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John Kelly is an illustrator, writer and designer who has written and illustrated a variety of picture books, young fiction, graphic novels and non-fiction. He has been shortlisted twice for the Kate Greenaway prize and has helped create books for Lucasfilm and Pixar. Originally from the North East of England John now lives in South London. .
In a nutshell: intriguing, sometimes scary and totally original adventure with the one and only Ivy Pocket As her many fans will testify, anything is possible with Ivy Pocket, and this volume brings her extraordinary adventures to a suitably thrilling and breath-taking conclusion. Her best friend Rebecca is trapped in a parallel world and Ivy being Ivy, she’s determined to save her. She sets off, mysterious Clock Diamond in hand, but her enemies, including the scary Miss Always, are close behind. Inventive, tireless, vain, delightfully self-delusional, Ivy is brilliant company and from start to finish this trilogy is hugely entertaining. ~ Andrea Reece Ivy and her adventures will appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket and Neil Gaiman.
The irresistible Ivy Pocket bounces back after the adventures recounted so brilliantly in Anyone But Ivy Pocket, as self-willed and gloriously self-deluded as ever! She believes she’s been adopted by a benevolent couple, the Snagsbys of Snagsbys Economic Funerals, but readers will realise a) she’s their maid and b) one of their economies seems to involve hastening customers into those cut-price coffins. Ivy is still in possession of the mysterious Clock Diamond and therefore able to travel between dimensions. She’s determined to rescue her friend from one of these and – as ever – oblivious to the many nefarious types out to prevent her. There are few adventures as original, exciting or funny as Ivy’s – please, no-one stop her! Readers will also enjoy Knights of the Borrowed Dark, which while darker has the same range of intriguing and original characters and clever writing. ~ Andrea Reece
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | January 2016 Debut of the Month Meet Ivy Pocket, junior lady’s maid, and one of the most delightful fictional creations readers are ever likely to encounter. Sacked by her employer after she has – with the best possible intentions - plunged her mistress’s head into a bowl of punch at a dinner party, Ivy is stranded in Paris. It seems a stroke of luck therefore when she’s commissioned to take a precious jewel to England, but there’s something not right about the Clock Diamond, and Ivy is soon plunged into danger of a strange, supernatural kind. The adventure that follows is intriguing and full of scary moments, but it’s Ivy who makes the book really special. Ivy takes plain-speaking to extremes; presents her ridiculous invented self-histories with a bravado that never fails to impress the reader, if not the listener; and has an inexhaustible repertoire of bizarre practical remedies! An original and entertaining story with a truly irresistible heroine. ~ Andrea Reece
If you haven’t discovered Angie Sage’s marvellous Araminta Spook series yet you are in for a treat. Araminta is a feisty character, fond of bats and ghosts, and there’s always a spooky element to her adventures. In this story, the young ladies of Gargoyle Hall boarding school are off to Skeleton Island, haunted, rumour has it, by the ghosts of pirates. Araminta sees a chance to scare her enemy Nosy Nora, but instead she and Wanda get stranded with the ghostly pirates. All ends well and one of the skeleton pirate ghosts joins the school as a new girl! As ever, the story is inventive, funny and expertly plotted, exceptionally good for newly fluent readers. ~ Andrea Reece
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - April 2015 Debut of the Month Meet Ivy Pocket, junior lady’s maid, and one of the most delightful fictional creations readers are ever likely to encounter. Sacked by her employer after she has – with the best possible intentions - plunged her mistress’s head into a bowl of punch at a dinner party, Ivy is stranded in Paris. It seems a stroke of luck therefore when she’s commissioned to take a precious jewel to England, but there’s something not right about the Clock Diamond, and Ivy is soon plunged into danger of a strange, supernatural kind. The adventure that follows is intriguing and full of scary moments, but it’s Ivy who makes the book really special. Ivy takes plain-speaking to extremes; presents her ridiculous invented self-histories with a bravado that never fails to impress the reader, if not the listener; and has an inexhaustible repertoire of bizarre practical remedies! An original and entertaining story with a truly irresistible heroine. ~ Andrea Reece
Meet the Beastly Pirates, the munchiest, crunchiest pirates to ever sail the seven seas! If YOU were a pirate, what would you have for lunch? Fish soup? Shark on toast? Not the Beastly Pirates! They like something a little munchier, a little crunchier ... a little more 'piratey'. Join the Beastly Pirates on this awesome piratical adventure, fabulously illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medal shortlisted illustrator, John Kelly.
Meet the Beastly Pirates, the munchiest, crunchiest pirates to ever sail the seven seas! If YOU were a pirate, what would you have for lunch? Fish soup? Shark on toast? Not the Beastly Pirates! They like something a little munchier, a little crunchier ... a little more 'piratey'. Join the Beastly Pirates on this awesome piratical adventure, fabulously illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medal shortlisted illustrator, John Kelly.
When a ghastly giant comes crashing through the Kingdom one day, the townsfolk fear for their lives. He's knocking down the buildings! He's breathing his stinky breath all over the place! He's even picking giant bogeys out of his giant nose - he must be stopped! So the King decrees that ALL knights be sent to slay the giant - and whoever succeeds will be knighted BRAVEST IN THE LAND. Enter Sir Scaly Pants (the most unusual knight around) and his trusty steed Guinevere (he most unfit horse around) Will this unlikely duo manage to defeat the greedy, grimy giant? You bet they will! A wildly funny tale of good versus bad perfect for fans of Jonny Duddle.
Sammy Feral's special talent for investigating weird creatures takes a turn for the terrifying when an army of vampire bats invade his hometown... and local children start going missing! Then, Sammy's own little sister disappears. Can he track down the evil Count Batcular and save Natty... before it's too late?
When Araminta throws cold water over her best friend, Wanda, to disperse a crowd of panicked bats, it's decided Araminta has been `helpful' one too many times, and she is packed off to boarding school. On arrival, Araminta is surprised to discover that Gargoyle Hall makes her home, Spook House, seems positively cosy. Strange moans and clanks echo down the corridors and the two head girls are equally creepy. Most of the other pupils have been scared away, but Araminta senses that something - or someone - is behind the menace. With the help of best friend Wanda and Uncle Drac's prize bat, she is going to do something about it!
To make some extra money for Feral Zoo, Sammy, Red and Donny decide to promote their cryptozoology business - investigating animals that don't exist. What could possibly go wrong? Everything! Hired to check out sightings of a ghost dog, the friends uncover the terrifying legend of the Hell Hound. Anyone who is seen by this terrible beast is struck with a death curse. So when Sammy's best friend Mark runs into the deadly dog, Sammy knows he doesn't have long to figure out how to save him!
One of our Books of the Year 2013 & March 2013 Debut of the Month A Piece of Passion from the Editor, Sara O'Connor - The Great Galloon immediately made me want to grab a mop and fight alongside the comical crew. With plenty of adventures and "goodnight points" instead of chapters, I defy you not to be completely charmed by this whimsical story and its wonderful illustrations. The Great Galloon is a flying airship which combines the remarkable gadgetry of the flying galleon in the film Stardust, with the humour and action of Pirates of the Caribbean. This rollicking piratical read whisks the reader through the air and on a voyage of adventure, peopled by characters such as Stanley, a clever boy with a small horn, and Rasmussen, a reluctant countess-to-be. ......................................... In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for The Great Galloon a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title...'If you love books with pirates, action and adventure then go to the shops today to get your hands on a copy of 'The Great Galloon.' Scroll down to read their reviews...
Sammy's back for another weird adventure! Ever since Sammy discovered that there are crazier animals in the world than just lemurs and lions, his life has become pretty weird. So when a Mongolian Death Worm turns up at his zoo, he's not that surprised. The Death Worm needs help: his best friend, Bert the Yeti Chief, has gone missing. Can Sammy summon the Ministry of Yetis and rescue Bert? He's going to need help from his old friends Donny and Red, not to mention a very reluctant Wish Frog... An action-packed adventure for the Wimpy Kid generation.
This book is a light-hearted, yet highly informative study of two of the most natural human resources in the world - poo and wee. Throughout history, the products of our bladder and bowels have helped us to build houses, wash and dye our clothes, fertilize crops, treat illnesses, solve crimes, control pollution and create fuel, energy and explosives. These pages show you how, and tell you some fascinating stories at the same time. Illustrated with brilliantly fun artworks and endearing characters, you'll be entertained by wizards using `magical urine', soldiers fighting with exploding piles of dung, wee-wielding beauty therapists and much more.
A comprehensive history of disease and pestilence, told from the point of view of the bugs and pests that cause them. The book features case histories of specific epidemics, 'eyewitness' accounts from the rats, flies, ticks and creepy-crawlies who spread diseases, plus plenty of fascinating facts and figures on the biggest and worst afflictions. Illustrated throughout with brilliantly entertaining artworks and endearing characters, you'll be entertained by a cabinet war room showing the war on germs, a rogues' gallery highlighting the worst offenders, the very deadliest diseases examined under the microscope and much more.
Jack takes a ride in his big red tractor with a trailer attached behind, picking up lots of fun animal friends along the way. But before long it gets dark and he's lost. Who will help him find the way home?
A boy wants to find out what it's like to shudder with-fear and ends up battling the Devil himself. A dark Gothic tale. Barrington Stoke specialise in books for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers.
Sulky teenager Alan's new room contains an unwelcome guest-with a message he needs to listen to. Ghostly horror. Barrington Stoke specialise in books for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers.
Shortlisted for this year's Blue Peter Book award to be announced in early November this is a really fun book that both boys and girls will thoroughly enjoy. The lengths some wolves will go to in securing a tasty dinner are superbly told and illustrated in this hilarious book. Told in letter form by, the ever naïve, Mr & Mrs Pork-Fowler your children will want to read this again and again as they realise how much there is to be found in the illustrations.
Horace and Glenda Pork-Fowler hav one an all-you-can-eat weekend at Eatum Hall - a dream come true for the pair for whom no plate is too big. However, their greed and desire to make the most of their luxurious surroundings distract them from the true purpose of why they are there! Ages 5+.
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