"‘This captivating series of adventures is ideal for those who love whimsical humour’ Guardian, Best Children’s Books of the Year
Written by Carnegie and Costa Award-winning author Sally Gardner and beautifully illustrated throughout by Greenaway-shortlisted artist Chris Mould, Pernickety Boo is the unforgettable story of a very unusual umbrella.
'Hello,' said the umbrella.
'Gosh,' said the boy. The umbrella's handle was carved in the shape of a dog’s head, with a very long snout and a shiny nose and ears that flopped back. 'You can talk.'
'I suppose I can,' said the umbrella.
'Do you have a name?' asked the boy.
'No,' said the umbrella. 'Do I need a name?'
'Yes,' said the small boy. 'You need one for someone to let you in at the front door, and another name to be let out the back door.'
Brought to life by a careless sorcerer, Pernickety Boo is a well-educated umbrella with unexplored magical powers – and after he is left behind on the London Underground by his forgetful creator, Pernickety must find an owner: someone who will truly love him.
So when Pernickety meets young Sylvie Moonshine and is welcomed into her home, he thinks that all of his prayers have been answered. But there are plenty of other people who are also interested in the magical umbrella, and who threaten to separate Pernickety from his beloved Sylvie, unless he can find a way to stop them.
Perfect for fans of A Bear Called Paddington, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Winnie-the-Pooh, this instant classic is a book for the whole family to share."
"The tiny Tindims are like the Borrowers-on-Sea, who turn our everyday rubbish into treasure. Mother-and-daughter duo, prizewinning Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry, create a fun new world of characters and adventures in their empowering new series for 5-8 year olds inspiring conservation and inventive ways to recycle.
In the fourth Tindim adventure, a glow-in-the-dark squid, drawn by the light of the moon, has wandered far from its friends on the ocean bed to the lake on Rubbish Island. The Tindims are puzzled by their new shiny lake, but with the help of Spokes, Barnacle Bow and a rather special invention, they discover the squid and try to help it on its way home again."
"The tiny Tindims are like the Borrowers-on-Sea, who turn our everyday rubbish into treasure. Mother-and-daughter duo, prizewinning Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry, create a fun new world of characters and adventures in their empowering new series for 5-8 year olds inspiring conservation and inventive ways to recycle.
In their third adventure Ethel B Dina, who looks after the fish hospital and loves to sing, needs ten green, glass bottles to complete her musical Bottleramma. But she is surrounded by too many plastic bottles which do not make music. Join the Tindims in their glass bottle hunt and meet the Tindims explorer, Tiddledum."
"Turn rubbish into treasure with the tiny Tindims in this second book of the series. Mother and daughter duo, prizewinning Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry, team up to create a fun and funny cast of characters and adventures in their empowering new series for 5-8 year olds inspiring conservation and inventive ways to recycle.
On the Tindim's island home, Bottle Mountain is growing terrifyingly tall with rubbish. So tall that one night it breaks away with Barnacle Bell and Granny Shell clinging on tightly as they float off over the waves. None of the other Tindims know where Bottle Mountain is or how to help their friends find their way home...
Across the ocean, a boy discovers Bottle Mountain bobbing by the seashore. For the first time ever the Tindims are discovered. Can the boy reunite Barnacle Bell and Granny Shell with Rubbish Island? And can the Tindims and the humans help each other to save the planet?"
"What is rubbish today is treasure tomorrow.
Join Captain Spoons, Mug, Jug, Brew, Skittle and friends on Rubbish Island: wander through its warren of underwater rooms, including a toothbrush library and a hospital for sick fish, climb its terraces overlooking the sea and scale Rubbish Mountain.
Prize-winning author Sally Gardner takes the Tindims on their first ocean adventure to show keen young ecologists how to help protect our planet for the future.
A new series that empowers young readers to get creative with their rubbish and save the planet."
"Following the success of their first two adventures, the intrepid pair join Betsy's mum, Myrtle the mermaid, beneath the waves.
Crumble cakes! When Betsy joins Myrtle the mermaid in her underwater world, she discovers there may be monsters ... shipwrecks, lost treasure and secret cities. A seapig's prize seahorse, Pudding Pie, has been stolen by a cantankerous giant octopus and Betsy and Mr Tiger must go to the rescue in their new submarine. But what happens when a tiger's whiskers and tail are simply too long to squeeze into forgotten dark caverns where even the moon cannot shine, and Betsy has to take the final steps of the adventure on her own?
Praise for the author: “This enchanting new series is an absolute delight ... Striking just the right note of whimsy and magic.” THE BOOKSELLER"
"Crumble cakes! A red rogue wind is blowing and a wicked pirate captain and his crew are marauding the seven seas near the island left off the map of the world. A rare egg has gone missing and a very unhappy sea dragon wants it back. A pirate ship, the Kettle Black, is anchored in a secret cove off the island left off the map of the world. Betsy and her mum, Myrtle the mermaid, must dive deep beneath the waves, while Alfonso Glory and Mr Tiger fly high above the clouds in a hot air balloon… It's time for Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Gongalongs to set off on their second adventure...
The mysterious Mr Tiger and the inquisitive Betsy K. Glory set off on their second adventure, from bestselling author Sally Gardner."
"An enchanting fairytale about Mr Tiger, and his troupe of acrobats, Betsy K. Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker.
When Betsy K. Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker, meets the mysterious Mr Tiger they have a giant challenge: a moon to turn blue, berries to collect and wishable-delicious ice cream to create. The sort that makes wishes come true. With Mr Tiger and his troupe of Gongalong circus acrobats, a toad under a spell, a lonely giant, and Mum and Dad, Betsy sets off on her quest.
Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon made the 2018 Books of the Year round-ups in The Times, Telegraph, Evening Standard, Scotsman and Big Issue."
"From I, Coriander to Invisible in a Bright Light, Sally Gardner's first middle grade novel in 14 years soars with the imagination of a master story-teller. A pitch perfect, haunting story about a crystal chandelier shaped like a galleon that splinters into a thousand pieces, a girl abandoned as a baby on the steps of an opera house and a dangerous game called the Reckoning. It is 1870: opening night at the Royal Opera House in a freezing city by the sea, where a huge crystal chandelier in the shape of a galleon sparkles magically with the light of 750 candles. Celeste, a theatre rat, wakes up in a costume basket from what she hopes is a bad dream, to find that everyone at the theatre where she works thinks she is someone else. When the chandelier falls, she is haunted by a strange girl who claims to know Celeste's past and why she must play a game called the Reckoning to try to save the people she loves.
'In the watery cave of dreams hang the sleepers suspended on boat hooks.
'What if I don't want to play your game?' Celeste says. He leans back in his chair. 'Then you join the first row of sleepers. It's your decision.' 'What is the game called?' she asks. 'What are the rules?' 'It is called the Reckoning and only I know the rules.' 'Then it isn't fair.' 'I never said it was. This is a game I always win,' he says. 'I will help you this much – and I am being too generous. The player – that is you – was abandoned as a baby on the steps of the great opera house in the city of C.''"
"Podgy Bottom is in trouble. All over town cars are being shrunk to the size of a matchbox in the blink of an eye; a giant purple bunny rabbit is running riot and a strange-looking broomstick is causing chaos and calamity... Sounds like a case for Wings & Co, the famous fairy detective agency! Can Emily, Budget and Fidget put a stop to this magical mischief before it's too late?
Another fantastic story for younger readers from Sally Gardner, winner of the COSTA BOOK AWARD 2013, and acclaimed artist, David Roberts. If you loved David Walliams's GANGSTA GRANNY, you'll love these hilarious tales of mischief, mayhem, magic and mystery.
Read by Simon Russell Beale
(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"
"Spot on the Fishcake!
The famous fairy detective agency, Wings & Co, has a problem. Really quite a big problem. Well, a few of them actually.
There's the missing giant, Billy Buckle, who has vanished without a trace, and left his giant daughter with the detectives. There's a surprise visit to the seaside, which uncovers a murder and a stolen diamond. And then there's that tricky business of the TV talent show.
Squat on a squid, this is Emily, Buster and Fidget's most complicated case yet.
Read by Simon Russell Beale
(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"
"At the Wings & Co. Fairy Detective Agency, Emily Vole and her friends are beginning to worry. It's five months since their official opening and they still haven't had one case. Then local landowner Sir Walter Cross dies suddenly and mysteriously. The detectives suspect fairy meddling. And when Mr Rollo the tailor mysteriously loses everything and Pan Smith's wedding plans are ruined the night before her big day, they're convinced there must be magic at play. Now they have not one, but three pickled herrings to deal with! Can they solve the mystery of who is stealing people's luck before the meddling fairy goes too far?
Read by Simon Russell Beale. Simon Russell Beale has starred on stage, screen and TV and has been described as one of the greatest stage actors of his generation. He has been in numerous roles for The Royal Shakespeare Company and has won the Lawrence Olivier Theatre Award 3 times. In 2003 he was appointed a CBE. In 2008 Simon made his début as a television presenter, fronting the BBC Four series Sacred Music with Harry Christophers. He has read numerous audiobooks including Orion's Don't Cook Cinderella by Francesca Simon.
(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd"
