About the Author
Katherine Woodfine was born in Lancashire in 1983, and studied English at Bristol University. She lives in London and since 2009 has worked for the literature charity Booktrust, where she is a children's book specialist and project manager of the Children's Laureate, working with leading children's authors such as Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson and Anthony Browne.
Featured books by Katherine Woodfine
Peril in Paris
9+ readers 11+ readersA Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month August 2018 | With a tremendous cast, a great plot and setting and a catchy style this fast-paced espionage story is a book that is impossible to put down. Sophie Taylor and Lilian Rose, two girls who are very different in all ways except that they both clever and brave, find their detective work leads them to working with the Secret Service Bureau. It is 1911and the girls set off on a mission to Paris. Following the twists and turns of their undercover activity is a delight – as is Katherine Woodfine’s re-creation of Paris. Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for August 2018 Once Upon A Wild Wood by Chris Riddell Oscar and the CATastrophe by Sarah Horne Run Wild by Gill Lewis Peril in Paris (Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents) by Katherine Woodfine The Garden of Hope by Isabel Otter
Rose's Dress of Dreams (Little Gem)
5+ readers 7+ readersInterest Age 5-8 | Rose's Dress of Dreams reads like a wonderful fairy tale; the little girl who dreams of beautiful dresses and spends her time drawing designs for fanciful frocks (much to the amusement of her family) grows up to create couture for Paris royalty. In fact Katherine Woodfine's dreamy tale is based up on the life of Rose Bertin, a pioneer of fashion in the court of Marie Antoinette. Rose's dresses are breathtaking works of art, using the finest materials and jewels and lashing of imagination...but first she must serve out her time as an apprentice. Despite the hard work and exhaustion Rose never lets go of her dream. The book is dressed with colourful and ornate artwork from Kate Pankhurst.
The Painted Dragon
9+ readers 11+ readersPerfect for fans of Chris Riddell's Goth Girl series, Enid Blyton and Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike series.
The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth
9+ readers 11+ readersA follow up to the novel, The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow. Cover and interior illustrations by Julia Sarda.
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow
9+ readers 11+ readersOne of our Books of the Year 2015 - June 2015 Debut of the Month An Edwardian department store provides a glamorous setting for this sparkling girls’ detective story, and there’s something of the Little Princess about its central character Sophie Taylor too. Left penniless when her father dies she’s pleased to find a job in the millinery department of Sinclair’s. The other girls decide she’s stuck-up but she makes friends with Billy a junior porter and beautiful Lil, who models clothes during the day and dances in the chorus at night. A daring burglary plunges them all into an exciting – and dangerous – adventure. Sophie is an appealing heroine, the mystery is cleverly plotted and leads to a thrilling climax, while the period details – clothes, hats, tea and cake – add to the charm. Splendid! ~ Andrea Reece
Other books by Katherine Woodfine
Peril in Paris
9+ readers 11+ readersA Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month August 2018 | With a tremendous cast, a great plot and setting and a catchy style this fast-paced espionage story is a book that is impossible to put down. Sophie Taylor and Lilian Rose, two girls who are very different in all ways except that they both clever and brave, find their detective work leads them to working with the Secret Service Bureau. It is 1911and the girls set off on a mission to Paris. Following the twists and turns of their undercover activity is a delight – as is Katherine Woodfine’s re-creation of Paris. Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for August 2018 Once Upon A Wild Wood by Chris Riddell Oscar and the CATastrophe by Sarah Horne Run Wild by Gill Lewis Peril in Paris (Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents) by Katherine Woodfine The Garden of Hope by Isabel Otter
Rose's Dress of Dreams (Little Gem)
5+ readers 7+ readersInterest Age 5-8 | Rose's Dress of Dreams reads like a wonderful fairy tale; the little girl who dreams of beautiful dresses and spends her time drawing designs for fanciful frocks (much to the amusement of her family) grows up to create couture for Paris royalty. In fact Katherine Woodfine's dreamy tale is based up on the life of Rose Bertin, a pioneer of fashion in the court of Marie Antoinette. Rose's dresses are breathtaking works of art, using the finest materials and jewels and lashing of imagination...but first she must serve out her time as an apprentice. Despite the hard work and exhaustion Rose never lets go of her dream. The book is dressed with colourful and ornate artwork from Kate Pankhurst.
The Midnight Peacock
A fast-paced historical mystery adventure for readers aged 9+ years, with gorgeous Edwardian period detail. Perfect for fans of Chris Riddell's Goth Girl series, Enid Blyton and Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike series. You are cordially invited to Sinclair's Midnight Peacock Ball! The festive season has come to Sinclair's and Sophie and Lil are spending the holidays at snowy Winter Hall. But it turns out that this is no ordinary house party . . . As sinister secrets come to light, our intrepid heroines find themselves faced with a more baffling mystery than ever before! With the help of their friends, can they uncover the truth in time to foil a truly diabolical plot? Or will Mr Sinclair's New Year's Eve Midnight Peacock Ball spell disaster for the dauntless young detectives? Prepare for shocks and surprises in the thrilling conclusion to the Sinclair's Mysteries! Praise for The Midnight Peacock: 'Katherine Woodbine brings her tautly plotted Edwardian series The Sinclair's Mysteries to a stylish conclusion, in a book filled with deft characterisation and delectable period detail.' Guardian ****** Praise for The Clockwork Sparrow: 'A wonderful book, with a glorious heroine and a true spirit of adventure' - Katherine Rundell, author of Rooftoppers `A real page-turner, it has murders, spies and gangs of thieves. Thrilling!' - Indiana, aged 10 years, LoveReadingforKids reviewer 'Dastardliness on a big scale is uncovered in this well-plotted, evocative novel' - Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times 'It's a dashing plot, an atmospheric setting and an extensive and imaginative cast. Katherine Woodfine handles it all with aplomb' - Julia Eccleshare, Guardian 'An incredible read full of mystery, wonder and adventure...This is now one of my top ten.' - Celeste, age 13 years, LoveReading4Kids reviewer The Midnight Peacock is the fourth book in the Sinclair's Mysteries quartet. The other books are the bestselling The Clockwork Sparrow, The Jewelled Moth and The Painted Dragon. Katherine Woodfine is a true champion of children's literature. Until 2015 she was Arts Project Manager for Booktrust, where she project-managed the Children's Laureateship and YALC, the UK's first Young Adult Literature Convention, curated by Malorie Blackman. She is part of the founding team at Down the Rabbit Hole, a monthly show for Resonance FM discussing children's literature. Katherine blogs at followtheyellow.co.uk. She lives in London.
The Painted Dragon
9+ readers 11+ readersPerfect for fans of Chris Riddell's Goth Girl series, Enid Blyton and Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike series.
Mystery & Mayhem
9+ readers 11+ readersTwelve mysteries. Twelve authors. One challenge: can YOU solve the crimes before the heroes of the stories? These are twelve brand-new short stories from twelve of the best children's crime writers writing today. These creepy, hilarious, brain-boggling, heart-pounding mysteries feature daring, brilliant young detectives, and this anthology is a must for fans of crime fiction and detection, especially the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries, The Roman Mysteries and The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow.
The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth
9+ readers 11+ readersA follow up to the novel, The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow. Cover and interior illustrations by Julia Sarda.
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow
9+ readers 11+ readersOne of our Books of the Year 2015 - June 2015 Debut of the Month An Edwardian department store provides a glamorous setting for this sparkling girls’ detective story, and there’s something of the Little Princess about its central character Sophie Taylor too. Left penniless when her father dies she’s pleased to find a job in the millinery department of Sinclair’s. The other girls decide she’s stuck-up but she makes friends with Billy a junior porter and beautiful Lil, who models clothes during the day and dances in the chorus at night. A daring burglary plunges them all into an exciting – and dangerous – adventure. Sophie is an appealing heroine, the mystery is cleverly plotted and leads to a thrilling climax, while the period details – clothes, hats, tea and cake – add to the charm. Splendid! ~ Andrea Reece
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