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Jeanne Willis is an award-winning children's author and scriptwriter. She had her first picture book published by Andersen Press at the age of 21, and since then she has won the Silver Medal Smarties Prize (Tadpole's Promise), the Nasen Special Needs Award (Susan Laughs), the Sheffield Children's Book Award (Who’s in The Loo) and the Red House Children's Book Award (Bottoms Up). Jeanne has also worked on scripts for TV, including Polly Pocket and The Slow Norris, and a pilot TV series for Dr Xargle. She lives in North London with her husband.
Photo credit: Justine Stoddart
Jeanne Willis is a latter-day Hilaire Belloc creating cautionary tales for modern youth that are both hilarious and full of sensible advice. Desperate to win more ‘likes’ for her posts, Goldilocks is driven to find ever more daring activities to share, which is why she takes a selfie breaking in to the bears’ cottage, and - #pipinghot! – one of her eating their porridge. It all ends in tears of course, and community service, but what’s worse for Goldilocks is that her posts are there forever, depicting her as a horrid porridge thief and leading to the moral: ‘So please, think twice before you send!’ Tony Ross’s illustrations, sharp and full of life and wit, are the perfect complement to the rhyme. Brilliance all round!
UKLA Longlist Book Awards - 2019 | One little girl dreams of being a star. But whether it's finding Mum's lost wedding ring or winning the fancy-dress prize, her big sister always shines brighter. Yet for her grandad she is a star and, as he dries her eyes and they both gaze up at the night sky, he tells a story, the story of the beginning of the world. Everything and everyone is made of stardust, and we all shine in different ways. It's a lesson this little girl will never forget . . . and one day her dream comes true, and she finally realises her ambition to become an astronaut and fly up to the stars.
There’s an important life lesson tucked into the pages of this action-packed and very funny picture book. Blue Monster’s parents give him pretty much everything he wants, but nothing makes him happy, at least not for long. He gets bored so quickly that what is entertaining in the morning just makes him bored and grumpy by the afternoon. As his search for satisfaction leads him into bigger adventures and more absurd situations he ends up on a tropical island but in the pitch dark because he’s swallowed the sun. Children will understand how he feels and recognise just what he needs to be happy. Author and illustrator have equal fun with this story and it’s very entertaining with lots for parent and child to point out and discuss. ~ Andrea Reece
It’s hard to know what will make children laugh most in this tale of a short-sighted T-Rex – will it be the description of him going out in his sister’s knickers and his granny’s vest, or the bit where he accidentally washes his face in the toilet? Jeanne Willis’s rhyming text is typically boisterous, and Tony Ross manages to make the hapless T-Rex both ridiculous and imposing. It finishes with the kind of shock-ending that is this pair’s speciality, one which after a moment’s stunned silence will have children roaring with laughter again. ~ Andrea Reece
A spin off from Paul and Henrietta Stickland’s much-loved Dinosaur Roar, this is a real treat for young palaeontologists. A simple story about a diplodocus called Dinosaur Munch, and how much he likes to eat, slips in all sorts of information about dinosaurs and their world. The pictures, while they portray the dinosaurs almost as cartoon characters, are accurate and also full of information. In the course of his browsing Dinosaur Munch meets fellow dinosaurs including a stegosaurus Dinosaur Whack, and a Parasaurolophus called Dinosaur Honk. The story is written by the inimitable Jeanne Willis, who else could incorporate the word parasaurolophus into a picture book rhyme without missing a beat? There’s a nice punchline to make children laugh, and it finishes with a page of interesting Diplodocus facts. ~ Andrea Reece
‘Deep in the rainforest, far from the swamp, lived a grumpy Triceratops, Dinosaur Stomp’. So begins this immensely appealing bit of dinosaur faction (a mix of fact and fiction). Dinosaur Stomp is very grumpy indeed so when he gets a chip of stone in his eye from a rock that Ankylosaurus, Dinosaur Bash, is reducing to rubble, he has no-one to turn to. Fortunately, Dinosaur Squeak, a brave little Composygnathus, comes to his rescue. It’s a funny, entertaining story but is also packed with information about dinosaurs and their world. The illustrations, while TV cartoon in feel, still give a very realistic impression of what dinosaurs looked like with their scaly, brightly coloured skin. It concludes with a page of interesting Triceratops facts. ~ Andrea Reece The World of Dinosaur Roar! is a brand new collectable series of books created by Peter Curtis and produced in association with the Natural History Museum in London.
I'm in Charge! delivers a useful life lesson with humour and style. He may be only little, but this baby rhino knows just how to throw his weight around, bossing all the other animals in ways that may be horribly familiar to parents of toddlers. It takes a stampede of beefy wildebeest to teach him that he’s not really in charge. The story is told with typical wit and insight by the incomparable Jeanne Willis in a rhyming text that is sheer pleasure to read aloud, while Jarvis creates glorious scenes depicting little rhino’s encounters with his fellow wild animals in the glowing, richly saturated colours of his illustrations. ~ Andrea Reece The Editor at Nosy Crow says “A laugh-out-loud book about a catastrophically cantankerous toddler rhino – what’s not to love? It may be set in the savannah, but this is brilliantly-observed preschool behaviour.”
The latest in in a wonderful series of cautionary tales for modern children from this super-talented duo, Troll Stinks is very funny and also delivers an important message on how not to behave. Two young billy goats have great fun with a mobile phone, taking silly selfies and leaving daft messages for friends. Then they decide to teach the troll under the bridge a lesson and send it some nasty texts. When they go to the troll’s cave though, instead of a big bad troll, they find a tiny one, frightened by their cyberbullying. It’s as witty as Belloc and as much fun to read aloud, and children will absolutely understand the moral of the story too. Brilliant! ~ Andrea Reece
Special 10th Anniversary Edition Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. This special 10th anniverary edition has a downloadable audio book plus tabbed pages (each is a part of the animal on each page) throughout so children can help each animal go to the loo.
The inimitable Jeanne Willis turns her attention to sibling rivalry in this witty and original picture book. Little Brother wants to play but Big Brother is determined to keep the treehouse all to himself so sends Little Brother off on a series of increasingly difficult tasks, only to be amazed and frustrated when Little Brother – cheerful and resourceful – brings him everything he’s asked for, from unicorn to Triceratops! But even Little Brother is stumped when Big Brother asks for a Snappenpoop. The fairytale set up builds to a surprising and satisfying conclusion that cleverly delivers a message for brothers (and sisters) everywhere, big and small. Matt Saunders’s illustrations are a delight too, bold, confident and he rises magnificently to the challenge of illustrating a Snappenpoop! ~ Andrea Reece
Best-selling picture book author/ illustrator duo capture the pitfalls of presents and the joy of them too! Boa’s really looking forward to his birthday and especially to all the presents his friends will bring. But every gift turns out to be completely wrong! Orang-utan brings him a piano but Boa has no fingers! Monkey brings him a pair of sunglasses but Boa has no ears or nose so they keep slipping off. Just when Boa is despairing of getting a single present he likes he gets an amazing surprise. ~ Julia Eccleshare You can rely on this picture book team for surprises and laughter, whether they’re exploring human failings or some innocuous aspect of everyday life. Here the giving and receiving of presents comes under the Willis Ross spotlight. The animals are bringing birthday presents for Boa but none of them seem to have given any thought at all as to what Boa might actually like. As he unwraps a series of presents totally unsuitable for snakes, including a piano, a hairbrush and a football, his disappointment seems funnier and funnier, until dung beetle tops it all with a present of … you can probably guess. A final clever twist leaves everyone smiling on the last page. ~ Andrea Reece
Longlisted for the UKLA 2017 Book Award In Chicken Clicking this gifted duo created a marvellous cautionary tale for our time. Now they deliver another important lesson for today’s impressionable youth. Appearance is everything to Lucinda Belinda Melinda McCool , the most beautiful girl in the whole of the school. It’s her aim to make the world a more beautiful place and no-one she meets escapes her censure, or her instructions on ways to improve their appearance. Until sadly she meets a monster and learns to her cost … well, you can probably guess! This is a brilliant piece of comic verse, wonderfully illustrated by Tony Ross, and should be recited to and by children up and down the country for their delight and edification. Superb! ~ Andrea Reece
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month, April 2016 Best-selling Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross have created many fabulous picture books together. Here, the weedy and whiny little slug is just longing for a hug! How can he make his mum give him one? All the animals he asks give him tips. A furrier and fluffier look, trotters and a tail, horns and a moustache, a pair of wings, and any number of noses. Will all of those tempt the slimy slug’s mum to give him a hug? Tony Ross’s hilarious illustrations of the misguided slug match Jeanne Willis’s ebullient rhyming text perfectly. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for April 2016 Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley Tidy by Emily Gravett Freddie Mole, Lion Tamer by Alexander McCall Smith Slug Needs a Hug by Jeanne Willis There's a Moose on the Loose by Lucy Feather Nature's Day: Out and About by Kay Maguire
Don’t miss this delightful comedy about penguin travellers and an unexpected friendship. As everyone knows, penguins are always at the South Pole, never the North Pole. Out for a picnic though, the Pilchard-Browns take a wrong turn and end up 12,340 miles away from home. An easy mistake to make says Mr Pilchard-Brown, who was in charge of the map. Fortunately, Mr White a polar bear offers to guide them back, and what an adventure they have together journeying across continents. Jeanne Willis has an enormous gift for comedy and her penguin family are brilliant and original comic creations, happy travellers fully embracing local customs. Illustrator Jarvis gives them an insouciant charm and they are equally at home water-skiing in Sydney harbour and sight-seeing in New York. Gorgeous! ~ Andrea Reece
Age 7+. Twenty six fabulously funny modern cautionary tales are wittily illustrated by Tony Ross in this vivid and entertaining collection. The sticky ends of the title bring delightful surprises to verses about the truly disgusting nature of school dinners, the fate of Felicity Finch, a little girl who likes to pinch, or Icy Clare who delights in going everywhere in her underwear. Perfect for reading aloud, the richly imagined and brilliantly illustrated retribution that befalls such characters will delight all who hear these verses. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Shortlisted for Children’s Book Award 2016, Books for Younger Children category Everyone knows that elephants can’t jump – it’s something to do with their knees. The little elephant in this book is desperate to jump like his friends and not being able to makes him feel very small on the inside. Then something happens that makes him a hero and, though he keeps his feet firmly on the ground, his heart jumps for joy! From the creators of Who's in the Loo? this is a typically funny story with a lovely message about individuality. Adrian Reynold’s bouncy watercolour illustrations are full of warmth and you can always rely on Jeanne Willis to make the reader laugh. Lovely! ~ Andrea Reece
Shortlisted for the English Picture Book Award 2016 Jeanne Willis is an expert at pinpointing human weaknesses, particularly those common in the very young, and this is a very funny morality tale about the importance of sharing. The first Slodge emerges from the primordial slime and has a wonderful time, gambolling around trilling ‘Mine, all mine!’ until the arrival of a second Slodge, a male this time. Hostilities break out between the two until a sudden external threat unites them. A happy last spread shows them – and their offspring – along with the message that the world is everyone’s to share. Jenni Desmond’s illustrations capture all the humour while providing a suitably ‘first morning’ feel. ~ Andrea Reece
Shortlisted for the Laugh-Out-Loud Book Awards 2016 -Picture Book Category - April 2015 Book of the Month - Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month Best-selling Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross have created many fabulous picture books together. Here, the weedy and whiny little slug is just longing for a hug! How can he make his mum give him one? All the animals he asks give him tips. A furrier and fluffier look, trotters and a tail, horns and a moustache, a pair of wings, and any number of noses. Will all of those tempt the slimy slug’s mum to give him a hug? Tony Ross’s hilarious illustrations of the misguided slug match Jeanne Willis’s ebullient rhyming text perfectly. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month April 15 Slug Needs a Hug by Jeanne Willis You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus by Patricia Cleveland-Peck Where's the Elephant? by Barroux Migloo's Day by William Bee
Chosen as one of the Top Ten Best New Books for Children 2015 by Andrea Reece - One of our Books of the Year 2014 Award-winning Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross go to the heart of a modern predicament in this cautionary tale about a young chick who hops into the farmer’s house and starts exploring the delights of the internet. There’s one-click shopping – a hive of bees, a motorbike, a diamond watch and 100 handbags. The farmer blames his wife – where has it all come from? And the chick didn’t stop. Soon, there are scooters for the sheep, skates for the pigs, a car for the cows and a boat for the hens. And, most exciting of all, there is meeting a new friend! But just who will that friend turn out to be? ......................................... Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross are the Flanders and Swann of children’s books, responsible for a string of very funny picturebooks, often with a sting in the tail. Chicken Clicking is a modern cautionary tale. Chick sneaks into the farmhouse every evening to browse and shop online. She goes on a fun spending spree, but when the hens sail off in the boat she bought them she feels lonely and accepts a friend request she really shouldn’t. The final page is funny, quite shocking, and makes an important point. For children aged 6 – 10. ~ Andrea Reece
Everybody's favourite all-action cat is back in the third instalment of the hilarious cat-superhero series, from award-winning author and queen of comedy, Jeanne Willis.
This welcome reissue of a favourite tale from A-list picture book creators Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross takes a typically sideways and comic look at family life and pet ownership. Little Rex the dog is desperate to get a pet person for his birthday, but his parents and relations are dead against it: ‘it’ll ruin the furniture’ says mum, draped on an elegant chaise longue; ‘they are impossible to train’ barks Auntie Sheba, resplendent in tweed suit and feathered trilby. Indeed, when Rex finds a little ginger person in the park, he quickly realises there’s a lot of truth in the grown-ups’ warnings! As ever author and artist interact to great effect, Tony Ross’s visual jokes the perfect complement to Jeanne Willis’s witty text. ~ Andrea Reece
The film of Paddington ™ brings new stories about the favourite bear from Peru. In this book version Jeanne Willis brilliantly captures the exciting new adventures that Paddington is drawn into. On arrival in London Paddington is found and taken home by the Brown family. But, at the same time, he is noticed by Millicent who has a much more sinister motive for taking an interest in the small, lonely bear. Millicent is a taxidermist at the Natural History Museum and she is sure Paddington would make a great addition to her stuffed animal collection. Can Paddington avoid such a bleak future? ~ Julia Eccleshare
A delicious joke which sees all kinds of babies ending up with all kinds of parents who are not their own! When the world tips…the grass-chewing cow gets a meat-eating lion cub, the super-fast cheetah gets a sloth for a babe while the owl who only closes her eyes at dawn gets a noisy rooster chick with quite a different view of the world. Luckily there is a happy ending – mostly!
Supercat, or Tiger the cat as he once was known, is back for a spectacularly witty new adventure. Ever since the day he licked a toxic sock Tiger has had special powers – but they don’t always manage to make things go exactly according to plan! His deadly enemy is Count Backwards who has been so outrageously bold as to kidnap the Queen at her own birthday party! Can Supercat save the day with the help of an extra- special party bag?
One of our Books of the Year 2014 - June 2014 Book of the Month Award-winning Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross go to the heart of a modern predicament in this cautionary tale about a young chick who hops into the farmer’s house and starts exploring the delights of the internet. There’s one-click shopping – a hive of bees, a motorbike, a diamond watch and 100 handbags. The farmer blames his wife – where has it all come from? And the chick didn’t stop. Soon, there are scooters for the sheep, skates for the pigs, a car for the cows and a boat for the hens. And, most exciting of all, there is meeting a new friend! But just who will that friend turn out to be?
Best-selling picture book author/ illustrator duo capture the pitfalls of presents and the joy of them too! Boa’s really looking forward to his birthday and especially to all the presents his friends will bring. But every gift turns out to be completely wrong! Orang-utan brings him a piano but Boa has no fingers! Monkey brings him a pair of sunglasses but Boa has no ears or nose so they keep slipping off. Just when Boa is despairing of getting a single present he likes he gets an amazing surprise.
February 2014 Book of the Month Does your child want to be a super hero, does he or she crave excitement and laugh-out-loud an awful lot? if so, Supercat vs the Chip Thief is the first book in a super new series by bestselling author and queen of comedy, Jeanne Willis that will provide just that. Packed with action, adventure and a crime-fighting cat, this series is purr-fectly pitched for 6+ year olds to devour in a sitting. Why not tweet a superhero catchphrase using #supercat @Harpercollinsch.
December 2013 Book of the Month “Fat Faced, Jelly Bellied, Worm Tailed” – these are some of the insults that Little Green Monster selects to hurl at a newcomer to school. But Little Green Monster has made a very big mistake about who he is calling names! Lots of options of insults are possible in this mix and match title which will be sure to make young readers go away knowing that name calling is seriously not a good thing to do!
An engaging and amusing tale about overcoming fear from an award-winning team.
A side-splitting look at a topic every child knows and giggles about - noisy bottoms! - cheeky, quirky and outrageous humour from this bestselling team. Boys in particular will love this but beware parents they may decide to wallow around with the piggies too!
Winner of The English Association 2013 (Fiction 4-7) September 2012 Book of the Month. This best-selling author/illustrator team have come up with a cracker of a story told with flair and invention. Poor hippopotamus has a spotamus on her bottomus…How on earth can it be cured? Everyone has a view and many try to get rid of it but, the spot is stuck fast. What on earth can it be? Excellent jokes abound in both the words and the pictures of this delightful book.
An appealing story with memorable characters, which celebrates the importance of family and friendship. Even when times appear to be tough, the bonds of friendship endure. From the author of the 2007 Red House Award-winning Who's in the Loo? this story encourages children to take an interest in their own family history. The illustrations bring the story to life, perfectly capturing the weird but wonderful world of the Goffins.
Can a scrawny caveman turn a giant woolly mammoth into delicious pie? Both sides gather their friends as they square up for a major confrontation. Who do you think will win? Jeanne Willis’s rhyming text charts the plotting and planning before the battle while Tony Ross’s illustrations brilliantly capture the greedy cave men and their formidable foes.
This is a magical picture book from what you could call the dream team of Jeanne Willis (who writes the words) and Tony Ross (who creates the illustrations). Caterpillar Dreams celebrates the life of two curly caterpillars who dream of all the things they will do when they become butterflies. Autumn comes, and they settle down to sleep, eager to wake up and have their dream realised. But Nature of course has a different dream, a different plan for them...
A thrilling zoo adventure takes place in this wittily written and illustrated first reader. Will the Penguins in the City Zoo be able to find the missing baby penguins? Who will help them? Young readers will love this fast-paced drama with its cast of zoo animals, some helpful and some not, as the delightful rescue mission unfolds.
September 2012 Book of the Month. Its message is one to treasure. Mayfly lives for only one day. Is she sad? No, everything about that one day is to be celebrated. Mayfly sees buds burst open, she sees babies being born; she feels breezes blowing and she dances to the music of the universe. When her one day comes to an end, Mayfly gives thanks for the wonder of it all. A book of celebration for all to share.
In the middle of a wood there is a chick who will not fly. Not I! she cries to Mother Owl and Father Owl. She flaps, she flips, she flops and hops back into the nest. Time passes and seasons change, but still she refuses to fly. Will she ever learn to let go and soar up into the open sky?
Daft dinosaurs create delightfully madcap fun in this hilarious family saga with a difference. When gang warfare between Darwin the stegosaurus and T Rex Flint Beastwood breaks out, the exuberant mayor Boris comes up with a great plan. Why not hold a dinosaur Olympic games as a way of bringing peace? Will Boris’s plan work? It certainly sparks some very lively action amongst the dinosaurs…
A beautifully illustrated and moving story about a blind mole who wonders what a sunset is like. This is a heart-warming tale about the shared experience of blind Mole and his friends. You're in the right place if you want a gorgeous activity sheet pack for this title (click here to download) or to celebrate your own Picture Book Picnic with friends and family.
Shortlisted for the Little Rebel Children's Book Award 2013.Meet Wild Child! She's spirited and curious. She's fearless and free. She lives alone in a mystical, prehistoric world - the last child in a dramatic landscape, where anything could happen. Follow her through her day as she explores her world from the foot of the mountain to the heart of the wood; while she runs with the rabbits and swims with the fish - but beware of the grown-ups and sensible shoes! Join the magic and unleash the wild child in you.
Packed full of pop-up surprises this is a hilarious lift-the-flap book with an excellent joke at the end. Wonderful transformations of a host of animals are uncovered under every flap. But, someone isn’t in disguise. Who can be? Young readers will enjoy the joke and the scale of the pop-up.
Age 7+. Twenty six fabulously funny modern cautionary tales are wittily illustrated by Tony Ross in this vivid and entertaining collection. The sticky ends of the title bring delightful surprises to verses about the truly disgusting nature of school dinners, the fate of Felicity Finch, a little girl who likes to pinch, or Icy Clare who delights in going everywhere in her underwear. Perfect for reading aloud, the richly imagined and brilliantly illustrated retribution that befalls such characters will delight all who hear these verses.
In this laugh-out-loud funny book, Dr Xargle is instructing his class of small fellow aliens on the nature and habits of the earth creatures known to us as cats. It's brilliant with parents and children enjoying it in equal measure.
A beautifully illustrated and moving story about a blind mole who wonders what a sunset is like. This is a heart-warming tale about the shared experience of blind Mole and his friends. You're in the right place if you want a gorgeous activity sheet pack for this title (click here to download) or to celebrate your own Picture Book Picnic with friends and family.
A prize winning title, this introduces Susan who loves to swing, dance, swim, ride do all the things other children do. In fact, she’s no different from any other little girl except that, as the final spread shows, she gets about in a wheel chair. The vigour and active text is perfectly supported by Tony Ross’s warm hearted illustrations.
Highly entertaining, this is a touching story about an unlikely friendship between two cats. Stuck up Sir Cecil aspires to the higher way of life – such as the one his master leads; Cubby is a scruffy down to earth cat who relishes Sir Cecil’s luxurious lifestyle. How the two become firm friends after a number of serious mishaps is delightfully told in the easy-to-read chapters of this book. This is just one of a number of Pocket Money Puffins. To view others click here.
Nominated for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010. A wonderfully funny and touching story of friendship from the comic wordsmith Jeanne Willis and brilliantly brought to life with wacky and laugh-out-loud illustrations from Tony Ross.
This is a magical picture book from what you could call the dream team of Jeanne Willis (who writes the words) and Tony Ross (who creates the illustrations). Caterpillar Dreams celebrates the life of two curly caterpillars who dream of all the things they will do when they become butterflies. Autumn comes, and they settle down to sleep, eager to wake up and have their dream realised. But Nature of course has a different dream, a different plan for them...
Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. Enjoy this title even more with the accompanying audio cd.
A brilliantly light hearted celebration of the bare bottie! Human toddlers protest against the wearing of nappies, knickers, pants, boxers, bloomers or briefs. After all, the human babies protest in the jaunty rhyming text whilst the entertaining illustrations which illustrate the dottiness of the concept, animals definitely do not wear smalls!
A tender story with a big message. Two sisters playing by the pond find a magical tiny being complete with wings. It’s a bog baby and the two girls decide to take the best care of it that they can. But, when the bog baby becomes ill, they realize that they’ll have to let it go back to the wild. A beautiful story about the joy of caring but not shying away from the hardest part of it – letting go when the time comes. Winner of the 2008 Booktrust Early Years 'Pre-School Award'. The Lovereading comment: A wonderful new story from Jeanne Willis, the author that brought you Who's in the Loo? Ever heard if a Bog Baby before? Well it’s undersized and blue and has wings similar to that of a dragon. When two girls find it in a magical pond they wonder what to do with it. This book is hilarious, touchingly illustrated and there’s a good moral lesson at the end.
An hilarious hairy adventure at the time of the woolly mammoth. Can the very thin, very hungry caveman ever get the fat mammoth and turn him into a delicious – and filling – pie? Mammoth Pie is hard to get but following the caveman’s attempts to do is fun for all.
Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. Jeanne Willis will be at The Cheltenham Book Festival in October. For more details click here. Also click here to see an interview with Jeanne on www.meettheauthor.co.uk
Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. Jeanne Willis will be at The Cheltenham Book Festival in October. For more details click here. Also click here to see an interview with Jeanne on www.meettheauthor.co.uk
The little shrew has a very big message but a very small voice. He wants to make a plea for peace but he just cannot get his voice heard above all the other noises in the world. Luckily, he never gives up and little by little he begins to make some headway. A warm story with a wise and important point to make.
Little Rhino is rude to everyone, and has been since the day he was born. He sticks his tongue out, makes rude noises, and waves his bottom at anyone in front of him. Until, that is, he meets his match with someone who is prepared to treat him the same way!
Dozy mare is a lazy horse. She won’t go backwards, she won’t go forwards, she won’t trot, she won’t jump and she won’t perform tricks. Carrots, sugar lumps, ice cream – nothing will tempt Dozy Mare to do anything that is asked of her. But when she hears that her next sale will be to the butcher, Dozy Mare picks up her heels and runs and jumps and performs every trick imaginable. She’s not so dozy after all. It’s worth is to have freedom! Tony Ross’s capering Dozy Mare is a delight.
Handsomely produced in a beautiful binding, this is a gift book to treasure. Its message is one to treasure, too. Mayfly lives for only one day. Is she sad? No, everything about that one day is to be celebrated. Mayfly sees buds burst open, she sees babies being born; she feels breezes blowing and she dances to the music of the universe. When her one day comes to an end, Mayfly gives thanks for the wonder of it all. A book of celebration for all to share.
An early collaboration from one of the country’s best-loved author/illustrator teams, this best-selling picture book shows an alien’s view of Earth babies.
Lid up, pants down, bottom on the seat! They mustn't have toilets in outer space, because this baby Martian keeps going in the wrong place: a bird bath, a bin, an up-turned hat... Perhaps if he masters The Toilet Song, he might learn where to go.
Get ready for blast-off on an adventure to the moon! With stunning original artwork by John Hare and charming text by bestselling and award-winning author Jeanne Willis, Field Trip to the Moon is a wonderfully witty story about exploration, creativity and making friends in the most unlikely places. It's not every day you find yourself on a field trip to the moon, let alone stranded in outer space! But for one student that's exactly what happens when her curiosity separates her from the rest of her class. Why wouldn't you take the opportunity to get your crayons out, look back and draw planet Earth? Alone on the moon, she sits down to draw. But could there be an even bigger surprise when she realises she's not alone? What would someone that lived on the moon even look like? Be prepared to find out what happens when you reach out to those that are different from us and greet them with an open pack of crayons!
Get ready for blast-off on an adventure to the moon! With stunning original artwork by John Hare and charming text by bestselling author Jeanne Willis, Field Trip to the Moon is a wonderfully witty story about exploration, creativity and making friends in the most unlikely places. It's not every day you find yourself on a field trip to the moon, let alone stranded in outer space! But for one student that's exactly what happens when her curiosity separates her from the rest of her class. Why wouldn't you take the opportunity to get your crayons out, look back and draw planet Earth? Alone on the moon, she sits down to draw. But could there be an even bigger surprise when she realises she's not alone? What would someone that lived on the moon even look like? Find out what happens when you reach out to those that are different from us and greet them with an open pack of crayons!
Project X Origins is a ground-breaking guided reading programme for the whole school. Action-packed stories, fascinating non-fiction and comprehensive guided reading support meet the needs of children at every stage of their reading development. In Zak and Zee flying insect Zee has small eyes, but soon realises why Zak doesn't respond when he keeps asking him to tea. Each book contains inside cover notes that highlight challenge words, prompt questions and a range of follow-up activities to support children in their reading.
It's night-time but the hamsters aren't sleeping. They're having a party instead! Hamster Party is a hilarious wordless book, with plenty of mischief to spot in the lively illustrations. Oxford Reading Tree Story Sparks is an emotionally-engaging fiction series that will fire children's imaginations and develop their comprehension skills. The variety of authors and illustrators broadens children's reading experience, with something to appeal to every child. This story is one of six titles at Oxford Level 1, which are wordless and provide engaging stories through illustration. All the books in the series are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every reader to the right book.
The third of the award-winning Penguin Pandemonium books. Part of the Awesome Animals series - the funniest fiction, starring the wildest wildlife, from prize winning authors. Rory and his pals have got their flippers in a flap! The swimming, singing, snowboarding penguins of City Zoo have got competition. There's a new arrival at the zoo and he's stealing all the limelight! But is Frosty the polar bear cub friend or foe?
A book is not just a book. It can be so many things; a hat or a a building block, a flower press or a fly-swatter! But books are so much more than that. They can make you feel, they can take you anywhere, they can make you laugh and can teach you anything you want to know. 'Rhyming books don't get better than Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross' Not Just A Book' The i Paper 'Celebrates creativity and imagination... Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross are the ideal combination for any picture book' Scotsman
Celebrating acceptance and being who you really are, this joyful story is about Cliff, the crocodile who wants to wear a dress. When the hyenas laugh at Cliff, he pretends he's dressing up for a play. But no play exists! Luckily his friend Freddy comes to the rescue and creates a show for Cliff to star in. But what will his dad say when he sees him? A funny story about inclusion and supporting your friends and family. Jeanne Willis is an award-winning author who has written over 150 books, including The Bog Baby, the Paddington Movie novelisation and Tadpole's Promise.
Jeanne Willis is a latter-day Hilaire Belloc creating cautionary tales for modern youth that are both hilarious and full of sensible advice. Desperate to win more ‘likes’ for her posts, Goldilocks is driven to find ever more daring activities to share, which is why she takes a selfie breaking in to the bears’ cottage, and - #pipinghot! – one of her eating their porridge. It all ends in tears of course, and community service, but what’s worse for Goldilocks is that her posts are there forever, depicting her as a horrid porridge thief and leading to the moral: ‘So please, think twice before you send!’ Tony Ross’s illustrations, sharp and full of life and wit, are the perfect complement to the rhyme. Brilliance all round!
Celebrating acceptance and being who you really are, this joyful story is about Cliff, the crocodile who wants to wear a dress. When the hyenas laugh at Cliff, he pretends he's dressing up for a play. But no play exists! Luckily his friend Freddy comes to the rescue and creates a show for Cliff to star in. But what will his dad say when he sees him? A funny story about inclusion and supporting your friends and family illustrated with exuberance. Jeanne Willis is an award-winning author who has written over 150 books, including The Bog Baby, the Paddington Movie novelisation and Tadpole's Promise.
Meet the accident-prone T-Rex. First he loses his glasses, then he has one disaster after another: he can't tell his breakfast toast from a slipper, then he mistakes a prehistoric owl for his bath towel! A laugh-out-loud tale from legendary picture book duo Willis and Ross. Praise for Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross: Rhyming books don't get better than Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross The i Paper
UKLA Longlist Book Awards - 2019 | One little girl dreams of being a star. But whether it's finding Mum's lost wedding ring or winning the fancy-dress prize, her big sister always shines brighter. Yet for her grandad she is a star and, as he dries her eyes and they both gaze up at the night sky, he tells a story, the story of the beginning of the world. Everything and everyone is made of stardust, and we all shine in different ways. It's a lesson this little girl will never forget . . . and one day her dream comes true, and she finally realises her ambition to become an astronaut and fly up to the stars.
Spike, a little hedgehog, has always had impressive prickles. But one morning, after a particularly scary dream, he wakes up completely bare! Oh no! Feeling very embarrassed, he goes in search of something to cover himself, from a paper lampshade to a tea cup to a very stinky sock. But nothing stops the other animals giggling at him. Poor Spike! Then he discovers a big bunch of balloons, which takes him across the world and ends in a very satisfying POP! and a very prickly party.
...A wild and witty adventure with exuberantly naive pictures. - The Sunday Times Blue Monster loves brand new things. A fancy new hat . . . a shiny submarine . . . a fabulous funfair . . . and a paradise island, all of his own. But he's still not happy! What will it take for Blue Monster to realise there are some things that money can't buy? An original, humorous and unforgettable fable from the creators of the award-winning The First Slodge, perfect for introducing little ones to the idea of materialism.
Spike, a little hedgehog, has always had impressive prickles. But one morning, after a particularly scary dream, he wakes up completely bare! Oh no! Feeling very embarrassed, he goes in search of something to cover himself, from a paper lampshade to a tea cup to a very stinky sock. But nothing stops the other animals giggling at him. Poor Spike! Then he discovers a big bunch of balloons, which takes him across the world and ends in a very satisfying POP! and a very prickly party.
Where the willow meets the water, a tadpole met a caterpillar. They gazed into each other's tiny eyes and fell in love. 'Promise me that you will never change', the caterpillar says. And foolishly, the tadpole promises. But as the seasons pass and he matures, his legs grow, and then his arms - and what happens to his beautiful rainbow friend? As he sits on his lily pad, digesting the butterfly he has just eaten, he little realises that now he will never know!
A book is not just a book. It can be so many things, a hat or as a building block, a flower press or a fly-swatter. But books are so much more than that. They can make you feel, they can take you anywhere, they can make you laugh and can teach you anything you want to know.
A touching, timeless story about love and growing-up from bestselling author Jeanne Willis and rising star Holly Clifton-Brown. Rory the lion can't sleep without a bedtime story and the little girl never forgets to tell him one. But one day the girl - not so little now - goes away. If Rory tells his own bedtime story will it somehow come true? Will it bring his little girl back? Jeanne Willis is an award-winning author who has written over 150 books, including The Bog Baby, the Paddington Movie novelisation and Tadpole's Promise.
There’s an important life lesson tucked into the pages of this action-packed and very funny picture book. Blue Monster’s parents give him pretty much everything he wants, but nothing makes him happy, at least not for long. He gets bored so quickly that what is entertaining in the morning just makes him bored and grumpy by the afternoon. As his search for satisfaction leads him into bigger adventures and more absurd situations he ends up on a tropical island but in the pitch dark because he’s swallowed the sun. Children will understand how he feels and recognise just what he needs to be happy. Author and illustrator have equal fun with this story and it’s very entertaining with lots for parent and child to point out and discuss. ~ Andrea Reece
It’s hard to know what will make children laugh most in this tale of a short-sighted T-Rex – will it be the description of him going out in his sister’s knickers and his granny’s vest, or the bit where he accidentally washes his face in the toilet? Jeanne Willis’s rhyming text is typically boisterous, and Tony Ross manages to make the hapless T-Rex both ridiculous and imposing. It finishes with the kind of shock-ending that is this pair’s speciality, one which after a moment’s stunned silence will have children roaring with laughter again. ~ Andrea Reece
Billy Goat and his best friend Cyril are messing about with the farmer's mobile phone, taking selfies and playing games... until they discover the number for a troll. Grandpa Gruff says all trolls are bad, so Billy and Cyril decide to get their own back by sending mean messages. After all, trolls really do stink! Don't they?
One little girl dreams of being a star. But whether it's finding Mum's lost wedding ring or winning the fancy-dress prize, her big sister always shines brighter. Yet for her grandad she is a star and, as he dries her eyes and they both gaze up at the night sky, he tells a story, the story of the beginning of the world. Everything and everyone is made of stardust, and we all shine in different ways. It's a lesson this little girl will never forget . . . and one day her dream comes true, and she finally realises her ambition to become an astronaut and fly up to the stars.
Bill puts on his fishing boots and goes to the pond. Will he catch anything in his net? Oxford Reading Tree Story Sparks is an emotionally-engaging fiction series that will fire children's imaginations and develop their comprehension skills. The variety of authors and illustrators broadens children's reading experience, with something to appeal to every child. This story is one of six titles at Oxford Level 2, which are phonically decodable with some extra high-interest words to expand children's vocabularies and enrich the stories. All the books in the series are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every reader to the right book.
Rob has a rabbit and Ben has a hen. But who will win at the Pet Show? Find out in this fun rhyming story. Oxford Reading Tree Story Sparks is an emotionally-engaging fiction series that will fire children's imaginations and develop their comprehension skills. The variety of authors and illustrators broadens children's reading experience, with something to appeal to every child. This story is one of six titles at Oxford Level 2, which are phonically decodable with some extra high-interest words to expand children's vocabularies and enrich the stories. All the books in the series are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every reader to the right book.
A spin off from Paul and Henrietta Stickland’s much-loved Dinosaur Roar, this is a real treat for young palaeontologists. A simple story about a diplodocus called Dinosaur Munch, and how much he likes to eat, slips in all sorts of information about dinosaurs and their world. The pictures, while they portray the dinosaurs almost as cartoon characters, are accurate and also full of information. In the course of his browsing Dinosaur Munch meets fellow dinosaurs including a stegosaurus Dinosaur Whack, and a Parasaurolophus called Dinosaur Honk. The story is written by the inimitable Jeanne Willis, who else could incorporate the word parasaurolophus into a picture book rhyme without missing a beat? There’s a nice punchline to make children laugh, and it finishes with a page of interesting Diplodocus facts. ~ Andrea Reece
‘Deep in the rainforest, far from the swamp, lived a grumpy Triceratops, Dinosaur Stomp’. So begins this immensely appealing bit of dinosaur faction (a mix of fact and fiction). Dinosaur Stomp is very grumpy indeed so when he gets a chip of stone in his eye from a rock that Ankylosaurus, Dinosaur Bash, is reducing to rubble, he has no-one to turn to. Fortunately, Dinosaur Squeak, a brave little Composygnathus, comes to his rescue. It’s a funny, entertaining story but is also packed with information about dinosaurs and their world. The illustrations, while TV cartoon in feel, still give a very realistic impression of what dinosaurs looked like with their scaly, brightly coloured skin. It concludes with a page of interesting Triceratops facts. ~ Andrea Reece The World of Dinosaur Roar! is a brand new collectable series of books created by Peter Curtis and produced in association with the Natural History Museum in London.
A touching, timeless story about love and growing-up from bestselling author Jeanne Willis and rising star Holly Clifton-Brown. Rory the lion can't sleep without a bedtime story and the little girl never forgets to tell him one. But one day the girl - not so little now - goes away. If Rory tells his own bedtime story will it somehow come true? Will it bring his little girl back? Jeanne Willis is an award-winning author who has written over 150 books, including The Bog Baby, the Paddington Movie novelisation and Tadpole's Promise.
The most beautiful girl in the whole of the school is Lucinda Belinda Melinda McCool - but Lucinda Belinda felt it was her duty to guide all her friends in the subject of beauty. Lucinda becomes the scourge of family and friends, criticising big bottoms and moustaches (especially her grandma's) until everyone avoids her. So when Lucinda meets a monster in the forest, she decides it's her mission to make-over this scary creature. Unfortunately changing its outside does not change what's inside - as Lucinda Belinda discovers!
Derived from the bestselling modern classic, Dinosaur Roar!, this sticker book contains lots of simple activities, colouring games and puzzles. Produced in association with the Natural History Museum Department of Earth Sciences, My First Dinosaur Roar! Sticker Book is packed with approved and verified fascinating dinosaur facts. With over 250 stickers and lots of activities My First Dinosaur Roar! Sticker Book will provide hours of fun for the very youngest dinosaur enthusiasts!
The king of the dinosaurs, Dinosaur Roar, had a roar that no creature could ever ignore. The wonderful rhyming text written by award-winning author Jeanne Willis, introduces Dinosaur Roar and various other dinosaur characters in a story suitable for the very youngest children. Very funny, and great to read aloud, Dinosaur Roar! The Tyrannosaurus rex has been approved by Dr Paul Barrett of the Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum in London, and the book contains a spread of simple dinosaur facts and a pronunciation guide. This is the first book in The World of Dinosaur Roar! series, a collectable series of preschool books created by Peter Curtis and produced in association with the Natural History Museum in London. Inspired by the classic picture book, Dinosaur Roar! by Paul Stickland and Henrietta Stickland, this colourful series introduces a range of authentic dinosaur characters to very young children.
The naughtiest dinosaur anyone knew, was the sneaky Deinonychus, Dinosaur Boo! Dinosaur Boo loves nothing more than playing tricks on the other dinosaurs, but he had better look out as he might just be in for a surprise of his own . . . The wonderful rhyming text written by award-winning author Jeanne Willis, introduces Dinosaur Boo and various other dinosaur characters in a story suitable for the very youngest children. Very funny, and great to read aloud, Dinosaur Boo! The Deinonychus has been approved by Dr Paul Barrett of the Department of Earth Sciences at the Natural History Museum in London, and the book contains a spread of simple dinosaur facts and a pronunciation guide. This is the second book in The World of Dinosaur Roar! series, a collectable series of preschool books created by Peter Curtis and produced in association with the Natural History Museum in London. Inspired by the classic picture book, Dinosaur Roar! by Paul Stickland and Henrietta Stickland, this colourful series introduces a range of authentic dinosaur characters to very young children.
This romping rhyming story from award-winning author Jeanne Willis is all about a little rhino who likes to make the rules! When Rhino finds a tree bursting with fruit, he isn't about to share it with anyone - after all, he's in charge round here! But it looks like things are about to change...
For the 90th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, a sequel featuring new stories and a new character from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now a New York Times Bestseller.The Trustees of the Pooh Properties have commissioned four authors to write in the timeless style of A.A. Milne to create a quartet of charming new adventures for Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: take a trip back to the Hundred Acre Wood with a collection of tales sure to delight year-round.One story finds Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet on a quest to discover the "e;Sauce of the Nile"e; (they suspect it's apple). And in another, all the animals rally around poor Eeyore when he thinks he sees another donkey eyeing his clover. The winter story features a new penguin character, based on a stuffed toy owned by Christopher Robin Milne himself.Readers of all ages will love rediscovering old friends and making new ones in this essential new volume of Pooh stories.The book feature beautiful color artwork in the style of Ernest H. Shepard by Mark Burgess.From the Hardcover edition.
The latest in in a wonderful series of cautionary tales for modern children from this super-talented duo, Troll Stinks is very funny and also delivers an important message on how not to behave. Two young billy goats have great fun with a mobile phone, taking silly selfies and leaving daft messages for friends. Then they decide to teach the troll under the bridge a lesson and send it some nasty texts. When they go to the troll’s cave though, instead of a big bad troll, they find a tiny one, frightened by their cyberbullying. It’s as witty as Belloc and as much fun to read aloud, and children will absolutely understand the moral of the story too. Brilliant! ~ Andrea Reece
Special 10th Anniversary Edition Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. This special 10th anniverary edition has a downloadable audio book plus tabbed pages (each is a part of the animal on each page) throughout so children can help each animal go to the loo.
Inspired by Enid Blyton's bestselling school series The Naughtiest Girl - this is the hilarious diary of the naughtiest pupil there's ever been. Fans of Tom Gates will love this! 'Mum says pupils aren't allowed to take mobile devices to Whyteleafe ... excuse me? It's the twenty-first century! What next? Ride to school on a penny-farthing?' When Elizabeth Allen is packed off to boarding school, armed with nothing but a journal to write in for entertainment, she is NOT impressed. How will she survive without her home comforts, especially her pony Ross (the only boy she has ever truly loved)? Elizabeth comes up with a cunning plan: she will be so naughty that she gets sent home . . . But then Elizabeth discovers a love for music and makes her first ever friend ... perhaps school life might not be as bad as she thought? The Diary of the Naughtiest Girl is written by bestselling author Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Alex T. Smith, acclaimed creator of the Claude books.
The inimitable Jeanne Willis turns her attention to sibling rivalry in this witty and original picture book. Little Brother wants to play but Big Brother is determined to keep the treehouse all to himself so sends Little Brother off on a series of increasingly difficult tasks, only to be amazed and frustrated when Little Brother – cheerful and resourceful – brings him everything he’s asked for, from unicorn to Triceratops! But even Little Brother is stumped when Big Brother asks for a Snappenpoop. The fairytale set up builds to a surprising and satisfying conclusion that cleverly delivers a message for brothers (and sisters) everywhere, big and small. Matt Saunders’s illustrations are a delight too, bold, confident and he rises magnificently to the challenge of illustrating a Snappenpoop! ~ Andrea Reece
Little Brother wants to join in the fun with his sibling, but Big Brother won't let him play. Fetch me a Snappenpoop! says Big Brother. Then you can play . . . But everybody knows there's no such thing as a Snappenpoop . . . or IS there? A wonderfully unique picture book from award-winning author Jeanne Willis (The Bog Baby, The First Slodge). Packed with magical creatures and bossy siblings, this delightfully wicked cautionary tale is set to become a children's favourite. With stunning artwork from debut picture book illustrator Matt Saunders.
Best-selling picture book author/ illustrator duo capture the pitfalls of presents and the joy of them too! Boa’s really looking forward to his birthday and especially to all the presents his friends will bring. But every gift turns out to be completely wrong! Orang-utan brings him a piano but Boa has no fingers! Monkey brings him a pair of sunglasses but Boa has no ears or nose so they keep slipping off. Just when Boa is despairing of getting a single present he likes he gets an amazing surprise. ~ Julia Eccleshare You can rely on this picture book team for surprises and laughter, whether they’re exploring human failings or some innocuous aspect of everyday life. Here the giving and receiving of presents comes under the Willis Ross spotlight. The animals are bringing birthday presents for Boa but none of them seem to have given any thought at all as to what Boa might actually like. As he unwraps a series of presents totally unsuitable for snakes, including a piano, a hairbrush and a football, his disappointment seems funnier and funnier, until dung beetle tops it all with a present of … you can probably guess. A final clever twist leaves everyone smiling on the last page. ~ Andrea Reece
I'm in Charge! delivers a useful life lesson with humour and style. He may be only little, but this baby rhino knows just how to throw his weight around, bossing all the other animals in ways that may be horribly familiar to parents of toddlers. It takes a stampede of beefy wildebeest to teach him that he’s not really in charge. The story is told with typical wit and insight by the incomparable Jeanne Willis in a rhyming text that is sheer pleasure to read aloud, while Jarvis creates glorious scenes depicting little rhino’s encounters with his fellow wild animals in the glowing, richly saturated colours of his illustrations. ~ Andrea Reece The Editor at Nosy Crow says “A laugh-out-loud book about a catastrophically cantankerous toddler rhino – what’s not to love? It may be set in the savannah, but this is brilliantly-observed preschool behaviour.”
This retelling of an old Northumberland folk tale follows the Lambton family and their misfortunes. When John goes fishing on a Sunday, everyone warns him it is a bad idea. He thinks that catching a worm is as far as his bad luck will go, but little does he know the disaster that will follow. As the worm grows to monstrous proportions the villagers are terrorized and live in fear of their lives, until at last John learns how he can rid them of the monster. Wonderfully depicted by Pierre Kleinhouse, this sorrowful tale is full of magic, monsters and misery. TreeTops Greatest Stories offers children some of the worlds best-loved tales in a collection of timeless classics. Top children's authors and talented illustrators work together to bring to life our literary heritage for a new generation, engaging and delighting children. The books are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book. Each book contains inside cover notes to help children explore the content, supporting their reading development. Teaching notes on Oxford Owl offer cross-curricular links and activities to support guided reading, writing, speaking and listening.
When a duke's daughter is kidnapped, King Arthur sails across the sea to take on the terrifying giant who lives on Mont-Saint-Michel. When a farmer and his wife wish for a son, they don't expect him to be thumb-sized, but Tom Thumb makes up for his height with his enormous character. A charmingly illustrated retelling of two folk stories set in the time of King Arthur: one about a giant as big as a mountain, and the other about a boy as small as your thumb. TreeTops Greatest Stories offers children some of the worlds best-loved tales in a collection of timeless classics. Top children's authors and talented illustrators work together to bring to life our literary heritage for a new generation, engaging and delighting children. The books are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book. Each book contains inside cover notes to help children explore the content, supporting their reading development. Teaching notes on Oxford Owl offer cross-curricular links and activities to support guided reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Longlisted for the UKLA 2017 Book Award In Chicken Clicking this gifted duo created a marvellous cautionary tale for our time. Now they deliver another important lesson for today’s impressionable youth. Appearance is everything to Lucinda Belinda Melinda McCool , the most beautiful girl in the whole of the school. It’s her aim to make the world a more beautiful place and no-one she meets escapes her censure, or her instructions on ways to improve their appearance. Until sadly she meets a monster and learns to her cost … well, you can probably guess! This is a brilliant piece of comic verse, wonderfully illustrated by Tony Ross, and should be recited to and by children up and down the country for their delight and edification. Superb! ~ Andrea Reece
A feel-good, rhyming picture book, packed full of outrageously funny otters from multi-award-winning author, Jeanne Willis, with hilarious illustrations by Leonie Lord. When little Lottie Potter goes to Trotter's Otter shop to buy a new pet, she certainly doesn't expect to find quite so many kinds. There are spotty otters, potty otters, snotty otters and tangled-in-a-knotty otters - to name but a few! But what will she do when the otter she chooses turns out to be a rotter? A side-splittingly funny, fast-paced rhyming romp that's a joy to read out loud - again and again!
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month, April 2016 Best-selling Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross have created many fabulous picture books together. Here, the weedy and whiny little slug is just longing for a hug! How can he make his mum give him one? All the animals he asks give him tips. A furrier and fluffier look, trotters and a tail, horns and a moustache, a pair of wings, and any number of noses. Will all of those tempt the slimy slug’s mum to give him a hug? Tony Ross’s hilarious illustrations of the misguided slug match Jeanne Willis’s ebullient rhyming text perfectly. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for April 2016 Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley Tidy by Emily Gravett Freddie Mole, Lion Tamer by Alexander McCall Smith Slug Needs a Hug by Jeanne Willis There's a Moose on the Loose by Lucy Feather Nature's Day: Out and About by Kay Maguire
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall ... but what happened next? Here comes the ambulance! it's on its way. Who's had an accident in Storyland today? We all know that nursery rhymes are dangerous things - you could get trampled by all the king's horses, have your nose pecked off by blackbirds, or even fall off a bough as you sleep! Luckily, the Storyland Ambulance Crew are on hand to patch everyone up. Jeanne Willis's whimsical text works perfectly with Joel Stewart's hilarious illustrations in this rollicking twist on classic nursery rhymes.
Everybody knows that penguins belong at the South Pole and polar bears live at the North Pole - but what would happen if, one day, a family of picnicking penguins accidentally got lost? When the hapless Pilchard-Brown family find themselves at completely the wrong pole, they need Mr White, the friendly polar bear, to guide them all the way home. . .
The fluffy, blue Binks are soft and sweet, but they are not the cleverest creatures in the woods. When the Snappy Fang finds out how soft and sweet they are, he starts to gobble them up one by one. Can the Binks escape the Snappy Fang? This enchanting story features illustrations by Tony Ross. Oxford Reading Tree Story Sparks is an emotionally-engaging fiction series that will fire children's imaginations. These 36 original stories will get children thinking, and develop and deepen their comprehension skills. The variety of authors and illustration styles broadens children's reading experience, with something to appeal to every child. All the books in the series are carefully levelled, so it's easy to match every child to the right book for them. They also contain inside cover notes, to enable parents and teachers to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.
Shortlisted for Children’s Book Award 2016, Books for Younger Children category Everyone knows that elephants can’t jump – it’s something to do with their knees. The little elephant in this book is desperate to jump like his friends and not being able to makes him feel very small on the inside. Then something happens that makes him a hero and, though he keeps his feet firmly on the ground, his heart jumps for joy! From the creators of Who's in the Loo? this is a typically funny story with a lovely message about individuality. Adrian Reynold’s bouncy watercolour illustrations are full of warmth and you can always rely on Jeanne Willis to make the reader laugh. Lovely! ~ Andrea Reece
Shortlisted for the English Picture Book Award 2016 Jeanne Willis is an expert at pinpointing human weaknesses, particularly those common in the very young, and this is a very funny morality tale about the importance of sharing. The first Slodge emerges from the primordial slime and has a wonderful time, gambolling around trilling ‘Mine, all mine!’ until the arrival of a second Slodge, a male this time. Hostilities break out between the two until a sudden external threat unites them. A happy last spread shows them – and their offspring – along with the message that the world is everyone’s to share. Jenni Desmond’s illustrations capture all the humour while providing a suitably ‘first morning’ feel. ~ Andrea Reece
Once upon a slime, there was a Slodge. The first Slodge in the universe. She saw the first moon and stars, the first fruits and flowers. Mine, all mine! she said. But what if there was not just one Slodge . . . but two? A wonderfully original and witty picture book from the award-winning author, Jeanne Willis (Who's in the Loo? and The Bog Baby). This humorous exploration of sharing and friendship carries an important message: that the world belongs to everyone. Captivating illustrations from Jenni Desmond (Red Cat, Blue Cat) will delight adults and children alike. A book to share and treasure.
Shortlisted for the Laugh-Out-Loud Book Awards 2016 -Picture Book Category - April 2015 Book of the Month - Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month Best-selling Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross have created many fabulous picture books together. Here, the weedy and whiny little slug is just longing for a hug! How can he make his mum give him one? All the animals he asks give him tips. A furrier and fluffier look, trotters and a tail, horns and a moustache, a pair of wings, and any number of noses. Will all of those tempt the slimy slug’s mum to give him a hug? Tony Ross’s hilarious illustrations of the misguided slug match Jeanne Willis’s ebullient rhyming text perfectly. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month April 15 Slug Needs a Hug by Jeanne Willis You Can't Take an Elephant on the Bus by Patricia Cleveland-Peck Where's the Elephant? by Barroux Migloo's Day by William Bee
Master picture book creators Jeanne Willis and Vanessa Cabban collaborate for the first time in this funny, big-hearted new story for young children. Master picture book creator Jeanne Willis and bestselling Bringing Down the Moon illustrator Vanessa Cabban collaborate for the very first time in this sweet, funny school story - TOY school that is! It's the first day of term and teacher Emily Peppermint has a new class all ready to learn just how to be the perfect toy! First lesson: falling out of a pram ... but the class members are about to get a bit more practice than they bargained for! It's a good job Emily Peppermint and her trusty classroom assistant Rose are there to save the day!
Chosen as one of the Top Ten Best New Books for Children 2015 by Andrea Reece - One of our Books of the Year 2014 Award-winning Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross go to the heart of a modern predicament in this cautionary tale about a young chick who hops into the farmer’s house and starts exploring the delights of the internet. There’s one-click shopping – a hive of bees, a motorbike, a diamond watch and 100 handbags. The farmer blames his wife – where has it all come from? And the chick didn’t stop. Soon, there are scooters for the sheep, skates for the pigs, a car for the cows and a boat for the hens. And, most exciting of all, there is meeting a new friend! But just who will that friend turn out to be? ......................................... Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross are the Flanders and Swann of children’s books, responsible for a string of very funny picturebooks, often with a sting in the tail. Chicken Clicking is a modern cautionary tale. Chick sneaks into the farmhouse every evening to browse and shop online. She goes on a fun spending spree, but when the hens sail off in the boat she bought them she feels lonely and accepts a friend request she really shouldn’t. The final page is funny, quite shocking, and makes an important point. For children aged 6 – 10. ~ Andrea Reece
Everybody's favourite all-action cat is back in the third instalment of the hilarious cat-superhero series, from award-winning author and queen of comedy, Jeanne Willis.
A beautiful and unique photographic picture book for the wild child in everyone. Meet Wild Child! She's spirited and curious. She's fearless and free. She lives alone in a mystical, prehistoric world - the last child in a dramatic landscape, where anything could happen. Follow her through her day as she explores her world from the foot of the mountain to the heart of the wood; while she runs with the rabbits and swims with the fish - but beware of the grown-ups and sensible shoes! Join the magic and unleash the wild child in YOU!
This welcome reissue of a favourite tale from A-list picture book creators Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross takes a typically sideways and comic look at family life and pet ownership. Little Rex the dog is desperate to get a pet person for his birthday, but his parents and relations are dead against it: ‘it’ll ruin the furniture’ says mum, draped on an elegant chaise longue; ‘they are impossible to train’ barks Auntie Sheba, resplendent in tweed suit and feathered trilby. Indeed, when Rex finds a little ginger person in the park, he quickly realises there’s a lot of truth in the grown-ups’ warnings! As ever author and artist interact to great effect, Tony Ross’s visual jokes the perfect complement to Jeanne Willis’s witty text. ~ Andrea Reece
We're going to a party, disguised in fancy dress. But which of us is What or Who? It's up to you to guess! Lift the flaps of this gloriously funny book to find out which animal is wearing which fancy dress costume. But when it comes to the last page, even the animals themselves are in for a surprise . . . 'A dream team of writer and illustrator!' The Times 'The perfect pairing of Willis's rhyme and Ross's humourous illustration.' Good Book Guide
Supercat, or Tiger the cat as he once was known, is back for a spectacularly witty new adventure. Ever since the day he licked a toxic sock Tiger has had special powers – but they don’t always manage to make things go exactly according to plan! His deadly enemy is Count Backwards who has been so outrageously bold as to kidnap the Queen at her own birthday party! Can Supercat save the day with the help of an extra- special party bag?
A delicious joke which sees all kinds of babies ending up with all kinds of parents who are not their own! When the world tips…the grass-chewing cow gets a meat-eating lion cub, the super-fast cheetah gets a sloth for a babe while the owl who only closes her eyes at dawn gets a noisy rooster chick with quite a different view of the world. Luckily there is a happy ending – mostly!
One of our Books of the Year 2014 - June 2014 Book of the Month Award-winning Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross go to the heart of a modern predicament in this cautionary tale about a young chick who hops into the farmer’s house and starts exploring the delights of the internet. There’s one-click shopping – a hive of bees, a motorbike, a diamond watch and 100 handbags. The farmer blames his wife – where has it all come from? And the chick didn’t stop. Soon, there are scooters for the sheep, skates for the pigs, a car for the cows and a boat for the hens. And, most exciting of all, there is meeting a new friend! But just who will that friend turn out to be?
A bright and lively picture book packed full of jungle fun! Monkey found a baby, an itsy bitsy baby. Monkey found a baby beneath the banyan tree. When baby monkey spots a lion the trouble really starts in this rollicking read aloud rhyme that's perfect for sharing with little monkeys everywhere.
Welcome to Toy School! Take out your pencils, it's time to learn how to be the perfect toy. It's the first day of term at Toy School and teacher Emily Peppermint has a new class all ready to learn how to be perfect toys. The first lesson is falling out of a pram, but the class members are about to get a bit more practice than they bargained for... It's a good job Emily Peppermint and her trusty classroom assistant Rose are there to save the day! Master picture book creators Jeanne Willis and Vanessa Cabban collaborate for the first time in this funny, big-hearted new story for young children.
Best-selling picture book author/ illustrator duo capture the pitfalls of presents and the joy of them too! Boa’s really looking forward to his birthday and especially to all the presents his friends will bring. But every gift turns out to be completely wrong! Orang-utan brings him a piano but Boa has no fingers! Monkey brings him a pair of sunglasses but Boa has no ears or nose so they keep slipping off. Just when Boa is despairing of getting a single present he likes he gets an amazing surprise.
The first book in a super new series by bestselling author and queen of comedy, Jeanne Willis.Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's . . . SUPERCAT!After chowing down on a toxic sock lazy fat cat TIger feels a bit funny . . . Well, actually, he feels spectacular! He is no longer Tiger, he is Supercat! Now he can speak, drive, ride a bike and even fly (just kidding - a flying cat would be ridiculous!).Join Supercat and his best buddy, James, in their first adventure as they try to stop the villainous Count Backwards from taking over the world! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Go!
February 2014 Book of the Month Does your child want to be a super hero, does he or she crave excitement and laugh-out-loud an awful lot? if so, Supercat vs the Chip Thief is the first book in a super new series by bestselling author and queen of comedy, Jeanne Willis that will provide just that. Packed with action, adventure and a crime-fighting cat, this series is purr-fectly pitched for 6+ year olds to devour in a sitting. Why not tweet a superhero catchphrase using #supercat @Harpercollinsch.
Project X Origins is a ground-breaking guided reading programme for the whole school. Action-packed stories, fascinating non-fiction and comprehensive guided reading support meet the needs of children at every stage of their reading development. In What a Waste! Mr Big always has new things and new friends, but he is still lonely. Luckily, he meets an animal that makes him realise why he feels so sad and how he can be much happier. Each book contains inside cover notes that highlight challenge words, prompt questions and a range of follow-up activities to support children in their reading.
Project X Origins is a ground-breaking guided reading programme for the whole school. Action-packed stories, fascinating non-fiction and comprehensive guided reading support meet the needs of children at every stage of their reading development. Shoo Mouse, Shoo! follows Old Granny Red in her quest to scare away the mouse that is in all the rooms of her house. But when Boy Red appears looking for something, Old Granny Red realises the mouse may be something else. Each book contains inside cover notes that highlight challenge words, prompt questions and a range of follow-up activities to support children in their reading.
In Hysterical Historicals, read all about some hysterically funny figures from made-up history: join Julius Teaser in his Roman amphitheatre, float about being soppy and writing poems with Percy Bysshe Smelley, go on crazy expeditions with Marco Pillow and discover the secrets of flight, or possibly not, with the unfortunate Wrong Brothers. This is not like a normal history book because almost none of it is true! Chucklers is a series of funny novels, short stories, anthologies and comics that make reading a pleasure for 7-11 year olds. There is something for everyone in this varied collection which is packed with fantastic illustrations. Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk. The series is written by top children's authors and edited by award-winning author Jeremy Strong. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.
Project X Origins is a ground-breaking guided reading programme for the whole school. Action-packed stories, fascinating non-fiction and comprehensive guided reading support meet the needs of children at every stage of their reading development. Old MacDonald would like a quiet farm in Be Quiet! but he soon realises a farm won't work without noise. Luckily, Young MacDonald is close by to help Old MacDonald be the noisiest one of all. Each book contains inside cover notes that highlight challenge words, prompt questions and a range of follow-up activities to support children in their reading.
Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog are very lazy. They sit on the couch watching TV for days and days and days. They eat and eat and eat. They sleep and sleep and sleep. And when they wake up, they are surprised to find that the sofa shrunk! Their whole house seems to be shrinking! Or so they like to think. They set off to ask their relatives for help. Will they find the answers to their mystery? Or discover their problem was more about growing than shrinking?
In the middle of a wood there is a chick who will not fly. "e;Not I!"e; she cries to Mother Owl and Father Owl. She flaps, she flips, she flops, and she hops back into the nest. Time passes and seasons change, but still she refuses to fly. Will she ever learn to let go and soar up into the open sky?
Hippopotamus had a spotamus . . . on her bottomus! "e;It's a blister!"e; said her sister. "e;It's measles!"e; said Weasel. "e;It's hippopox!"e; said Fox. But in the end the spotamus turns out to be something hilariously unexpected!
"e;One foggy, groggy morningby the salty, splashy sea,I'm sure I saw a dinosaurand I'm sure that he saw me."e;A dinosaur is coming ashore! Tell everyone you know! Gather at the beach to see the dinosaur appear!But there's more to this story than meets the eye. Is there really a dinosaur lurking by the seashore? Or is something funny going on?
The fourth hilarious story about the irrepressible penguins of City Zoo, from award-winning author Jeanne Willis. An Awesome Animals title - meet the world's funniest animals! It's Christmas time at City Zoo! When Santa visits City Zoo, Rory and his penguin pals decide to celebrate. They build a snow penguin, decorate a tree and go on a magical sleigh ride. But they soon learn that the best thing about Christmas is sharing it with the penguins you love.
Once when the world tipped upside down, The earth went blue and the sky went brown. All the baby animals tumbled out of bed And ended up with very funny mums instead...
Since the day he was born, nothing was good enough for Prince Charmless. From the moment he woke until the time he went to bed, he complained. One day all the royal servants decided they had enough of his complaining and packed their bags. The pampered prince was left to fend for himself, with some unexpected results...
A bright and lively picture book packed full of jungle fun! Monkey found a baby, an itsy bitsy baby. Monkey found a baby beneath the banyan tree. When baby monkey spots a lion the trouble really starts in this rollicking read aloud rhyme that's perfect for sharing with little monkeys everywhere.
A sneaky 'big egg' swap leads to a hairy and hilarious hunt for the real thing! When Mrs Stigson the Stegosaurus lays an egg there is great rejoicing - Darwin always wanted a baby sister. But leaving mad Uncle Loops in charge of egg-sitting is not a good idea. On her return, Mrs Stigson is certain that it is not the egg she laid. Darwin is determined to get to the bottom of it and suspects a certain gangster T-rex is behind the swap. But which is the 'real' Stegasaurus egg? And what will stop Flint Beastwood from smashing it on his wedding day? Jeanne Willis's madcap characters and story, with Arthur Robins' inspired illustration, are certain to tickle anyone's funny-bone!
An engaging and amusing tale about overcoming fear from an award-winning team.
Hippopotamus had a spotamus...on her bottomus! It's Measles! said Weasel. It's Hippopox! said Fox. It's Jungle Fever! said Beaver. But the spot on Hippo's bottomus was not a diseasel, not even a spotamus but something quite silly...
Developed with Julia Donaldson, this title is part of the Plays to Read series for KS1. Perfect for both guided and independent reading Beautiful illustrations and unforgettable characters to keep wandering minds engaged Available as an interactive eBook - kids pick the part they want to play and the others are read back to them
Developed with Julia Donaldson, this title is part of the Plays to Read series for KS1. Perfect for both guided and independent reading Beautiful illustrations and unforgettable characters to keep wandering minds engaged Available as an interactive eBook - kids pick the part they want to play and the others are read back to them ]]>
Perfect for enjoying in school or at home, Bug Club is proud to present a new series of plays to get kids reading, sharing and interacting at KS1. Presented by celebrated children's author Julia Donaldson, each play features engaging stories, beautiful artwork and memorable characters that help kids really catch the reading bug by truly involving them in the story!
Perfect for enjoying in school or at home, Bug Club is proud to present a new series of plays to get kids reading, sharing and interacting at KS1. Presented by celebrated children's author Julia Donaldson, each play features engaging stories, beautiful artwork and memorable characters that help kids really catch the reading bug by truly involving them in the story!
Perfect for enjoying in school or at home, Bug Club is proud to present a new series of plays to get kids reading, sharing and interacting at KS1. Presented by celebrated children's author Julia Donaldson, each play features engaging stories, beautiful artwork and memorable characters that help kids really catch the reading bug by truly involving them in the story!
Perfect for enjoying in school or at home, Bug Club is proud to present a new series of plays to get kids reading, sharing and interacting at KS1. Presented by celebrated children's author Julia Donaldson, each play features engaging stories, beautiful artwork and memorable characters that help kids really catch the reading bug by truly involving them in the story!
Perfect for enjoying in school or at home, Bug Club is proud to present a new series of plays to get kids reading, sharing and interacting at KS1. Presented by celebrated children's author Julia Donaldson, each play features engaging stories, beautiful artwork and memorable characters that help kids really catch the reading bug by truly involving them in the story!
Developed with Julia Donaldson, this title is part of the Plays to Read series for KS1. Perfect for both guided and independent reading Beautiful illustrations and unforgettable characters to keep wandering minds engaged Available as an interactive eBook - kids pick the part they want to play and the others are read back to them
A side-splitting look at a topic every child knows and giggles about - noisy bottoms! - cheeky, quirky and outrageous humour from this bestselling team. Boys in particular will love this but beware parents they may decide to wallow around with the piggies too!
An appealing story with memorable characters, which celebrates the importance of family and friendship. Even when times appear to be tough, the bonds of friendship endure. From the author of the 2007 Red House Award-winning Who's in the Loo? this story encourages children to take an interest in their own family history. The illustrations bring the story to life, perfectly capturing the weird but wonderful world of the Goffins.
A new dinosaur sighting leads to a series of ingenious disguises and hilarious chaos! Both Raptor Road and Fossil Street are up in arms as a new dinosaur has been seen in the forest nearby. Mayor Boris imposes a curfew. But is it Dippy who has jumped ship from Flint Beastwood's gang and is disguising himself as a dragon? Or is it a vicious new carnivore that only Uncle Loops has spotted? When Darwin goes missing, the herbivores feel they must disguise themselves as trees (carnivores don't eat trees) and search for him . . . Jeanne Willis's madcap characters and story, with Arthur Robins' inspired illustration, are certain to tickle anyone's funny-bone!
Can a scrawny caveman turn a giant woolly mammoth into delicious pie? Both sides gather their friends as they square up for a major confrontation. Who do you think will win? Jeanne Willis’s rhyming text charts the plotting and planning before the battle while Tony Ross’s illustrations brilliantly capture the greedy cave men and their formidable foes.
This is a magical picture book from what you could call the dream team of Jeanne Willis (who writes the words) and Tony Ross (who creates the illustrations). Caterpillar Dreams celebrates the life of two curly caterpillars who dream of all the things they will do when they become butterflies. Autumn comes, and they settle down to sleep, eager to wake up and have their dream realised. But Nature of course has a different dream, a different plan for them...
A thrilling zoo adventure takes place in this wittily written and illustrated first reader. Will the Penguins in the City Zoo be able to find the missing baby penguins? Who will help them? Young readers will love this fast-paced drama with its cast of zoo animals, some helpful and some not, as the delightful rescue mission unfolds.
Comics for Phonics are the fun new way to reward young readers. Every comic is 100% phonically decodable, so kids can reinforce all the literacy skills they learn at school without even noticing it! Every comic in Comics for Phonics is jam packed with stunning artwork, cool characters and gripping stories that will get kids reaching for the bookshelf.
Comics for Phonics are the fun new way to reward young readers. Every comic is 100% phonically decodable, so kids can reinforce all the literacy skills they learn at school without even noticing it! Every comic in Comics for Phonics is jam packed with stunning artwork, cool characters and gripping stories that will get kids reaching for the bookshelf.
Comics for Phonics are the fun new way to reward young readers. Every comic is 100% phonically decodable, so kids can reinforce all the literacy skills they learn at school without even noticing it! Every comic in Comics for Phonics is jam packed with stunning artwork, cool characters and gripping stories that will get kids reaching for the bookshelf.
Comics for Phonics are the fun new way to reward young readers. Every comic is 100% phonically decodable, so kids can reinforce all the literacy skills they learn at school without even noticing it! Every comic in Comics for Phonics is jam packed with stunning artwork, cool characters and gripping stories that will get kids reaching for the bookshelf.
September 2012 Book of the Month. Its message is one to treasure. Mayfly lives for only one day. Is she sad? No, everything about that one day is to be celebrated. Mayfly sees buds burst open, she sees babies being born; she feels breezes blowing and she dances to the music of the universe. When her one day comes to an end, Mayfly gives thanks for the wonder of it all. A book of celebration for all to share.
In the middle of a wood there is a chick who will not fly. Not I! she cries to Mother Owl and Father Owl. She flaps, she flips, she flops and hops back into the nest. Time passes and seasons change, but still she refuses to fly. Will she ever learn to let go and soar up into the open sky?
An unforgettably funny animal adventure story about a little bird with big dreams, from award-winning author Jeanne Willis. One of the fantastic titles in the brand new Awesome Animals series - the funniest fiction, starring the wildest wildlife, from prize winning authors.Rory the rockhopper penguin loves showing off, but with few visitors to the zoo, life has become a little dull. If things don't improve the zoo might have to close.So when the keepers install PENGUINCAM Rory grabs his chance with both flippers, organising a dazzling penguin talent show to pull in the crowds...
Stomp! Stomp! Here comes Monster - he's looking for something important. He crashes through the kitchen and stomps up the stairs, but he can't find that special something anywhere! Just what is the mini-monster looking for? With a bold but simple text and an adorably cheeky little monster, all children will love joining in the search.
An unforgettably funny, animal adventure story about a little bird with big dreams from award-winning author Jeanne Willis. One of the fantastic titles in the brand new Awesome Animals series - the funniest fiction, starring the wildest wildlife, from prize winning authors. Rory the rockhopper penguin loves showing off, but with few visitors to the zoo, life has become a little dull. If things don't improve the zoo might have to close. So when the keepers install PENGUINCAM Rory grabs his chance with both flippers, organising a dazzling penguin talent show to pull in the crowds...
This is the tale of Georgie Grub Who would not give himself a scrub. No matter how his mother tried. When she said 'soap', he'd run and hide. But Georgie meets a gruesome end in this hilariously anarchic tale.
Daft dinosaurs create delightfully madcap fun in this hilarious family saga with a difference. When gang warfare between Darwin the stegosaurus and T Rex Flint Beastwood breaks out, the exuberant mayor Boris comes up with a great plan. Why not hold a dinosaur Olympic games as a way of bringing peace? Will Boris’s plan work? It certainly sparks some very lively action amongst the dinosaurs…
Mole had never seen the sunrise. I'd love to see it, he said. When his good friends, Vole, Rabbit, Squirrel and Sparrow take him down to the lake to show him the sunrise, their vivid descriptions help him to see it in his mind and he is able to imagine the rising sun and experience its beauty for himself.
'One foggy, groggy morning By the salty, splashy sea I'm sure I saw a dinosaur And I'm sure that he saw me.' But there's more to this story than meets the eye. Can there really be a dinosaur at Sandy Bottom End? Or is someone up to something...
Packed full of pop-up surprises this is a hilarious lift-the-flap book with an excellent joke at the end. Wonderful transformations of a host of animals are uncovered under every flap. But, someone isn’t in disguise. Who can be? Young readers will enjoy the joke and the scale of the pop-up.
Jas and Will decide to start a band with their friend Jack. When Mum wants to join in too, Will isn't sure, but Mum's van comes in handy!
Age 7+. Twenty six fabulously funny modern cautionary tales are wittily illustrated by Tony Ross in this vivid and entertaining collection. The sticky ends of the title bring delightful surprises to verses about the truly disgusting nature of school dinners, the fate of Felicity Finch, a little girl who likes to pinch, or Icy Clare who delights in going everywhere in her underwear. Perfect for reading aloud, the richly imagined and brilliantly illustrated retribution that befalls such characters will delight all who hear these verses.
In this laugh-out-loud funny book, Dr Xargle is instructing his class of small fellow aliens on the nature and habits of the earth creatures known to us as cats. It's brilliant with parents and children enjoying it in equal measure.
Nominated for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010. A wonderfully funny and touching story of friendship from the comic wordsmith Jeanne Willis and brilliantly brought to life with wacky and laugh-out-loud illustrations from Tony Ross.
'Good morning, class. Today we are going to learn about Earthlets.' In this way Dr Xargle, our friendly alien teacher, begins to teach his class about humans and babies. This is a hysterically funny book, with a particularly wry look at the way we bring up babies: look out for the 'egg-mangle' - will you ever want to eat egg again?
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first synthetic phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this Phase 5 (Set 13) Phonics Bug non-fiction book: Which is the best pet? A hamster or ... an elephant?
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first synthetic phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this Phase 4 (Set 12) Phonics Bug fiction book: Sid wants a boxer pup. Nan says 'no' but will she change her mind?
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first synthetic phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this Phase 5 (Set 16) Phonics Bug fiction book: Sly Python wants to eat Butterfly for lunch. But Butterfly has a plan ...
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first synthetic phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this Phase 5 (Set 14) Phonics Bug fiction book: Kay wants to go on holiday. But the train runs away ...
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first synthetic phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this Phase 4 (Set 12) Phonics Bug non-fiction book: Pompom pets are fun to do. Let's have a go!
Phonics Bug is the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics.
'One foggy, groggy morning by the salty, splashy sea I'm sure I saw a dinosaur and I'm sure that he saw me'. But there's more to this story than meets the eye. Can there really be a dinosaur at Sandy Bottom End? Or is someone up to something...
This is the tale of Georgie Grub who would not give himself a scrub. No matter how his mother tried when she said 'Soap', he'd run and hide. But Georgie meets a gruesome end in this hilariously anarchic tale.
A prize winning title, this introduces Susan who loves to swing, dance, swim, ride do all the things other children do. In fact, she’s no different from any other little girl except that, as the final spread shows, she gets about in a wheel chair. The vigour and active text is perfectly supported by Tony Ross’s warm hearted illustrations.
One day, just for a joke, Hyena puts a banana skin on Giraffe's path. When Giraffe slips and collides with a tree, a chain of unfortunate events begins which involves all the other animals. Hyena laughs and laughs at their misfortune. But the other animals have the last laugh when Hyena gets a fitting comeuppance and trips up on his own joke.
Phonics Bug is a pretty special Phonics programme that gives children a firm, fun foundation in phonics. It uses research-based teaching methods so it's proven to work, and it joins 100% decodable books with CBeebies videos and an online reading world, so it's the ideal way to get today's little readers started on their journey to reading success. Phonics Bug books are ideal for use at home too, and are a great way to help your child take their first steps towards 'cracking the code' which will enable them to learn to read and spell. Helpful notes on the inside front cover of each book highlight tricky words and give you ideas for before and during reading, and the inside back covers include ideas for delving deeper after reading to check understanding. Phonics Bug Pack 2 is great for encouraging your Foundation Stage early readers. It contains 4 Phase 2 fiction books Tut, Tup, Pup!; Sid and Duck; Big Fat Rat; and The Bop which are perfect for reading before stepping across to the Bug Club Pink Level Pack. Tut, Tup, Pup!: The animals are causing chaos on the farm especially Pup, who makes a special kind of mess. Sid and Duck: It's bath time, and Sid and Duck make a mess! Sid tries to blame Duck, but Nan doesn't believe what really happened. Big Fat Rat: Greedy Rat tucks into some leftover birthday cake. The children are worried when Rat falls asleep, but it seems he just needs to take a nap! The Bop: There's a dance tonight all the animals get on board the fun bus. Each has a special dance.
This title is part of Pearson's Bug Club - the first whole-school reading programme that joins books and an online reading world to teach today's children to read. In this book, Rat has a plan to make Cat jump up high. Suitable for Ages 4-5 (Red level C).
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 5: Cowboy and Scout go fishing. But will they hook that big old trout? This book includes the following words: different, many, any. This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 5: Baby Barney will not go to sleep. Can Sid stop him screaming? This book includes the following words: looked, called, asked. This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 2: Kit and Dog spot a cod. Can they get it? This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 2: Sam is mad at Sid. What did he do? This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 2: The duck pecks. The ram kicks. What does Pup do? This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 2: Get into the Fun Bus! Can Bat bob and Hen hop? This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Pearson's Bug Club - the first whole-school reading programme that joins books and an online reading world to teach today's children to read. In this book, Dan loves bugs, but his sister, Emma, hates them! One day, Dan takes Sid the slug on a picnic Suitable for ages 5-6 (Yellow level B).
This title is part of Pearson's Bug Club - the first whole-school reading programme that joins books and an online reading world to teach today's children to read. In this book, Cat catches Rat. But Rat has a plan to get away! Suitable for Ages 4-5 (Red Level B).
This title is part of Bug Club, the first whole-school reading programme that joins books with an online reading world to teach today's children to read. In this Red-B level Rat and Cat book: Cat creeps up and catches Rat while he is looking at a book. Rat says he will do a cool dance, so Cat lets him go. Rat puts on a 'dress' and a 'wig' and dances, but Cat sees his pants! Cat is horrified and puts his paws over his eyes, so Rat takes his chance to escape!
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 5: A lonely giant makes friends with a robin. Will she make his wish come true? This book includes the following words: It's, I'm, I'll, I've. This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Pearson's Bug Club - the first whole-school reading programme that joins books and an online reading world to teach today's children to read. In this book, Rat does a magic trick so he can get away from Cat! Suitable for Ages 4-5 (Red level A).
This title is part of Pearson's Bug Club - the first whole-school reading programme that joins books and an online reading world to teach today's children to read. In this book, Dan loves bugs, but his sister, Emma, hates them! One day, Dan takes Tom the spider on a camping trip Suitable for Ages 5-6 (Yellow level C).
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 5: Nan has laundry to do. Sid is bored. What can he do for fun? This book includes the following words: work, laughed, because. This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 2: Rat wants to sit in the garden, but Nan says, 'Go!' This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 2: Can Nan get Sid to dig? This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 2: Is Doll ill? He doesn't want to play This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
This title is part of Phonics Bug - the first Phonics programme to bring together research-based teaching methods with 100% decodable books, CBeebies video, and an online reading world to give today's children a firm, fun foundation in Phonics. In this book for Phonics Phase 4: A little green monster comes along. What will he do next? This book includes the following words: said, do, come, there, little, what. This title was originally published as part of Rigby Star Phonics.
'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'. The Young Pups don't want to visit Grandpa - he is so boring, and only ever wants to talk about the olden days. They don't believe Grandpa was ever young or fun, so Grandpa sets out to prove them wrong, and show them that there is life in the old dog yet!
Join Jeanne Willis in the funniest talent show ever. In a fabulous rhyming text, meet bears with baggy bottoms, pigs with perky pinky ones and peacocks who love to put theirs on display. Perfect for reading aloud and guaranteed to cause fits of giggles, one thing's for sure - whoever is the winner, bottoms are top! From the dynamic duo behind Bottoms Up!
Highly entertaining, this is a touching story about an unlikely friendship between two cats. Stuck up Sir Cecil aspires to the higher way of life – such as the one his master leads; Cubby is a scruffy down to earth cat who relishes Sir Cecil’s luxurious lifestyle. How the two become firm friends after a number of serious mishaps is delightfully told in the easy-to-read chapters of this book. This is just one of a number of Pocket Money Puffins. To view others click here.
Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog were very lazy. They ate and ate and ate. And they slept and slept and slept. But when they woke up, they were most uncomfortable. The sofa had shrunk! Or so they liked to think...
The ghastly Mr Skumskins O'Parsley's favourite dishes include wormcast butties, squashed tadpoles on toast and bogey burgers. O'Parsley decides one day to bake an extra special cake, with more revolting ingredients than you can possibly imagine. However, when the cake decides to eat HIM, he realises it is time to mend his ways. The rollicking rhymes by Jeanne Willis are accompanied by Korky Paul's exuberant illustrations.
There never was a rabbit as bad as Big Bad Bun. Or so you'd think if you read the letter which he left on his bed after school one day...but it turns out Big Bad Bun (whose real name is actually Fluff) might not be as bad as he makes out. His school report aside, that is!
Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. Enjoy this title even more with the accompanying audio cd.
Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog were very lazy. They ate and ate and ate. And they slept and slept and slept. But when they woke up, they were most uncomfortable. The sofa had shrunk! Or so they liked to think...
A brilliantly light hearted celebration of the bare bottie! Human toddlers protest against the wearing of nappies, knickers, pants, boxers, bloomers or briefs. After all, the human babies protest in the jaunty rhyming text whilst the entertaining illustrations which illustrate the dottiness of the concept, animals definitely do not wear smalls!
Colin is small, even for a mouse. His mother refuses to let him play outside with his brothers and sisters unless he is wrapped in a big fluffy ball of cotton wool. But instead of keeping him safe, the cotton wool attracts the attention of every fierce creature imaginable - little boys, ducks, even foxes! After a day of being flung, pecked and chased, Colin returns home without his cotton wool, but feeling much BIGGER, and ready to tell his mother that he can look after himself.
'I'm Grill Pan Eddy! Everybody ready? Catch me if you can!' Help! There's a mouse in the house! Grill Pan Eddy is an irrepressible, noisy and unwanted addition to the household, and a hilarious battle of wits ensues as the family tries to get rid of him!
A tender story with a big message. Two sisters playing by the pond find a magical tiny being complete with wings. It’s a bog baby and the two girls decide to take the best care of it that they can. But, when the bog baby becomes ill, they realize that they’ll have to let it go back to the wild. A beautiful story about the joy of caring but not shying away from the hardest part of it – letting go when the time comes. Winner of the 2008 Booktrust Early Years 'Pre-School Award'. The Lovereading comment: A wonderful new story from Jeanne Willis, the author that brought you Who's in the Loo? Ever heard if a Bog Baby before? Well it’s undersized and blue and has wings similar to that of a dragon. When two girls find it in a magical pond they wonder what to do with it. This book is hilarious, touchingly illustrated and there’s a good moral lesson at the end.
One day a little boy loses his bellybutton, so he sets off into the jungle to find it. On the way he meets lots of animals, who each have their own bellybuttons. But it seems that somebody has stolen the little boy's, and they may not be so eager to give it back!
An hilarious hairy adventure at the time of the woolly mammoth. Can the very thin, very hungry caveman ever get the fat mammoth and turn him into a delicious – and filling – pie? Mammoth Pie is hard to get but following the caveman’s attempts to do is fun for all.
All the young wild animals think Bat is mad. How can she say a tree has the trunk at the top and the leaves at the bottom? Until, that is, they consult wise Owl who suggests that if they just try looking at things from Bat's point of view, they might see thing very differently.
Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. Jeanne Willis will be at The Cheltenham Book Festival in October. For more details click here. Also click here to see an interview with Jeanne on www.meettheauthor.co.uk
Little Dennis doesn't want to go to sleep because there might be something under his bed. Dennis isn't afraid of monsters - after all, he's a monster himself. He's afraid that humans will get him. His mother says that humans are only in made-up stories, but Dennis is not convinced. Rollicking rhyme and delightfully detailed illustrations make this story of a bedtime surprise the perfect book for little monsters.
'My name is Queen Delilah and I come from a land far, far away, really I do.' My mother says, 'Really you don't, darling.' But if Delilah did rule the world, what a fun place it would be! Except she would be the first to tell you that she's not naughty at all - you see, Delilah is a queen in her own country and the rules are quite different there! Her first adventure finds her in the library creating utter chaos, much to the despair of the librarian, Library Anne, but to the huge delight of everyone else!
Quirky and great fun. We’ve all experienced the problem of wanting the loo at the same time first thing in the morning. Well here, Jeanne Willis’ talent with words comes up trumps and will bring a smile to every face, both young and old alike. Jeanne Willis will be at The Cheltenham Book Festival in October. For more details click here. Also click here to see an interview with Jeanne on www.meettheauthor.co.uk
A little mouse loses her baby, but just as she starts looking for it, out of the rainforest looms a huge gorilla, so she starts running for her life. And so begins a chase that takes her all over the world: to China, Australia, North America, and even the Arctic! But when the gorilla finally catches up with her at the North Pole, it turns out that all he has been trying to do is return her baby to her!
What is magic? What is illusion? What is real? Step into the extraordinary world of Sam Khaan, who has just discovered a witch doctor's notebook in her attic. Convinced that it belongs to her long-lost father - the son of a witch doctor - she sets out on a journey to discover the answers to these questions. In her encounters with diviners and healers, conjurers and mystics, Sam learns the truth about magic the hard way. Here is your chance to take a far easier route.
Who's in the loo? There's a very long queue. Is it an elephant doing a poo? If your house has many occupants, then this witty rhyme from the irreverent and observant pen of Jeanne Willis will resonate profoundly. Adrian Reynolds's exuberant illustrations highlight the fun!
Freddie is a pet rat. He belongs to a girl who's growing up - and growing away from the babyish things of childhood. She's already swapped her teddy bears and family days out for trendy gear and a brilliant new best friend. But what about Freddie? He used to be her best friend. How could she break her promise? And where will a little lonely rat fit into this cool new life?
Dozy mare is a lazy horse. She won’t go backwards, she won’t go forwards, she won’t trot, she won’t jump and she won’t perform tricks. Carrots, sugar lumps, ice cream – nothing will tempt Dozy Mare to do anything that is asked of her. But when she hears that her next sale will be to the butcher, Dozy Mare picks up her heels and runs and jumps and performs every trick imaginable. She’s not so dozy after all. It’s worth is to have freedom! Tony Ross’s capering Dozy Mare is a delight.
There was once a cow, who was always miserable; and a lamb who tried to cheer her up. But the cow was impossible to cheer up! Even Father Christmas was too jolly for her. The poor lamb burst into tears himself, and wallowed in misery. Finally the cow started to miss him, and gave him the best birthday present ever - a great big grin!
Little Rhino is rude to everyone, and has been since the day he was born. He sticks his tongue out, makes rude noises, and waves his bottom at anyone in front of him. Until, that is, he meets his match with someone who is prepared to treat him the same way!
A hilarious picture book about the joys of school from the top class team, Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. Honor Brown cannot find a good word to say about her school despite much prompting. She insists that her teacher is a warty toad, the water tray has killer sharks in it, and even her friends are loathsome. But when the time comes to move on to Big School, she sits in the corner and sobs! Maybe it wasn t so bad after all.
Tadpole loves his rainbow friend, the caterpillar, and she tells him she loves everything about him. Promise that you will never change, she says. But as the seasons pass and he matures, his legs grow, and then his arms - and what happens to his beautiful rainbow friend? As he sits on his lily pad, digesting a butterfly, Tadpole little realises that now he will never know! Follow the predictable changes of a tadpole and a caterpillar to their natural conclusion in this award winning picture book.
Sassy, informative and funny, this is one in a set of three books that are ideal for girls going through puberty. Dealing with issues like periods, breasts, body image, eating disorders, snogging, sex, contraception, STDs, make-up, clothes advice, friends and shyness, they're packed with fun facts, tips, witty illustrations and useful, comprehensive advice. Everything your big sister never told you and you were too embarrassed to ask your mum!
A little shrew had wonderful news! He wanted to tell the whole world, but it was too noisy. 'I know the secret of Peace on Earth!' he said. Nobody heard him. Everyone was much too busy doing their own thing, creating their own noises, and not listening to anything. He wanted to say that if everyone in the whole world just sat still for a moment and listened, there would be Peace on Earth. Jeanne Willis uses a wonderful hurly-burly of onomatopoeic words to accompany her familiar energetic rhythmic text, and Tony Ross rises to the challenge, producing illustrations that perfectly match both in their imaginative variety and in their glorious details.
Meet Vanessa, hairdresser to the strangest folk! She has to tint Goldilock's hair (it's really rather mousy-brown!), tidy up Peter Pan's eyebrows and trim Father Christmas's beard. But then, one evening, a werewolf turns up!
The Hairem Scarem is very hairy and very scary. Every time the other animals tell him to cut his hair, he cuts some off and sticks it on their head. Everyone is afraid of him, until the Hair Queen makes him cut off all his hair until he is almost bald. Then the other animals laugh at him and make him cut their hair, too. Illustrated by David Roberts
Rigby Rocket offers a wide range of engaging stories and non-fiction texts. Written by much-loved children's authors, the books have been expertly levelled to ensure your children are able to read them independently.
Rigby Rocket is designed to offer links from guided to independent reading. It is linked to guided reading objectives, allowing children to practise valuable skills following a guided reading session. The titles are levelled to Book Bands for Guided Reading , and provide stories that children are able to read independently. Each title contains reading notes written specifically for parents/Learning Support Assistants. These focus on key reading skills and encourage discussion to improve children's comprehension. The Red Level titles are aimed at children in Reception and follow on from the Pink Level .
It's Monday, it's raining, and James is miserable - until Stephanie walks in. Suddenly he cheers up enormously, and even the sun shines! They do everything together - they are even get married in the school play! And then she has to go away. James is miserable again - until Wendy walks in! A small child's infatuation for a classmate is perfectly resolved. Will help ease and explain those moments in childhood when great friendships must change as families move on and children are separated.
An early collaboration from one of the country’s best-loved author/illustrator teams, this best-selling picture book shows an alien’s view of Earth babies.
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