Football School Season 2: Where Football Explains the World
7+ readers 9+ readersThis clever, hugely entertaining book is further proof, if it were needed, that football is the best game in the world, and that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, you can’t learn from studying it. Authors Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton teach physics through looking at the shape of the ball and how it is constructed; geography by examining pitches; business studies via the transfer market (of course); and psychology by studying managerial techniques (from Klopp to Fergie). They also include a section on ‘after school activities’, chapters specifically designed to help you improve your health and concentration skills. Even if you don’t much like football, you’ll be inspired and informed by this book, and it’s a real winner. ~ Andrea Reece
Timmy Failure: The Cat Stole My Pants
7+ readers 9+ readersIn a nutshell: Hilarious sleuthing with boy detective and his sidekick polar bear… | A new Timmy Failure book is always a cause for celebration and this is another glorious mix of humour, surrealism, incompetent detection – and chickens. Timmy is on holiday in Florida with his mum and her new husband. With Total the polar bear hiding out in Cuba he needs a new sidekick – step up Emilio Empanada, willing if nervous unpaid intern. Together they cause the kind of chaos and confusion that is Timmy’s natural state, while adopting a chicken along the way, and it’s wonderfully funny. The description of a surprise meeting with his father for Timmy tugs at the heartstrings as well as finding the funny bone. Stephan Pastis’s cartoon illustrations are a joy in themselves and this is clever, original, inspired fun. ~ Andrea Reece
The Treehouse Fun Book
7+ readers 9+ readersThe 'Treehouse' series of books by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton reliably provides kids with some of the most inventive, entertaining and deliciously daft reading around, and this new activity book takes the fun on to a different level. Across 150 joke-filled colourful pages are a series of Treehouse related games, puzzles and activities. The best are those which ask readers to imitate Andy and Terry and, for example, to make up their own mixed-up animals, create a fun food level for the Treehouse or draw an explosion (explosions are one of the boys’ specialities). 100% entertaining and a good incentive to all readers to create their own chaotic fun in a book. ~ Andrea Reece
Illegal
9+ readers 11+ readersOne of Our Books of the Year 2017 | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month October 2017 Twelve-year-old Ebo’s terrifying story of travelling alone from his home in Africa in order to have the chance of a childhood, education and ultimately a safe way of life is brilliantly told this graphic novel. In words and pictures, Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin and Giovanni Rigano tell how Ebo, along with so many others in the same plight, makes his way across the treacherous Sahara Desert before he even begins on the desperate journey across the sea. Told with great sympathy and warmth and propelled by Nobel Laureate Elis Wiesel’s powerful quote, “You, who are so-called illegal aliens, must know that no human being is illegal”, Ebo’s story which is shared by millions migrants, should be read by all. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for October 2017 A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin The Land of Neverendings by Kate Saunders The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell Pax by Sara Pennypacker and Jon Klassen Egyptomania by Emma Giuliani and Carole Saturno Father Christmas and Me by Matt Haig The Greatest Magician in the World by Matt Edmondson
Football School Season 2: Where Football Explains the World
7+ readers 9+ readersThis clever, hugely entertaining book is further proof, if it were needed, that football is the best game in the world, and that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, you can’t learn from studying it. Authors Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton teach physics through looking at the shape of the ball and how it is constructed; geography by examining pitches; business studies via the transfer market (of course); and psychology by studying managerial techniques (from Klopp to Fergie). They also include a section on ‘after school activities’, chapters specifically designed to help you improve your health and concentration skills. Even if you don’t much like football, you’ll be inspired and informed by this book, and it’s a real winner. ~ Andrea Reece
Corpse Talk - Ground-Breaking Scientists
7+ readers 9+ readersThe first awesome thematic Corpse Talk book - all about the most amazing scientists from history ever! Adam Murphy interviews the dead famous scientists who changed the world - getting their stories straight from the corpses' mouths! Reading Corpse Talk: Ground-Breaking Scientists is like having history injected into your brain! It guarantees laughs, surprises, and a whole host of the most astonishing achievements you'll ever discover. Don't miss out on the biggest thing to hit history since Horrible Histories!
The Treehouse Fun Book 2
7+ readers 9+ readersStuff to write! Pictures to draw! Puzzles to solve! And so much more . . . Grab your Treehouse passport and jump into the crazy world of the bestselling Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. In this activity book, join Andy, Terry and Jill for an adventure like no other as they combine animals, create magical kingdoms, time-travel, solve crosswords, search for words, colour and scribble, spot the difference, find the odd one out, crack codes and so much more!So what are you waiting for? Come on up!
Roller Girl
9+ readers 11+ readersIn a nutshell: friendship, growing up and superheroes on skates! Roller derby, a contact sport played by teams, isn’t very well known in the UK but boy, it looks great fun in Victoria Jamieson’s graphic novel. A rough-and-tumble sport, unusually it is mostly played by girls; Astrid is hooked first game she sees, and signs up to train at summer camp. Her best friend, who prefers ballet, can’t understand this new passion and the two grow apart. In her efforts to become a real roller girl like her hero Rainbow Bite, Astrid gets knocked down countless times, but she always gets up again. She makes a new friend, and over the course of this roller skating summer discovers lots about independence and working out who you are. This is as much about friendship as roller skating, and both are depicted brilliantly in Jamieson’s bright, action-packed cartoon strips. Terrific! ~ Andrea Reece
The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship
9+ readers 11+ readersJune 2017 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2017 Master story-teller Philip Pullman is as brilliantly creative in this gripping, multi-narrative graphic novel story as ever. In an adventure which both pays homage to the best-traditions of the past and dashes into the future so enabling it to give an interesting commentary on our own time, Pullman’s lively cast of characters travel through time and place. At the centre of the adventure is a mysterious ghost ship, the Mary Alice, crewed by men from all times including ancient Rome, the seventeenth century and the present. But someone in the present is desperate to get their hands on the boat and will stop at nothing to do so. When contemporary teenager Serena falls from the family yacht she is rescued by crew member John Blake. How can he evade the present day evil and return her safely to her family? Pullman’s brevity and storytelling power are superbly realised in Fred Fordham’s atmospheric and equally taut illustrations. With the sea at the heart of them all, they conjure up the different times and places of the several narratives and define the characters in them. The result is a delight of a book for readers of all ages. ~ Julia Eccleshare Philip Pullman says: “I wanted to do this because I love the comic form. You can do things in comics with great economy, swiftness, force and effect, and I just wanted to use those potentialities.” Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for June 2017 Aubrey and the Terrible Ladybirds by Horatio Clare Adventures of John Blake, The: Mystery of the Ghost Ship by Philip Pullman Axel Scheffler's Flip Flap Ocean by Axel Scheffler Maisy Goes to the Bookshop by Lucy Cousins Tender Earth by Sita Brahmachari Old Hat by Emily Gravett The Cow Who Fell to Earth by Nadia Shireen
Football School Season 1: Where Football Explains the World
7+ readers 9+ readersLonglisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award 2017 - Best Books with Facts The authors of this very entertaining book claim that there’s no better way to learn about the world than through football. Hence it is divided into ‘lessons’ – biology, history, physics etc – each of which is packed with fascinating football related information. Business studies looks at footballers’ wages, why they’re paid so much, and where the money comes from; zoology considers famous club mascots; drama looks at goal celebrations ( the Oscar goes to the Icelandic team of Stjarnan and it’s well worth googling them to see why). There are lots of diagrams and cartoon illustrations throughout too and as a football/trivia/information book this is really hard to beat. ~ Andrea Reece
Timmy Failure: The Cat Stole My Pants
7+ readers 9+ readersMay 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: Hilarious sleuthing with boy detective and his sidekick polar bear… | A new Timmy Failure book is always a cause for celebration and this is another glorious mix of humour, surrealism, incompetent detection – and chickens. Timmy is on holiday in Florida with his mum and her new husband. With Total the polar bear hiding out in Cuba he needs a new sidekick – step up Emilio Empanada, willing if nervous unpaid intern. Together they cause the kind of chaos and confusion that is Timmy’s natural state, while adopting a chicken along the way, and it’s wonderfully funny. The description of a surprise meeting with his father for Timmy tugs at the heartstrings as well as finding the funny bone. Stephan Pastis’s cartoon illustrations are a joy in themselves and this is clever, original, inspired fun. ~ Andrea Reece
The Misadventures of Max Crumbly Locker Hero
9+ readers 11+ readersFebruary 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: meet the comic new dork on the block | From the creator of the hugely popular Dork Diaries series comes a hapless new hero and new set of comic adventures. Max Crumbly promises readers ‘wacky humour, thrilling action, nail-biting suspense and cool raps’ and delivers pretty well on all of them. He describes his days at school, including a series of unfortunate run-ins with the school bully in short, sharp bursts, accompanied by frequent illustrations, and his view of life is definitely shaped by his love of comics. His exploits are more fantastic than those of Dork diarist Nikki, but are still firmly rooted in experiences that will be familiar to kids everywhere and his misadventures will certainly keep pages turning. Readers who like their fiction funny, fast-moving, and cartoon rich will also enjoy the Tom Gates series by Liz Pichon and Jeff Kenney’s phenomenally popular Wimpy Kid books. ~ Andrea Reece
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