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Steve May was born in Hastings and studied painting and film-making at Trent Polytechnic, followed by an MA in animation at the Royal College of Art. He is now an illustrator and animation director and has worked for a variety of clients including Marks and Spencers, Harper Collins and The Guardian. Steve has honed his trademark scratchy, spontaneous illustration style to perfection. He lives in London.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month February 2021 | Best-selling Francesca Simon‘s new characters Hack and Wack, a pair of outrageously badly behaved Viking twins, will delight all Horrid Henry fans. Although still young, the tearaway twins are deemed to be the very worst Vikings in the village – a title that makes them and their parents very proud. Against a snowy and watery Viking background, Hack and Wack run amok at Elsa Gold-Hair’s birthday party, have a scary adventure with some trolls, and steal a boat and take their friends Dirty Ulf, Twisty Pants and the dog Bitey- Bitey off on a raid of Bad Island. Hack and Wack are truly terrible and their madcap adventures are fast, furious and always hilariously funny. Read more about the Two Terrible Vikings from Francesca Simon, our Guest Editor this month.
Here’s a great book for young shark aficianados, full of facts, figures and neatly presented information. Written by experts Duncan Brake and Jillian Morris, founder of Sharks4Kids, it introduces fourteen different types of shark, from everyone’s favourite (surely?) the great white, to lesser known but equally extraordinary creatures such as the swell shark, which can glow in the dark, and the cookie cutter shark, with its jutting teeth. Mixing illustration with photos and making good use of fact boxes, the book also emphasises the importance of conservation, setting up young people to be successful advocates for these endlessly fascinating creatures.
Interest Age 5-8 | Everyone knows that footballers are super-superstitious and when things suddenly start going wrong for the Saints, they decide their team is under a curse. The question is, what can they do to lift it? Stanley is the only one of them who really understands that lucky strips and garlic down their socks won’t get them winning again – only confidence and determination will do that. It’s up to him to change the team’s outlook. The action flows, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, and the story feels as real and authentic as a pair of muddy football boots. Steve May’s illustrations are bang on and in Barrington Stoke style, this is accessible even to reluctant or dyslexic readers. A winner!
March 2019 Book of the Month | Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8 | Guy Bass comes out all guns blazing in his latest comic adventure which features some typically wonderful characters – I particularly like Tad Tipsy the bartender and Precious Little the gold prospector. Centre stage is sheriff’s daughter Laura Norder and her arch enemy Duncan Disorderly, motto ‘No rules!’. In a spontaneous gesture he comes to regret, Laura’s dad makes her sheriff, but absolute power is no good for anyone and Laura’s obsession with imposing strict rules quickly makes her very unpopular with the townspeople of Butts Canyon. It’s very funny indeed, but there are lessons for us all and a sly bit of political satire too. Yee haw!
Interest Age 8-11 Reading Age 8 | Guy Bass’s hilarious story is a lesson to be careful what you wish for and why making everything all about you is not the best way to live. Noah Scape (geddit?) knows exactly what he likes – dinosaurs, cold milk, spaghetti and tomato sauce – and is irritated when different things are offered. He decides there should be more people like him, and suddenly, bizarrely, each day the number of Noahs doubles, from one to two, to four, to eight and so on. What seems really good soon loses its appeal as Noah is pushed to the back of his own queue, and when he’s told that by day 30 there’ll be 1,073,741,824 Noahs he realises it has to stop. Like everything Bass writes it’s super readable, firmly based in children’s own experiences and very, very funny. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
May 2017 Book of the Month | Interest Age 5-8 | In a nutshell: the best laid plans of mice and supermen …| Stanley is as normal a kid as you can meet, but his dad, well, he’s a superhero, Dynamo Dan to his friends. Life as a superhero is pretty full-on so Stanley’s mum insists dad take a day off to spend with his son. Stanley has been looking forward to it for ages, but it seems superheroes can’t ever relax – the emergencies keep coming. Stanley knows his dad needs a break so decides to help out himself. A celebration both of superhero stories and the special relationship between fathers and sons this is great fun from beginning to end. ~ Andrea Reece High quality cream paper and a special easy to read font ensure a smooth read for all. About the Little Gems series: Little Gems are in a gorgeous new chunky format, with high-spec production including coloured endpapers and jacketed flaps with activities. Additional features include high quality cream paper, Barrington Stoke font and illustrations on every page. They are perfect for 5-8's. These quality stories promote good reading practice for all newly independent readers.
Planet Earth Is under constant threat from aliens, and who is there to protect its inhabitants? Why, our pets. When Dung Guzzler beetles arrive from the former star Dun-Glowing, things look bad: these things thrive on rubbish, and as they get bigger will happily trample whole cities to produce more rubble. How will agent Biskit and his new partner Mitzy the cat stop them? Packed with excellent jokes as well as exciting action scenes, this neatly balances comedy and thrills, and Steve May’s black and white illustrations capture the tone perfectly. Garth P Jones has a deservedly dedicated fan-base and they will love this new series. For more mad-cap but exciting adventures see Guy Bass’ new Spynosaur series or Steve Cole’s Magic Ink.
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 | Aidan Abet works hard at school making sure he stays teacher’s pet – it’s the best way of ensuring protection from horrible bullies the (unrelated) Robert and Robin Robinson. But can he win over Miss Vowel, who seems to care more for her growing collection of school pets than any of her pupils? Fortunately for Aidan, he discovers just what makes Miss Vowel’s pets so special and his problems disappear in two shakes of a rat’s tail! Roald Dahl would have appreciated Miss Vowel’s approach to maintaining discipline in the classroom, and there’s a deliciously dark ending to this lively, funny adventure.
Buck 'n' Bronco are mascots at the Happy Ranch theme park. It's their mission to Bring the Happy (TM) to your day! But when Happy Ranch is demolished to make way for a futuristic new park, Buck 'n' Bronco find themselves without a home and without a job. They head out on the road, determined to prove they've still got what it takes. Can Buck 'n' Bronco Bring the Happy (TM) out in the real world, or are they doomed to be yesterday's mascots?
Albert's dad needs help in the family bakery, but all his son can think about is sport. So he builds a machine like no other: the Doughmaster 5000. It seems to have solved all their problems, until one night, Dad's miracle solution turns into a rampaging disaster. It's up to Albert to fix the mess - but will his sporting skills save him now?
Ever-punctual Anna Gain is never late, and she's certainly never late for the school bus. Every day she catches it in perfect time. But not today. After a series of absurd events cause Anna to miss the bus, she's transported one minute back in time - only to be stuck re-living the same sixty seconds again ... and again ... and again ... Is fate trying to teach Anna a lesson? And will she ever escape? A laugh-out-loud and punny take on 'Groundhog Day' from a top-notch author-illustrator pairing, particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
Another exciting adventure by the hilarious Harry Hill - this time taking Matt Millz and the team to the Edinburgh Festival! Matt's dream of becoming a stand-up comic is fading. Six months on from his success at the Apollo, the gigs have dried up, and it's back to the daily drudge of schoolwork for Matt and his pals. But then his twelve-year-old manager Kitty has a brainwave: if they can persuade their teachers to take a school play up to the Edinburgh Festival, they could hold a comedy night too. But Matt's got a rival new school-mate Jamie who is pushing to be in the comedy line-up. And Jamie is good. But is he too good to be true? Packed with action, clever twists and great characters, this third Matt Millz adventure will appeal to every aspiring young comedian.
Matt did it! His performance at the T Factor has given him the fame he dreamed of. Kitty is getting more gigs booked in with a whole new stable of comedic acts. Unfortunately, Matt hasn't had time to come up with new jokes so it isn't long before he is greeted with the worst heckle for a comedian: 'heard it before!'. But when Kitty suggests he takes a break to work on his routine, Matt can't stand to go back to his normal life. So he signs up with the stylish Excalibur Agency, brushing his concerns (and Kitty) aside. A life of celebrity awaits! But it doesn't take long for the shine to wear off and when they try and force him on to his first Live At the Apollo, without any preparation and no new jokes, how can Matt save himself from the ultimate humiliation?
Matt did it! His performance at the T Factor has given him the fame he dreamed of. Kitty is getting more gigs booked in with a whole new stable of comedic acts. Unfortunately, Matt hasn't had time to come up with new jokes so it isn't long before he is greeted with the worst heckle for a comedian: 'heard it before!'. But when Kitty suggests he takes a break to work on his routine, Matt can't stand to go back to his normal life. So he signs up with the stylish Excalibur Agency, brushing his concerns (and Kitty) aside. A life of celebrity awaits! But it doesn't take long for the shine to wear off and when they try and force him on to his first Live At the Apollo, without any preparation and no new jokes, how can Matt save himself from the ultimate humiliation?
Hector, his inventor mum and his little sister (along with her troupe of imaginary-friend monkeys) are always, always late for school despite only living half an hour away. But a challenge has been set - they have to make it to school in under one minute! Using lists, asides and notes, Hector chronicles his mum's increasingly impossible attempts to get to school in sixty seconds. 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.
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... Biskit and Mitzy are confronted by a large alien spider who plans to destroy the planet. Worse, she has an army of nits that she can enlarge with a blast from her own invention: the Relativisor. She can also shrink things with it - and suddenly Mitzy is the size of a louse and clinging to Biskit's head. Can the Pet Defenders stop the nits ripping the Earth apart? It's a head-scratcher! This fast-paced funny series features action, mystery and animal antics.
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... A mysterious cheese has appeared in Nothington-on-Sea and it smells so bad it's knocking people out! Biskit and Mitzy discover some alien cheeses determined to live on Earth. And they're being pursued by a giant mouse! Can the Pet Defenders get rid of the rodent and the putrid pong? You'd cheddar brie-lieve it! This fast-paced funny series features action, mystery and animal antics. Perfect for wannabe detectives and kids who love SPY DOG and THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS!
Harry Hill’s new children’s book is funny (no surprise), features great characters, particularly would-be comic Matt and his terrifyingly ambitious manager Kitty (age 11), but also offers a mini-masterclass in stand-up comedy. Matt’s dream is to make it on the comedy circuit and he’s prepared to work his way up from the school talent show, via the local WI, and TV talent show. Along the way, he is helped and/or hindered by best mate Rob, step-dad Ian and the style-vacuum that is his headmaster Mr Pavey. It’s great fun and some of the best scenes are interspersed with real advice on everything from working on your timing to dealing with hecklers. By the end readers will hope that Matt gets to follow his heroes onto the Apollo stage, but will also understand just why that’s such a uniquely exhilarating thing to do. Readers looking for something similar should look out for Christine Hamill’s Lollies shortlisted The Best Medicine, in which Harry Hill has a starring role.
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... When Biskit is stuck in the doggy hotel during his owner's holiday, the last thing he expects is for his old partner Champ to appear. But there's an intergalactic robbery plot in the pipeline and Champ is on the case! The Pet Defenders have stopped the burping, shape-shifting criminals before and now they are looking for revenge. Can Biskit and Mitzy, his super-smart cat partner, help Champ stop the thieves? This fast-paced funny series features action, mystery and animal antics. Perfect for wannabe detectives and kids who love SPY DOG and THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS!
For Harry's latest invention, he's building a super robot. He even programs the robot to do some of his household chores! But when Harry brings his robot to school, things don't go exactly as planned. The robot seems to have a mind of his own! Can Harry regain control of his invention before it causes chaos all over Parker Elementary? This early chapter book from the Superhero Harry series includes a glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, and bios.
Harry loves recess. Well, he used to love recess. A new kid starts picking on Harry and his friends at recess, and now nobody likes recess. Harry decides he will use one of his super inventions to defeat the bully and teach him a lesson, but will it work? A glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, and bios complete this early chapter book from the Superhero Harry series.
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a nutshell: dreams-come-true adventure plus comedy advice from the master Harry Hill’s new children’s book is funny (no surprise), features great characters, particularly would-be comic Matt and his terrifyingly ambitious manager Kitty (age 11), but also offers a mini-masterclass in stand-up comedy. Matt’s dream is to make it on the comedy circuit and he’s prepared to work his way up from the school talent show, via the local WI, and TV talent show. Along the way, he is helped and/or hindered by best mate Rob, step-dad Ian and the style-vacuum that is his headmaster Mr Pavey. It’s great fun and some of the best scenes are interspersed with real advice on everything from working on your timing to dealing with hecklers. By the end readers will hope that Matt gets to follow his heroes onto the Apollo stage, but will also understand just why that’s such a uniquely exhilarating thing to do. ~ Andrea Reece Readers looking for something similar should look out for Christine Hamill’s Lollies shortlisted The Best Medicine, in which Harry Hill has a starring role.
Jake can't sleep. There are odd noises and he is scared. Suddenly, the Night Knight appears! Will the Night Knight help Jake or will Jake end up helping the knight? 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 5, 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 Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month September 2017 Packed-full of some of the amazing inventions created by Colin Furze and demonstrated in his YouTube videos, this book will inspire young creators to try their hand at their own versions of his ideas. The simple-to-make Brilliant Bedroom-Tidy pulley could quickly become a favourite! It is just one of the 10 daft things that Colin Furze gives detailed instructions on how to create. Others include Furze’s Phone-Filming Thingy and a Mega Milk-Bottles Raft. In addition to the step-by-step instructions and guidance on how to source affordable materials with which to create things, Colin Furze includes advice on YouTubing and some background on some of the greatest inventions such as the bicycle and the mobile phone. Both practical and inspiring This Book Isn’t Safe! is a great way to get kids making themselves. ~ Julia Eccleshare A Note from the publishers: 'Colin’s bonkers and brilliant inventions such as a homemade hoverbike, DIY Wolverine Claws, an ejector bed and a jet-kart, have earned him over 4 million YouTube subscribers and more than 400 million video views. Colin is now on a mission to inspire a new generation of budding inventors to be creative and make things. Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for September 2017 Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony by Chris Riddell A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge This Book Isn't Safe! by Colin Furze The Grotlyn by Benji Davies Billy and the Minpins by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of The Wizard of Oz by Michael Morpurgo The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf Birthday Boy by David Baddiel
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The safety of Planet Earth depends on you. 2. Humans MUST NOT know the truth. GOOD LUCK - you'll need it... Animals are disappearing from Nothington-on-Sea and the Pet Defenders suspect alien activity. Secret agents Biskit and Mitzy find themselves caught up in the Planet Bogey Games. Biskit suspects the contest might hold the key to finding his missing partner, Champ. Can our heroes win the game? And what's more, can they get back home after? This fast-paced funny series features action, mystery and animal antics. Perfect for wannabe detectives and kids who love Spy Dog and The Adventures of Captain Underpants!
The Pet Defenders Code: 1. The Earth's safety is your primary goal. Defend it. 2. Protect humans from the truth. Good luck - you're going to need it! From Gareth P. Jones, winner of the Blue Peter Award and author of successful young series fiction, including NINJA MEERKATS, comes a brand-new comic caper. THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS meets THE X FILES - Pet Defenders are secret agents with a difference. The humans of Nothington-on-Sea have no idea their sleepy town is a hot spot for space invasions, and it's up to secret agents Biskit and Mitzy to keep it that way. So when an army of alien beards arrives, the Pet Defenders need to act fast... If the Beard King gets his way, soon every living chin will be under his control. Things are about to get hairy! For fans of funny and action-packed animal adventures including Andrew Cope's SPY DOG series, ASTROSAURS and Jeremy Strong.
As every respectable scientist knows, messing with the space-time continuum is more trouble than it's worth. That's why Felix Frost, secret child genius, has locked up his time machine for good. Yes, sir. But, when your best friend is an adventure-loving bossy pants and you've got a history project to do. Well, that changes things. When Missy and Felix visit Bill Hudson, Missy's great grandfather, to ask him about his years as a pilot in WW2, he tells them the story of the ghost plane: a fighter jet that went out on a routine mission, and when it came back, its pilot had vanished. Join Felix, Missy and Einstein as they dust off the time machine to travel back to England, 1943. Can they solve the mystery of the ghost plane without getting caught out as time travellers? Or worse, spies!
In Making Monsters Happy, Manu is a monster helper. Can he put a smile on the faces of Werewolf, Mummy and Monster Tomato? It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it. 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.
Buster is every boy’s favourite character for he’s a boy after most boy’s hearts - he’s out to save the world. Hilarious and action-packed kids will love it and it’s written by one of our best known writers and author of Mortal Engines Philip Reeve.
Buster is not happy. Somebody, or something, is spoiling a perfectly good summer holiday by invading Smogley (again!). Don't they know that Buster has better things to do? He has a full schedule of not-going-to-school, biscuit-eating and Busterball. He doesn't have time to save the world from rampaging ice-freaks - really, they could have asked. The second in the hilarious series from MORTAL ENGINES author, Philip Reeve.
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