed author of Love is for Losers.

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Indigo's Star is the second title in Hilary McKay's hilarious and award-winning Casson Family series.Indigo's going back to school after a long bout of illness. He's not looking forward to it, the bullies are lying in wait. But he's determined to stand on his own two feet – so when Saffy and Sarah break up a fight in the boys' bathroom, he's furious. Until he meets Tom.Tom is from New York, loves music, makes Indigo laugh and is unfazed by the bullies. But Tom has troubles of his own – can the boys help each other out?Follow the family's adventures in the rest of the beloved series: Saffy's Angel, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, Forever Rose and Caddy's World.

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Forever Rose is the fifth book in Hilary McKay's hilarious and award-winning Casson Family series.It's tough being the youngest.Rose comes home to a dark, quiet, empty house every day – her sisters and brother are always so busy. Indigo has his guitar lessons and paper round, Saffy is off with Sarah, and who knows where Caddy is since she disappeared with Michael's postcards.School isn't any better. Exams are looming, and vindictive Mr Spencer has cancelled Christmas!When will Rose get the happy ever after she has read about in books?Follow the family's adventures in the rest of the beloved series: Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After and Caddy's World.

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Tidying superstar Marie Kondo brings her unique magic to Kiki and Jax, a charming picture book story about how tidying up can spark joy in the lives of young children.Kiki and Jax are best friends – Jax enjoys sorting but Kiki enjoys collecting and gathers a lot of stuff. Soon her home is full of things all over the place. Where is Kiki's ball? What did she do with her swimsuit? Her home has become an obstacle course and it's hard for Kiki and Jax to play together. But Jax has a plan – he teaches Kiki how to sort everything and to keep only those things that spark joy. Once she and Jax have tidied up, Kiki has room in her life for those things that matter the most – especially Jax!An accessible introduction to Marie Kondo - complete with a special step-by-step folding activity - this charming story will make tidying fun for even the youngest of children!

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Pádraig Kenny's The Shadows of Rookhaven is a story about family and forgiveness, the sequel to The Monsters of Rookhaven.Shadows are gathering over Rookhaven.It is the time of The Great Configuration, a once in a hundred years event. Family and monsters descend on Rookhaven from all over the country to take part. But amid the guests there is an interloper. One who is disguised and has an eye on their destruction.Meanwhile Mirabelle – part human, part monster – discovers that to those from outside Rookhaven she is not considered family at all . . . and, forced to search further afield for knowledge of her true history, she risks everything – and everyone.Praise for The Monsters of Rookhaven:'A stunning book . . . a brand new take on the monster story' – Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl'A magnificent, shadowy, gothic adventure full of heart' – Emma Carroll, author of Frost Hollow Hall'A wildly imaginative story . . . a triumph' – Irish Examiner

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I consider [Observatory Mansions] the best fiction yet published in the 21st Century' Jeff Vandermeer'All of Edward Carey's work is profound and delightful’ Max Porter‘[Edward Carey, with Observatory Mansions] proves the potential brilliance of the novel form’ John FowlesObservatory Mansions was once the Orme family's ancestral home. Now it is a crumbing apartment block, stranded on a traffic island and peopled with eccentrics. Alice Orme never stirs from her bed, her husband lives in his old armchair, and Francis, their son, practises his own art of stillness as a human statue in the centre of the decaying city. He lives by his Law of White Gloves, never touching anything without their protection, and collects items for his secret exhibition - items stolen, not because of any monetary worth, but because they are treasured by the owners. This careful routine is shaken by the arrival of a new resident, Anna Tap, half blind and vulnerable, but with a strange gift for inspiring trust. As the other residents gradually open their hearts to her, Francis realises he must act before she forces him to confront his own past, and before she finds out about the mysterious final object in his exhibition. But as the currents of memory and desire swirl within Observatory Mansions' crumbling walls, it seems the sinister Porter has plans of his own... Edward Carey's debut is a novel of immense originality - a strangely haunting landscape occupied by compelling and unforgettable characters.

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Shortlisted for the 2021 Swansea University Dylan Thomas PrizeShortlisted for a 2021 James Tait Black AwardShortlisted for the PEN/Robert W Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection 2021'Sardonic, monstrous, tender' Sunday Times'Startling . . . profound' Daily MailIn Alligator and Other Stories, Dima Alzayat captures luminously how it feels to be ‘other’: as a Syrian, as an Arab, as an immigrant, as a woman. Each one of the nine stories collected here is a snapshot of those moments when unusual circumstances suddenly distinguish us from our neighbours, when our difference is thrown into relief.Here are ‘dangerous’ women transgressing, missing children in 1970s New York, a family who were once Syrian but have now lost their name, and a young woman about to discover the hollowness of the American dream. At its centre lies ‘Alligator’: a remarkable compilation of real and invented sources, which rescues from history the story of a Syrian American couple who were murdered at the hands of the state.Alzayat explores experiences that are startling and real, delivering an emotional punch that lingers long after reading.

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An irresistibly moving, funny and urgent memoir about the reality of caring for your parents, when you can barely care for yourself.‘Hilarious, bitter, poignant and profound, this is the human condition laid brilliantly bare, like an existential soap opera – only with more laughs.‘ - Philip Hoare, author of LeviathanIt was the kind of phone call we all dread. Your elderly father has been admitted to hospital. He’s not well and he needs your help. Your mum is about to be left at home alone. She needs you too. The answer? Drop everything. Go. Help. The reality? Not so straightforward. Suddenly, you’re a kid again, stranded in the overheated house you grew up in. They need you 24/7, that much is obvious. And you want to help, of course you do. But soon your life starts to unravel almost as quickly as their health.In between bouts of washing, feeding, cooking and fighting there are days that test you, days where everything goes wrong and days where everyone, miraculously rises to the occasion. And in between all of that, you learn how to care. But this time with feeling.Irresistibly funny, unflinching and deeply moving, this is a love letter to family and friends, to carers and to anyone who has ever packed a small bag intent on staying for just a few days. This is a true story of what it really means to be a carer, and of the ties that bind even tighter when you least expect it. This is The Reluctant Carer.

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Nothing Ventured is the incredible and thrilling novel by the master storyteller and bestselling author of the Clifton Chronicles and Kane and Abel, Jeffrey Archer.This is not a detective story, this is a story about a detectiveWilliam Warwick has always wanted to be a detective, and decides, much to his father’s dismay, that rather than become a barrister like his father, Sir Julian Warwick QC, and his sister Grace, he will join London’s Metropolitan Police Force.After graduating from university, William begins a career that will define his life: from his early months on the beat under the watchful eye of his first mentor, Constable Fred Yates, to his first high-stakes case as a fledgling detective in Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiques squad. Investigating the theft of a priceless Rembrandt painting from the Fitzmolean Museum, he meets Beth Rainsford, a research assistant at the gallery who he falls hopelessly in love with, even as Beth guards a secret of her own that she’s terrified will come to light.While William follows the trail of the missing masterpiece, he comes up against suave art collector Miles Faulkner and his brilliant lawyer, Booth Watson QC, who are willing to bend the law to breaking point to stay one step ahead of William. Meanwhile, Miles Faulkner’s wife, Christina, befriends William, but whose side is she really on?Nothing Ventured heralds the start of the William Warwick Novels, in the style of Jeffrey Archer’s number one Sunday Times bestselling The Clifton Chronicles: telling the story of the life of William Warwick – as a family man and a detective who will battle throughout his career against a powerful criminal nemesis. Through twists, triumph and tragedy, this series will show that William Warwick is destined to become one of Jeffrey Archer’s most enduring legacies.Continue the gripping series with Hidden in Plain Sight.

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** FEATURED ON BBC TWO'S BETWEEN THE COVERS **'Unlike anything else you'll read this year, Sixteen Horses is a deeply disconcerting ride. Irresistible' - Val McDermid, author of Still Life'Totally gripping from start to finish' - Alex Michaelides, author of The Silent Patient'Original, beautifully written, terrifying and haunting' - Sophie Hannah, author of Haven't They GrownNear the dying English seaside town of Ilmarsh, local police detective Alec Nichols discovers sixteen horses’ heads on a farm, each buried with a single eye facing the low winter sun. After forensic veterinarian Cooper Allen travels to the scene, the investigators soon uncover evidence of a chain of crimes in the community – disappearances, arson and mutilations – all culminating in the reveal of something deadly lurking in the ground itself.In the dark days that follow, the town slips into panic and paranoia. Everything is not as it seems. Anyone could be a suspect. And as Cooper finds herself unable to leave town, Alec is stalked by an unseen threat. The two investigators race to uncover the truth behind these frightening and insidious mysteries – no matter the cost.Sixteen Horses is the debut literary thriller from an extraordinary talent, Greg Buchanan. A story of enduring guilt, trauma and punishment, set in a small seaside community the rest of the world has left behind . . .

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The Promise is a unforgettable story about finding love, hope and joy in even the darkest moments, by the Sunday Times bestseller Lucy Diamond, author of The Secrets of Happiness.'This is Lucy Diamond at her very best - a stunning novel that will break your heart into little pieces and then glue it back together again with joy' – Milly JohnsonWhen faced with the sudden death of his brother, Dan’s mission is clear. He puts together a project to help pick up the pieces and support his grieving sister-in-law Zoe, plus her young children. This is Dan’s promise – to ensure his family’s happiness, and to try and live up to the man his brother was. But tying up loose ends brings a shocking secret to light, and calls into question everything Dan knew about his older brother. With more than just his promise on the line, Dan is faced with an ultimatum: Should he tell the truth and risk his family’s fragile happiness, or will his brother’s secrets end up becoming his own?'A bittersweet, big-hearted take on family dynamics, grief, and how to make happiness a priority' – Woman and Home'I loved The Promise' – Libby Page, author of The 24-Hour Café'We couldn't put this down' – Bella'Family drama at its very best with characters that have you reaching out to them' – My WeeklyReal readers love The Promise:'I cried and laughed''It was a beautifully written book from start to finish. Each night I couldn't wait to read the next chapter.''I literally cannot put it down.'

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The #1 Wall Street Journal Business Book Bestseller & Top 10 New York Times Bestseller.Based on the highly acclaimed NPR podcast, How I Built This with Guy Raz, his book offers priceless insights and inspiration from the world’s top entrepreneurs on how to start, launch and build a successful venture.Great ideas often come from a simple spark: a football player on the New Zealand national team notices all the unused wool his country produces and figures out a way to turn them into shoes (Allbirds). A former Buddhist monk decides the very best way to spread his mindfulness teachings is by launching an app (Headspace). A sandwich cart vendor finds a way to reuse leftover pita bread and turns it into a multi-million dollar business (Stacy’s Pita Chips).Award-winning podcast creator Guy Raz has interviewed more than 200 highly successful innovators from across the world, from the founders of Five Guys, Airbnb and Bumble to James Dyson and Reed Hastings of Netflix, to uncover amazing true stories like these. In How I Built This, he shares tips for every entrepreneur’s journey: from the early days of formulating your idea, to raising money and recruiting employees, to finding your market and, finally, to paying yourself a real salary. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of starting their own business or wondered how trail-blazing go-getters made their own dreams a reality.'A must read for anyone who wants to start a business, grow a business, or be inspired by those who do' – Adam Grant, author of Originals'These stories of founders and their companies are told with the same energy and openness it takes to be an entrepreneur' – Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup'Guy Raz is supremely himself in this guide for aspiring entrepreneurs: brilliantly perceptive, incessantly curious, infectiously energetic and above all, a master storyteller' - Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

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'I adore Duck and Tiny Horse. Funny, silly and totally original' - Josh Widdicombe'It's a hoot.' - The Sunday TimesPerfect for reading aloud, Teapot Trouble is a warm and silly picture book that children (and adults) will find hilarious.Something or someone is living inside Duck's teapot! Who are they? What do they want? How will we get them out? Never fear, for Tiny Horse is here! Tiny Horse has a trampoline. She has a magnificent hat. She has a stick of celery. What more could anyone need to save the day?A laugh-out-loud story with a message about kindness, starring Duck and Tiny Horse, the brave spaghetti hunters from Spaghetti Hunters. Morag Hood is the award-winning creator of Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea, When Grandad Was a Penguin, Aalfred and Aalbert and I Am Bat.

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"It's a hoot." - The Sunday Times.Perfect for reading aloud, Teapot Trouble is a warm and silly picture book that children (and adults) will find hilarious. Something or someone is living inside Duck's teapot! Who are they? What do they want? How will we get them out? Never fear, for Tiny Horse is here! Tiny Horse has a trampoline. She has a magnificent hat. She has a stick of celery. What more could anyone need to save the day?A laugh-out-loud story with a message about kindness, starring Duck and Tiny Horse, the brilliantly funny duo from Spaghetti Hunters, described by the Sunday Times as 'wacky and funny'. Morag Hood is the award-winning creator of When Grandad Was a Penguin, The Steves and I Am Bat.

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'It's like a big hug in a book' - Janice Hallett, author of The AppealSometimes the end is only the beginning . . . Annie is single, unemployed and just a bit stuck when her beloved father dies unexpectedly. Furious at his partner’s plans to scatter his ashes somewhere of no emotional significance, Annie seizes the urn and, on a whim, decides to take it on a tour of the thirty-one sea areas that make up the shipping forecast, which her father loved listening to, despite living in landlocked St Albans. Travelling around the coastline of Britain searching for the perfect place to say goodbye, she starts to wonder if it might be time to rethink some of the relationships in her life – but is it too late for second chances?A novel about love, loss and the importance of living life to the full, Annie Stanley, All at Sea by Sue Teddern is proof that it’s often the most difficult moments in life that show us what really matters.'Witty, wise with wonderful characters. I absolutely loved this book' - Katie Fforde, author of A Springtime Affair

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For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Joanna Nadin's The Talk of Pram Town tells a story about mothers, daughters and second chances . . .'Beautifully written and deliciously clever - the characters will stay with you for a long time and you’ll find joy on every page.' – Matson Taylor, author of Richard and Judy Book Club pick, The Miseducation of Evie EpworthIt’s 1981. Eleven-year-old Sadie adores her beautiful and vibrant mother, Connie, whose dreams of making it big as a singer fill their tiny house in Leeds. It’s always been just the two of them. Until the unthinkable happens.Jean hasn’t seen her good-for-nothing daughter Connie since she ran away from the family home in Harlow – or Pram Town as its inhabitants affectionately call it – aged seventeen and pregnant.But in the wake of the Royal Wedding, Jean gets a life-changing call: could she please come and collect the granddaughter she’s never met?We all know how Charles and Diana turned out, and Jean and Sadie are hardly a match made in heaven – but is there hope of a happy ending for them?

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For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel, comes a story about mothers, daughters and second chances . . . It’s 1981. Eleven-year-old Sadie adores her beautiful and vibrant mother, Connie, whose dreams of making it big as a singer fill their tiny house in Leeds. It’s always been just the two of them. Until the unthinkable happens. Jean hasn’t seen her good-for-nothing daughter Connie since she ran away from the family home in Harlow – or Pram Town as its inhabitants affectionately call it – aged seventeen and pregnant. But in the wake of the Royal Wedding, Jean gets a life-changing call: could she please come and collect the granddaughter she’s never met? We all know how Charles and Diana turned out, and Jean and Sadie are hardly a match made in heaven – but is there hope of a happy ending for them? Written in Joanna Nadin’s trademark dazzling prose, The Talk of Pram Town tells the story of three generations of Earnshaws and asks whether it always has to be like mother, like daughter . . .

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‘A conscience-pricking look at the reality of life on Britain’s streets . . . Illuminating, timely and urgent’ – Sunday Times‘A story that desperately needed to be told’ – Michael SheenTony froze to death in the garden of the house he used to own. Aisha dreams of becoming a nurse, but spends night after night seeking a place to sleep. Jon is an expert at squatting, using his skills to keep others off the street. Jim turned a bus he bought on eBay into a portable shelter. David was a homeless army veteran on the verge of taking his own life when he was saved by Gavin's kindness, now he's a successful artist and activist.Maeve McClenaghan has spent years investigating the crisis on Britain's streets. These are only some of the stories of struggle, loss, survival and courage she has heard. No Fixed Abode will change how you think about homelessness and show you that this crisis is not impossible to solve.This paperback edition includes a new preface covering the impact of Covid-19.‘A much-needed antidote to the apathy that can often surround homelessness. It is movingly told, passionately argued and totally engrossing’ – i

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There Are 101 Things That Go in This Book is perfect for curious preschoolers who are discovering the world around them. Split 'flip-flap' pages encourage spotting and finding skills as little ones match up each set of things that go with the correct scene and learn the vehicle names.With five beautifully illustrated scenes from Neiko Ng, each vehicle is located in the right environment, and with activities on colours, counting and more, there is lots to do and talk about.Discover more in the 101 series: There are 101 Animals in This Book, There are 101 Sea Creatures in This Book, There are 101 Things to Find in London and There are 101 Dinosaurs in this Book.

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In My Favourite Dinosaur, older babies and toddlers can have lots of fun lifting the peekaboo flaps to discover what each dinosaur is doing. There is a rhyme to share, recap questions and a wheel to turn at the end to choose your favourite dinosaur from inside the book. From the stomping spinosaurus to the toothy tyrannosaurus, which dinosaur will your little one pick? With appealing and stylish illustrations from Sarah Andreacchio, My Favourite Dinosaur is sure to focus and engage the youngest of children. Also available in the My Favourite series: My Favourite Owl, My Favourite Puppy, My Favourite Kitten, My Favourite Monkey and My Favourite Bear.

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Perfect for newborns, the high-contrast images in Baby's Very First Cloth Book Faces 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 velcro 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 Farm

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