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Gareth first started writing when he was very young but it wasn’t until he was in his early twenties that he completed his first novel. Having had it universally rejected, he wrote a novel for children called Who Killed Charlie Twig, which received an equally unimpressed reception and remains rightly unpublished to this day. Some years passed during which Gareth met his future wife, Lisa and began a career in TV. Working on shows such as 'The Big Breakfast' and 'Richard & Judy', he became side-tracked from his book writing ambitions until one day he found himself having lunch at the offices of Bloomsbury. He mentioned the unpublished book to a nice lady called Sarah, who politely suggested that he should send in the first three chapters for her to look at. Gareth returned home and excitedly told his wife this news, who gently explained that the book he had written actually wasn’t very good, but reminded him that he had recently begun work on a much better idea. This turned out to be good advice.
In 2007 Bloomsbury published the first of four books in the series The Dragon Detective Agency and have since published The Thornthwaite Inheritance, Space Crime Conspiracy and The Considine Curse, for which he won the Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012. Gareth has also written a shorter story, Perry’s 5, published by Barrington Stoke and a series of books called Ninja Meerkats, published by Stripes.
The Case of the Missing Cats was nominated for the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize. The Thornthwaite Inheritance has won the Hounslow Junior Book Award, the Calderdale Book Award, Leicester Children’s Book Award, Sefton Super Reads, Doncaster Book Award, Rotherham Children’s Book Award and Fantastic Book Award, Lancaster.
Gareth now divides his time between writing books, producing TV programmes, spending time with his wife and children, and playing the slightly ludicrous number of stringed instruments in his front room. He lives in Forest Hill, south east London.
In a nutshell: pets protect the world from alien attack | Planet Earth Is under constant threat from aliens, and who is there to protect its inhabitants? Why, our pets. When Dung Guzzler beetles arrive from the former star Dun-Glowing, things look bad: these things thrive on rubbish, and as they get bigger will happily trample whole cities to produce more rubble. How will agent Biskit and his new partner Mitzy the cat stop them? Packed with excellent jokes as well as exciting action scenes, this neatly balances comedy and thrills, and Steve May’s black and white illustrations capture the tone perfectly. Garth P Jones has a deservedly dedicated fan-base and they will love this new series. For more mad-cap but exciting adventures see Guy Bass’ new Spynosaur series or Steve Cole’s Magic Ink. ~ Andrea Reece
The crew of the Leaky Battery are a rum bunch alright: steam-powered metal robots of different shapes and sizes. Originally designed to be servants, they choose piracy as a new career, as it offers adventure, the chance to see the world, and freedom. First Mate Mainspring feels he’d be a better leader than Captain Clockheart, who is a bit unpredictable on account of a loose valve sending too much steam to his head, and a fair amount of squabbling goes on but on the whole they are successful buccaneers. This brings them up against the cruel and snobby Iron Duke who is determined to send them for scrap. The steampunk twist gives this fun piratical adventure an original touch, and the metal pirates themselves are refreshingly moral free. There are great illustrations of the pirate crew too to add to the enjoyment. ~ Andrea Reece
August 2014 Book of the Month A rip-roaring dinosaur romp from a Blue Peter Book of the Year winner teamed up with the inimitable Garry Parsons, winner of the Red House Children's Book Award.
Funny, gruesome and scary, with the great setting of a funeral parlour, this is an action packed adventure full of the darker and dirtier details of life in Victorian London. Sam’s father buries the dead which maybe why they find it so easy to get in touch with Sam. But something has gone badly wrong with the the trip from one side of the world to the other. A deadly virus is trapping ghosts in the world of the living. Sam has to use all his powers to sort the muddle out. Gareth's written a spooky song to go along with his book, and you can listen exclusively to it here. Constable and Toop - The Song! by Hot Key Books
The author has just been named as winner of the Blue Peter Book Award for 2012. Meerkats are everywhere in films and commercials at the moment so it seems quite normal for a terrific little series to be created for 5+ year olds that features meerkats in disguise as Ninjas! They're goodies who are sworn to protect the world against the awful Ringmaster. However, the latest evil plans of the Ringmaster could just be a fight too many for the four mighty meerkats. Click here for the whole series.
The Clan of the Scorpion are escorting their mentor, Grandmaster One Eye, to a Kung Fu Grandmaster Meet deep in the mountains of Chile, when they are ambushed by a horde of enormous spiders - the Trained Tarantulas of Santiago! But the eight-legged creeps are a cunning diversion, and the Clan soon realise that Grandmaster One Eye has been katnapped! The Clan sets out to follow the attackers south, all the way to a colossal mountain fortress in icy Antarctica - but will they reach One Eye before the trail runs ...cold? Click here for the whole series. You can also follow the Ninja Meerkats on Twitter and their website.
Winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012. A hair-raising family adventure that will have you howling with enjoyment from author of the equally funny The Thornthwaite Inheritance and the Ninja Meerkats series! Gareth P Jones comments on his Blue Peter Best Book of the Year 2012 win: ‘I am beyond thrilled to have won the Blue Peter Book of the Year for The Considine Curse. Blue Peter is a national institution which I have watched since I was a child and so this is a tremendous honour. Getting a positive response to a book from just one person feels like a pat on the back, so winning a national award like this is like being whacked between the shoulder blades by an entire army... in a good way.’
The meerkat members of the Clan of the Scorpions are back. This time they are investigating the theft of an Indian Emerald with magical powers which vanished from right under the noses of the monkeys who were guarding it. Even teaming up with the Delhi Llama, the Clan of the Scorpions have their work cut out as they go on their very active chase!
Bravery propels this entertaining adventure of how the four meerkat members of the Clan of the Scorpions fight to the death to prevent the evil ringmaster’s plan for world domination. A Big Cat is missing from the Hong Kong zoo; the Clan of the Scorpions are hot on the case following the one clue…Will they be able to stop the Circus goons?
Entertaining and threatening in equal measure. This is a twisted tale full of humour, calamity and of murderous intent set in a vast and menacing mansion, which lovers of Lemony Snicket, Spiderwick and the Addams family will devour virtually in a sitting. Heirs to a vast fortune, Lorelli and Ovid Thornthwaite are twins but that doesn’t make them friends. In fact, each is determined to kill the other. But there are other evil intentions at work too and the twins have to deal with killer bears and rampaging bears as they fight for their joint survival while each protects themselves from the other. Brilliant cover image, which tells brilliantly the reality that is sibling rivalry!!! For slightly younger readers then why not try the Dragon Detective Agency, the publishers call this Raymond Chandler for 9 year olds!!! ~ Julia Eccleshare
This detective series has become wonderfully addictive so if your children have yet to experience it then do take a serious look and dip into one of the extracts. This, likes its predecessors is brilliantly plotted, suspenseful, fast-paced and just what’s needed to captivate young readers. Earlier titles include The Case of the Missing Cats and The Case of the Wayward Professor. The publisher has gone so far as to say Raymond Chandler for young readers. Wow.
Dragons solving crimes, racy plot-driven stories and lots of humour make this an absolutely compelling read for 7-9 year olds. Action-packed and crime-infested The Wayward Professor is the second in The Dragon Detective Agency series with The Case of the Missing Cats, the first in the series. The publisher’s say it’s Raymond Chandler for 9 year olds!
Intrigue, drama and danger are all around you in this marvellous adventure that’s full of sleuthing from the no. 1 dragon detective Dirk Dilly, who together with a little girl called Holly solve the mystery of the missing cats.
Rachel is utterly fed up of being invisible to everyone around her. Her best friend barely listens to a word she says, her teachers overlook her in class and even her family never seem to notice she's there. If only she could do something to attract their attention. Something extraordinary. Something like accompanying her journalist father to an interview with the newest celebrity singer, Honey Bourne. Getting to rub shoulders with a pop star is absolutely what Rachel needs to give her the recognition she longs for. But after a jokey idea from the school librarian sets her on the path to creating a Fame Formula, a new plan starts to take shape. Unfortunately, this plan is about to draw Rachel into the orbit of the country's biggest prankster. Maybe having everyone know your name isn't such a good idea after all ... Project Fame is part of the Reading Planet range of books for Stars (Lime) to Supernova (Red+) band. Children aged 7-11 will be inspired to love reading through the gripping stories and fascinating information books created by top authors. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills. Reading age: 10-11 years
Eva has signed up for loads of after school activities. She wants to be brilliant at all of them, but the pressure of keeping on top of practising, training and reading for everything is a huge challenge. If only she could time travel, she'd easily be able to fit everything in ...The aromatock should be the answer to Eva's problems. One sniff and this invention transports her back in time so she can squeeze in extra rehearsals and training sessions. But the more she uses it, the more Eva finds herself in danger of meeting herself in all these other time frames. Will coming face to face with a devastating event from her childhood bring the whole experiment to a terrible end? Project Time is part of the Reading Planet range of books for Stars (Lime) to Supernova (Red+) band. Children aged 7-11 will be inspired to love reading through the gripping stories and fascinating information books created by top authors. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills. Reading age: 10-11 years
Hamid has very definite ideas about how his family should work. He insists they follow his rules for everything from what goes into their packed lunches to how long they can spend in the bathroom. But when his grandma comes to help out while Dad is away with work, everything starts to fall apart. Mamani has no intention of sticking to Hamid's rules and takes a very relaxed approach to meals and schedules. In fact, Hamid realises the only way to tame his grandma is to hypnotise her into becoming more obedient. But will the new Mamani make life as interesting? And will Hamid ever be able to get the old Mamani back? Project Grandma is part of the Reading Planet range of books for Stars (Lime) to Supernova (Red+) band. Children aged 7-11 will be inspired to love reading through the gripping stories and fascinating information books created by top authors. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills. Reading age: 9-10 years
Daniel can't believe his luck when his mum finally agrees to let him have a pet. Elvis the hamster becomes Daniel's new best friend and every day after school, Daniel pours out his worries to Elvis or teaches him tricks. Life is perfect. But then, out of the blue, Elvis dies. In an attempt to get over his heartbreak, Daniel comes up with a plan to bring Elvis back to life. Not by replacing him with another hamster, but by recreating a robot Elvis with the real Elvis's personality. With some help from his technology teacher, the experiment works - except the new Elvis might be just a little too similar to the real thing for his own good ... Project Pet is part of the Reading Planet range of books for Stars (Lime) to Supernova (Red+) band. Children aged 7-11 will be inspired to love reading through the gripping stories and fascinating information books created by top authors. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills. Reading age: 9-10 years
Welcome to THE DAILY JOKER: with a belly-wobbling joke for every day of the year, and joking tips and challenges aplenty, this is the year you'll become the funniest version of you possible! Think of this joke book as a map allowing you to sail the seven sillies, plot a course to Hilarity Island, steer clear of the rocks of stony silence, surf the waves of laughter and dig up comedy gold. NOTE: Please keep THE DAILY JOKER somewhere safe. Maybe you can keep it on a shelf. Sort of like a shelf help book. Or in a sock drawer, since you'll be laughing yours off. Or inside your pillow. You know, just in case. Wherever you keep it, you'll need to open it every day to read your daily joke. And we guarantee that if you read one joke a day and complete one challenge a week, you will become the joker of all jokers! ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT BY BEANO ILLUSTRATOR NIGEL PARKINSON
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... Biskit and Mitzy are confronted by a large alien spider who plans to destroy the planet. Worse, she has an army of nits that she can enlarge with a blast from her own invention: the Relativisor. She can also shrink things with it - and suddenly Mitzy is the size of a louse and clinging to Biskit's head. Can the Pet Defenders stop the nits ripping the Earth apart? It's a head-scratcher! This fast-paced funny series features action, mystery and animal antics.
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... A mysterious cheese has appeared in Nothington-on-Sea and it smells so bad it's knocking people out! Biskit and Mitzy discover some alien cheeses determined to live on Earth. And they're being pursued by a giant mouse! Can the Pet Defenders get rid of the rodent and the putrid pong? You'd cheddar brie-lieve it! This fast-paced funny series features action, mystery and animal antics. Perfect for wannabe detectives and kids who love SPY DOG and THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS!
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... Animals are disappearing from Nothington-on-Sea and the Pet Defenders suspect alien activity. Secret agents Biskit and Mitzy find themselves caught up in the Planet Bogey Games. Biskit suspects the contest might hold the key to finding his missing partner, Champ. Can our heroes win the game? And what's more, can they get back home after? This fast-paced funny series features action, mystery and animal antics. Perfect for wannabe detectives and kids who love Spy Dog and The Adventures of Captain Underpants!
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The Earth's safety is your primary goal. Defend it. 2. Protect humans from the truth. Good luck - you're going to need it! From Gareth P. Jones, winner of the Blue Peter Award and author of successful young series fiction, including NINJA MEERKATS, comes a brand-new comic caper. THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS meets THE X FILES - Pet Defenders are secret agents with a difference. The humans of Nothington-on-Sea have no idea their sleepy town is a hot spot for space invasions, and it's up to secret agents Biskit and Mitzy to keep it that way. So when an army of alien beards arrives, the Pet Defenders need to act fast... If the Beard King gets his way, soon every living chin will be under his control. Things are about to get hairy! For fans of funny and action-packed animal adventures including Andrew Cope's SPY DOG series, ASTROSAURS and Jeremy Strong.
In a nutshell: pets protect the world from alien attack | Planet Earth Is under constant threat from aliens, and who is there to protect its inhabitants? Why, our pets. When Dung Guzzler beetles arrive from the former star Dun-Glowing, things look bad: these things thrive on rubbish, and as they get bigger will happily trample whole cities to produce more rubble. How will agent Biskit and his new partner Mitzy the cat stop them? Packed with excellent jokes as well as exciting action scenes, this neatly balances comedy and thrills, and Steve May’s black and white illustrations capture the tone perfectly. Garth P Jones has a deservedly dedicated fan-base and they will love this new series. For more mad-cap but exciting adventures see Guy Bass’ new Spynosaur series or Steve Cole’s Magic Ink. ~ Andrea Reece
The companion novel to the hugely popular THE THORNTHWAITE INHERITANCE After a lifetime of plotting each other's demise, orphan twins Lorelli and Ovid Thornthwaite have reached an uneasy truce. No longer trying to kill each other, they are living a quieter life in the remains of the burnt-out Thornthwaite Manor. It's not long, though, before some peculiar 'near accidents' begin to take place and the twins begin to wonder - is someone else trying to bump them off? Could it be the oddball builder Dragos, or Beaufort Nouveau, the twins' triple Michelin-starred chef? What would old Tom the gardener have to gain from the deaths of Lorelli and Ovid? Or stinking rich Uncle Harry, who claims to be the twins' long-lost uncle on their mother's side? As the number of near fatal 'accidents' ramp up, it becomes clear that there are some dreadful forces at work - but just who is behind the Thornthwaite betrayal?
Wanted: Dead or Alive! (Or smashed into little bits and delivered in boxes.) The Steampunk Pirates get a taste of their own medicine when the Leaky Battery is raided by a sea monster that's greedy for gold. But when the rusty robots race to get their treasure back, they sail straight into a trap... Can they dodge the creature's twisting tentacles or will they be squished to smithereens?... This hilarious series from Gareth P. Jones, author of Ninja Meerkats, is sure to delight young readers with its madcap humour and larger-than-life robot pirate crew. Perfect for fans of Jonny Duddle's The Ghostly Galleon and the Space Pirates books who looking for more swashbuckling action!
Larkin Mills: The Birthplace of Death! Larkin Mills is no ordinary town. It's a place of contradictions and enigma, of secrets and mysteries. A place with an exquisite ice cream parlour, and an awful lot of death. An extraordinary mystery in Larkin Mills is beginning to take shape. First we meet the apparently healthy Albert Dance, although he's always been called a sickly child, and he's been booked into Larkin Mills' Hospital for Specially Ill Children. Then there's his neighbour Ivor, who observes strange goings-on, and begins his own investigations into why his uncle disappeared all those years ago. Next we meet Young Olive, who is given a battered accordion by her father, and unwittingly strikes a dreadful deal with an instrument repair man. Make sure you keep an eye on Mr Morricone, the town ice-cream seller, who has queues snaking around the block for his legendary ice cream flavours Summer Fruits Suicide and The Christmas Massacre. And Mr Milkwell, the undertaker, who has some very dodgy secrets locked up in his hearse. Because if you can piece together what all these strange folks have to do with one another . . . well, you'll have begun to unlock the dark secrets that keep the little world of Larkin Mills spinning . . .
Wanted: Dead or Alive! (Or smashed into little bits and delivered in boxes.) The Steampunk Pirates are lured back to England by the promise of gold. But the appearance of their inventor, Mr Richmond Swift, signals big trouble. He has a new army of robots and it's not long before sparks begin to fly. Have the pirates finally met their match? This hilarious new series from Gareth P. Jones, author of Ninja Meerkats, is sure to delight young readers with its madcap humour and larger-than-life robot pirate crew. Perfect for fans of Jonny Duddle's The Ghostly Galleon and the Space Pirates books, looking for more swashbuckling action!
Wanted: Dead or Alive! (Or smashed into little bits and delivered in boxes.) The Steampunk Pirates jump at the chance to earn a handsome reward in return for doing some snooping. But when they find themselves sandwiched between the Dread Captain Inky beard and a spider on the attack, it's time to beat a retreat. Can they escape without a scrape or have the robotic rebels ticked their last? This hilarious new series from Gareth P. Jones, author of Ninja Meerkats, is sure to delight young readers with its madcap humour and larger-than-life robot pirate crew.
The crew of the Leaky Battery are a rum bunch alright: steam-powered metal robots of different shapes and sizes. Originally designed to be servants, they choose piracy as a new career, as it offers adventure, the chance to see the world, and freedom. First Mate Mainspring feels he’d be a better leader than Captain Clockheart, who is a bit unpredictable on account of a loose valve sending too much steam to his head, and a fair amount of squabbling goes on but on the whole they are successful buccaneers. This brings them up against the cruel and snobby Iron Duke who is determined to send them for scrap. The steampunk twist gives this fun piratical adventure an original touch, and the metal pirates themselves are refreshingly moral free. There are great illustrations of the pirate crew too to add to the enjoyment. ~ Andrea Reece
Told with Gareth's signature wit, humour and thoughtfulness, this story examines the way stories shape our past, present and future Eddie is pretty certain nowhere could be more small-town, more boring, and more inconsequential than his home town of the Wellcome Valley. Unfortunately, he is about to be proved spectacularly wrong. Eddie's problems start with the arrival of Scarlett, a new girl in town who seems rather too confident and mysterious for your average schoolgirl. She attracts trouble (and Eddie) like a magnet, and she's apparently only interested in two very strange things - protecting the town's local crackpot scientist, and telling Eddie absolutely nothing about what on earth is going on. And why is she so interested in Eddie's long-dead mother? Things quickly go from weird to worse for Eddie, as he finds himself right in the middle of a dangerous mystery - one with consequences not just for him and Scarlett, but time itself.
London, Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts: Sam Toop, Sohn des Bestattungsunternehmers Mr Toop, kann Geister sehen. Jedoch sehr zu seinem Leidwesen, denn haufig nerven ihn die Geister der frisch Verstorbenen damit, dass er ihren Liebsten Botschaften aus dem Jenseits uberbringen soll. Richtig dramatisch wird es fur Sam aber erst, als er Lapsewoodbegegnet, einem phlegmatisch-ergrauten Geist, der von der Geisterbehrde mit einem mysterisen Fall beauftragt wurde: Er soll herausfinden, warum aus Londons Husern die Hausgeister verschwinden. Und ist die Schwarze Fule, die sich daraufhin in den Husern ausbreitet, noch irgendwie aufzuhalten? Die beiden kommen einer Riesenverschwrungauf die Spur
Legend tells of the Clan of the Scorpion, four mighty meerkats who are armed to the teeth with ninja-knowhow. They are sworn to protect the world from their longtime nemesis, the Ringmaster... Small, deadly and furry, the Ninja Meerkats are four warriors on a mission. In Book 10 in the Ninja Meerkats series, The Ringmaster has stolen the Hammer of Thor, an electrifying weapon that controls thunder and lightning. The Clan race to the deep freeze of the Arctic to put the top-hatted villain's plans to rule the world on ice. But the Ringmaster isn't about to let the meerkats steal his thunder... May battle commence! A hilarious series for boys by Blue Peter Book Award-winning author Gareth P. Jones (The Considine Curse), featuring death-defying meerkat action! Full of comical characters, daft puns, fast dialogue and even faster action, these book are irresistible to boys and girls aged around six to eight years.
A lonely girl in contemporary London encounters dark magic in Victorian London London, 1891. When orphans Esther and Tom are caught stealing by Lord Ringmore, little do they realise the peril they are in. Rather than hand them over to the police, the lord employs the children. But what does he really want with them? Blackwood is a man obsessed. He has devoted his life to unearthing the roots of magic. Tormented by the thought of death he knows that only real magic can overcome mortality. He has in his possession a book that contains the secret of true magic, but he cannot unlock its meaning alone. Only Tom and Esther can help him unravel its terrible and dangerous secrets... London, 2013, and a young girl called Amy is about to turn thirteen. She is never happier than in a graveyard where, one day, she notices a gravestone named only 'Esther' with a magpie perched above it who speaks to her. He is called Tom! A spine-chilling tale of magic and illusion, and an induction into the world of sorcery both fair and shady - so beware!
Legend tells of the Clan of the Scorpion, four mighty meerkats who are armed to the teeth with ninja-know-how. They are sworn to protect the world from their longtime nemesis, the Ringmaster. Small, deadly and furry, the Ninja Meerkats are four warriors on a mission. In Book 9 in the Ninja Meerkats series, the meerkats are hot on the heels of the Ringmaster in the mysterious mountains and jungles of Peru. The Ringmaster has his sights set on a legendary palace with a magical throne, which brings power to anyone who sits on it. The meerkats must stop the Ringmaster in his tracks - but he's laid traps every step of the way... A hilarious series featuring death-defying meerkat action! Full of comical characters, daft puns, fast dialogue and even faster action, these book are irresistable to boys and girls aged around six to eight years.
Legend tells of the Clan of the Scorpion, four mighty meerkats who are armed to the teeth with ninja-know-how. They are sworn to protect the world from their longtime nemesis, the Ringmaster. Small, deadly and furry, The Ninja Meerkats are four warriors on a mission. In Book 8 in The Ninja Meerkats series, the meerkats receive strange reports from the Australian outback. They fly down under to investigate, and discover strange goings-on in the desert. Who else could be behind it but that top-hatted menace, the Ringmaster? He is building missiles to take control of the world. With boxing kangaroos and killer koalas, not to mention the Ringmaster's crew of deadly circus goons, this is one deadly desert mission. A hilarious series for boys, featuring death-defying meerkat action! Full of comical characters, daft puns, fast dialogue and even faster action, these book are irresistable to boys aged around six to eight years.
Legend tells of the Clan of the Scorpion, four mighty meerkats who are armed to the teeth with ninja-know-how. They are sworn to protect the world from their longtime nemesis, the Ringmaster. Small, deadly and furry, The Ninja Meerkats are four warriors on a mission. In Book 7 in The Ninja Meerkats series, the meerkats are invited to a mysterious island to take part in an elite fighting competition. But everything on the island is not as it seems and the meerkats suspect that the Ringmaster is plotting another of his evil plans. Do the meerkats have what it takes to become champions in the most deadly contest of all - their fight against the Ringmaster? A hilarious series for boys, featuring death-defying meerkat action! Full of comical characters, daft puns, fast dialogue and even faster action, these book are irresistable to boys aged around six to eight years.
Funny, gruesome and scary, with the great setting of a funeral parlour, this is an action packed adventure full of the darker and dirtier details of life in Victorian London. Sam’s father buries the dead which maybe why they find it so easy to get in touch with Sam. But something has gone badly wrong with the the trip from one side of the world to the other. A deadly virus is trapping ghosts in the world of the living. Sam has to use all his powers to sort the muddle out. Gareth's written a spooky song to go along with his book, and you can listen exclusively to it here. Constable and Toop - The Song! by Hot Key Books
Legend tells of the Clan of the Scorpion, four mighty meerkats who are armed to the teeth with ninja-know-how. They are sworn to protect the world from their longtime nemesis, the Ringmaster... The mystical Stone of Life has fallen into the wrong hands and an army of living statues is causing chaos on the streets of London. The meerkats are summoned to help by the Secret Secret Service, and vow to leave no stone unturned. Can they succeed before the city crumbles? Get ready to rock!
Legend tells of the Clan of the Scorpion, four mighty meerkats who are armed to the teeth with ninja-know-how. They are sworn to protect the world from their longtime nemesis, the Ringmaster... When Chuck's brother Lob calls from Egypt to request the Clan's help, the meekats leap into action. Lob tells them that a local band of robbers known as the Thieves of Cairo are planning to infiltrate the mysterious Tomb of Doom and steal its contents, including an Egyptian mask rumoured to give its wearer the power to read minds. The meerkats smell a rat... Could the Ringmaster be behind this cunning scheme?
The author has just been named as winner of the Blue Peter Book Award for 2012. Meerkats are everywhere in films and commercials at the moment so it seems quite normal for a terrific little series to be created for 5+ year olds that features meerkats in disguise as Ninjas! They're goodies who are sworn to protect the world against the awful Ringmaster. However, the latest evil plans of the Ringmaster could just be a fight too many for the four mighty meerkats. Click here for the whole series.
The Clan of the Scorpion are escorting their mentor, Grandmaster One Eye, to a Kung Fu Grandmaster Meet deep in the mountains of Chile, when they are ambushed by a horde of enormous spiders - the Trained Tarantulas of Santiago! But the eight-legged creeps are a cunning diversion, and the Clan soon realise that Grandmaster One Eye has been katnapped! The Clan sets out to follow the attackers south, all the way to a colossal mountain fortress in icy Antarctica - but will they reach One Eye before the trail runs ...cold? Click here for the whole series. You can also follow the Ninja Meerkats on Twitter and their website.
Winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012. A hair-raising family adventure that will have you howling with enjoyment from author of the equally funny The Thornthwaite Inheritance and the Ninja Meerkats series! Gareth P Jones comments on his Blue Peter Best Book of the Year 2012 win: ‘I am beyond thrilled to have won the Blue Peter Book of the Year for The Considine Curse. Blue Peter is a national institution which I have watched since I was a child and so this is a tremendous honour. Getting a positive response to a book from just one person feels like a pat on the back, so winning a national award like this is like being whacked between the shoulder blades by an entire army... in a good way.’
The meerkat members of the Clan of the Scorpions are back. This time they are investigating the theft of an Indian Emerald with magical powers which vanished from right under the noses of the monkeys who were guarding it. Even teaming up with the Delhi Llama, the Clan of the Scorpions have their work cut out as they go on their very active chase!
Bravery propels this entertaining adventure of how the four meerkat members of the Clan of the Scorpions fight to the death to prevent the evil ringmaster’s plan for world domination. A Big Cat is missing from the Hong Kong zoo; the Clan of the Scorpions are hot on the case following the one clue…Will they be able to stop the Circus goons?
Entertaining and threatening in equal measure. This is a twisted tale full of humour, calamity and of murderous intent set in a vast and menacing mansion, which lovers of Lemony Snicket, Spiderwick and the Addams family will devour virtually in a sitting. Heirs to a vast fortune, Lorelli and Ovid Thornthwaite are twins but that doesn’t make them friends. In fact, each is determined to kill the other. But there are other evil intentions at work too and the twins have to deal with killer bears and rampaging bears as they fight for their joint survival while each protects themselves from the other. Brilliant cover image, which tells brilliantly the reality that is sibling rivalry!!! For slightly younger readers then why not try the Dragon Detective Agency, the publishers call this Raymond Chandler for 9 year olds!!! ~ Julia Eccleshare
This detective series has become wonderfully addictive so if your children have yet to experience it then do take a serious look and dip into one of the extracts. This, likes its predecessors is brilliantly plotted, suspenseful, fast-paced and just what’s needed to captivate young readers. Earlier titles include The Case of the Missing Cats and The Case of the Wayward Professor. The publisher has gone so far as to say Raymond Chandler for young readers. Wow.
Dragons solving crimes, racy plot-driven stories and lots of humour make this an absolutely compelling read for 7-9 year olds. Action-packed and crime-infested The Wayward Professor is the second in The Dragon Detective Agency series with The Case of the Missing Cats, the first in the series. The publisher’s say it’s Raymond Chandler for 9 year olds!
Intrigue, drama and danger are all around you in this marvellous adventure that’s full of sleuthing from the no. 1 dragon detective Dirk Dilly, who together with a little girl called Holly solve the mystery of the missing cats.
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