Books for Babies and Toddlers

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 I Need a Wee! I Need a Wee! Sue Hendra Winner of the Laugh-Out-Loud Book Awards 2016 - Picture Book Category  Sure to appeal to toddlers and very young children given Alan the Bear has the same problem that many young children also have.  That of having too many other ... Download free opening extract
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 The National Trust: A Walk in the Countryside The National Trust: A Walk in the Countryside Rosalind Beardshaw There’s so much more for young children to learn from this gorgeous board book than just how to count. Rosalind Beardshaw’s two little friends enjoy an autumn walk, and not only do they discover all sorts of wild creatures and ... Download free opening extract
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 Little Blue Truck Little Blue Truck Alice Shertle Farmyard fun, vehicles, animal noises to make, a jolly rhyming text and a lovely message about the importance of being kind to others, this picture book has it all. Little Blue Truck is rattling down the road sharing a cheery ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for Young Adults

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 Nightwanderers Nightwanderers C. J. Flood June 2016 Book of the Month From the Branford Boase award-winning author of Infinite Sky comes this smartly-plotted page-turner about intense friendship and discovering unexpected strengths. Shy Rosie had “never had a true friend” until Titania - Ti - comes along. ... Download free opening extract
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 Fire Colour One Fire Colour One Jenny Valentine Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016. Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Year 2015 Guardian Prize winning author Jenny Valentine’s long-awaited new novel is clever, beautifully written, full of ideas. It tells the story of sixteen-year-old Iris: lonely and desperately ... Download free opening extract
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 A Monster Calls A Monster Calls Patrick Ness Winner of the 2012 Carnegie Medal Rachel Levy chair of the 2012 CILIP Carnegie judging panel said: "A Monster Calls" is an exquisite piece of writing. It is a beautifully economical, structurally brilliant and lyrically descriptive account of a challenging ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

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 Home Home Carson Ellis June 2016 Book of the Month Home – it could be a house in the country, a flat, a wigwam, or even an old boot. This beautiful book has fun with the notion of home and each page illustrates a ... Download free opening extract
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 The Detective Dog The Detective Dog Julia Donaldson June 2016 Book of the Month A celebration of dogs and books alike, Julia Donaldson employs typically sparkling rhyme to tell the story of Peter – a very nice child though he could have been neater – and his dog, ... Download free opening extract
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 Ace Dragon Ltd Ace Dragon Ltd Russell Hoban Quentin Blake’s wonderfully airy and energetic illustrations perfectly match this quirky fantasy by that other master, Russell Hoban. A little boy called John accidentally finds a dragon beneath a manhole cover in a busy street.  The passers-by take no notice ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

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 The Secret Pirate The Secret Pirate Elli Woollard June 2016 Book of the Month Lil might look like an ordinary schoolgirl, but under her jumper and vest she’s a pirate! When the thoroughly rotten Stinkbeard arrives Lil flies into battle against him, because Lil is a pirate who’ll ... Download free opening extract
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 Flo of the Somme Flo of the Somme Hilary Robinson One of our Books of the Year 2015 | Shortlisted for the prestigious Young Quills Award for Historical Fiction | The stories of the many animals involved in the First World War make a great way to explain to children ... Download free opening extract
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 The Great Farty Slob Beast The Great Farty Slob Beast Charlie Farley There’s monstrous fun to be had in this raucous picture book! Sisters Molly, Amy and Lola are bored; Mum’s busy so sends them to Dad who warns the three, ‘bored children get monsters to play with!’ Sure enough, a huge, ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

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 How to Look After Your Human How to Look After Your Human Kim Sears June 2016 Book of the Month Though it’s primarily aimed at dogs, humans too – particularly those who share their home with a canine companion – will find lots to inform and entertain them in Maggie Mayhem’s comprehensive guide. Maggie, ... Download free opening extract
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 Seacrow Island Seacrow Island Astrid Lindgren Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month June 2016 When the Melkerson family rent a holiday home on the far away Seacrow Island they have no idea of the wonderful adventures that lie in store for them. Father Melkerson, a very ... Download free opening extract
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 Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary Oxford Dictionaries, Susan Rennie, Roald Dahl June 2016 Book of the Month Dictionaries don’t come more fun than this celebration of Roald Dahl, his books and the joy he took in gobblefunking (ie playing with words, inventing new words and meanings). Dahl had an extraordinary understanding ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

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 The Accidental Secret Agent The Accidental Secret Agent Tom McLaughlin June 2016 Book of the Month - In a Nutshell: espionage – laughs – fake moustaches. The story of a boy who accidentally becomes a secret agent, Tom McLaughlin’s new book is laugh-out-loud funny, particularly if, like its hero, you daydream ... Download free opening extract
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 The Wilderness War The Wilderness War Julia Green June 2016 Book of the Month - In a Nutshell: protest – friendship – the great outdoors At a time when children are accused of disconnecting from the natural world Julia Green’s story of kids protecting their patch of wilderness is ... Download free opening extract
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 Street Child Street Child Berlie Doherty Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month June 2016  Twice the winner of the prestigious Carnegie Medal, here Berlie Doherty movingly captures the life of an orphan in Victorian London. Based on the true accounts of children whose lives led the ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

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 Private Peaceful Private Peaceful Michael, M. B. E. Morpurgo It will seem odd when reading this book that the author enjoyed writing it the most of all the 90 or so he has written so far. That’s because it’s the one that most touched a nerve with him, that ... Download free opening extract
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 A Stitch in Time A Stitch in Time Penelope Lively Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month June 2016  Award-winning Penelope Lively’s classic story humorously captures the dreamy and imaginary world of eleven year old Maria. An only child, Maria is used to quietly observing the world around her. When her ... Download free opening extract
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 The Boy at the Top of the Mountain The Boy at the Top of the Mountain John Boyne Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month June 2016 Bestselling John Boyne returns to the Second World War for The Boy at the Top of the Mountain, the story of the transformation of Pierrot. Pierrot lives in France. His mother is ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 13+ readers

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 One One Sarah Crossan Winner of the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016. Award-winning Sarah Crossan tells an astonishing and difficult story with the surest of touches in this tender, funny and life affirming book. Grace and Tippi are twins. Not just twins but conjoined twins, sharing ... Download free opening extract
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 The Crystal Run The Crystal Run Sheila O'Flanagan June 2016 Debut of the Month High-octane, high-stakes fantasy quest in which a teenage boy finds himself embroiled a world of warring lands and self-sacrificing teenagers. At first, “gangly” Joe might seem an unlikely hero. The gripping opening scene sees him bullied ... Download free opening extract
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 Five Hundred Miles Five Hundred Miles Kevin Brooks June 2016 Book of the Month | Interest Age Teen,  Reading Age 8 In a Nutshell: mysteries – urban jungle - escape With typical intensity, Kevin Brooks presents readers with a slice of the life of a singular young man. Cole and ... Download free opening extract