Books for Babies and Toddlers
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A Great Big Cuddle A Great Big Cuddle Michael Rosen Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month, September 2015  Children’s Laureates Chris Riddell and Michael Rosen combine here to create a beautiful collection of ebullient poems for the very young.  Michael Rosen’s close and affectionate observation of small children and the ... Download free opening extract
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Shh! We Have a Plan Shh! We Have a Plan Chris Haughton Longlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Shortlisted for the Little Rebels Book Award 2015 Awarding-winning Chris Haughton tells a big story in stunning illustrations in his near-wordless picture board book. The huntsmen are determined to capture the bird. Armed ... Download free opening extract
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Not Now, Bernard Not Now, Bernard David Mckee Two of our Guest Editors chose Not Now, Bernard - celebrating it's 35th anniversary in 2015 - as one of their favourite books. Sophie Mckenzie 'This dark, rather depressing picture book opened my eyes to what was possible with children's writing. ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for Young Adults

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The Rest of Us Just Live Here The Rest of Us Just Live Here Patrick Ness September 2015 Book of the Month   Daring, beautifully written, full of ideas that will bring the reader up short, The Rest of Us Just Live Here is a dystopian adventure that mocks dystopian adventures while acknowledging the genre’s power ... Download free opening extract
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Sophie Someone Sophie Someone Hayley Long September 2015 Book of the Month  Sophie Nieuwenleven’s story is shocking, so she tells it in the only way she can – in code, using random code worms to keep any nubby parkers on their togs. Sophie’s parents have been ... Download free opening extract
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Fans of the Impossible Life Fans of the Impossible Life Kate Skelsa September 2015 Debut of the Month **PLEASE NOTE this title is now classified as an ADULT title due to the content** Told through the eyes of three utterly unforgettable characters, this is a bold and poignant Young Adult debut about ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

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Molly Maybe's Monsters: The Dappity Doofer Molly Maybe's Monsters: The Dappity Doofer Kristina Stephenson September 2015 Book of the Month   Molly Maybe lives in Smallsbury, a sleepy town where nothing much ever happens.  At least, not above ground! Underneath is a magical world, and the only way to get to it is via ... Download free opening extract
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What the Ladybird Heard Next What the Ladybird Heard Next Julia Donaldson Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month, September 2015 Best-selling duo Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have gone back to the farmyard for a second adventure featuring the clever and resourceful ladybird! This time thieves Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are ... Download free opening extract
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Stick Man Stick Man Julia Donaldson Creators of The Gruffalo, bestselling author/illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have created yet another bestseller with Stick Man and now the book comes in a beautiful new gift edition complete with a snow dome. “Stick Man lives in the ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

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Thorfinn and the Awful Invasion Thorfinn and the Awful Invasion David MacPhail September 2015 Book of the Month  Thorfinn is a charming boy, polite, tidy and he makes a lovely cup of tea. Unfortunately, he’s a Viking and this particular skill set doesn’t do anything to impress his family or neighbours – ... Download free opening extract
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The Ride-by-Nights The Ride-by-Nights Walter de la Mare This is the second of Walter de la Mare’s poems to be turned into a picture book by Carolina Rabei and her illustrations provide a rich setting. It’s Hallowe’en and ‘Up on their brooms the Witches stream/Crooked and black in ... Download free opening extract
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Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Our World Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Our World Katie Daynes September 2015 Fascinating Facts Book of the Month  Five of Kipling’s honest serving-men are represented in this excellent book: on pages dedicated to What, Why, When, How and Where are questions to intrigue young children and, under cleverly shaped sturdy ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

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Pugs of the Frozen North Pugs of the Frozen North Philip Reeve September 2015 Book of the Month  Award winning author partners Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre head north for their latest adventure. Shen the cabin boy is abandoned by his shipmates when their ship is stranded in the ice. He’s completely ... Download free opening extract
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Mango & Bambang: The Not-a-Pig (Book One) Mango & Bambang: The Not-a-Pig (Book One) Polly Faber September 2015 Debut of the Month  Bambang the tapir makes his way from the jungle to the big city where he is lucky enough to be found by Mango, a very capable little girl. Though by nature he’s rather timid, ... Download free opening extract
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Mister Cleghorn's Seal Mister Cleghorn's Seal Judith Kerr September 2015 Julia Eccleshare's Mega Book of the Month  The much-loved author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea has written and illustrated a delightful new story that is perfect for all the family. When lonely Mr Cleghorn adopts Charlie, ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

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Witchmyth Witchmyth Emma Fischel September 2015 Book of the Month This second adventure for witchkid Flo Skritchett is likely to prove as popular as the first. A huge part of the fun of the stories is the parallel witch society Emma Fischel has created: ... Download free opening extract
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Haunters Haunters Thomas Taylor The dead and the living exist side by side in this thrilling time-travelling adventure. In David's recurrent dream, Eddie seems real and it seems like he's got something to tell David. That's scary enough but then David gets picked up ... Download free opening extract
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Alistair Grim's Odditorium Alistair Grim's Odditorium Gregory Funaro The odd is the ordinary at Alistair Grim’s Odditorium, a peculiar building located somewhere in the streets of Victorian London and which teems with magic. Grubb (no first name, two b’s), twelve years old or thereabouts, orphan chimney sweep, arrives ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

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Listen to the Moon Listen to the Moon Michael Morpurgo M.B.E. September 2015 Book of the Month   A beautiful and captivating tour de force of family, love, war and forgiveness, this is a major new novel from the author of War Horse and Private Peaceful, Michael Morpurgo and is set in ... Download free opening extract
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The Wolf Wilder The Wolf Wilder Katherine Rundell September 2015 Book of the Month  Wolves, wildness and freedom are at the heart of this thrilling story. Wolf wilders are employed to reintroduce wolves unfortunate enough to be brought up as pets in rich households back into the wild, ... Download free opening extract
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The Blackthorn Key The Blackthorn Key Kevin Sands September 2015 Debut of the Month  Set in the uncertain, dangerous days of 1665, this is a thrilling tale of alchemy, intrigue and murder! Christopher Rowe is an orphan, apprenticed to an apothecary. He can be reckless, even disobedient – ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 13+ readers

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One One Sarah Crossan September 2015 Julia Eccleshare's Mega Book of the Month 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 ... Download free opening extract
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Goodbye Stranger Goodbye Stranger Rebecca Stead September 2015 Book of the Month  Rebecca Stead loves to set her readers puzzles: there are huge mysteries in her award-winning novels When You Reach Me and Liar and Spy and her new book, Goodbye Stranger also poses questions. Central ... Download free opening extract
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Unbecoming Unbecoming Jenny Downham Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month, September 2015 Award- winning Jenny Downham launched her career with Before I Die. The story of a young girl facing death, it showed a bold author who could write sensitively about a subject that ... Download free opening extract