Reading - The Story of Doctor Dolittle

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

A Junior Fiction

Doctor Dolittle likes animals.  In facts, he likes them so much he fills his house with every kind of creature imaginable, and even learns to talk their language.  When the doctor hears of a terrible sickness among the monkeys in Africa, he and his animal friends set off on ht emost unforgettable adventure .....

Reading - A Crazy Little Thing Called Death

A Crazy Little Thing Called Death by Nancy Martin

 

 

Nora Blackbird has made the society pages yet again. The impoverished Philadelphia heiress has agreed to wed Mick Abruzzo, son of New Jersey’s most notorious mobster. Now Nora has to help him survive the Blackbird curse: Every time a Blackbird sister marries, the groom is bound to die. But Nora’s superstitions are eclipsed by some ominous news. Penny Devine, ex-Hollywood starlet and daughter of the Philadelphia Devines, has disappeared, and strangely, her family is very eager to have her declared dead. When it’s revealed that Nora has inherited Penny’s extensive couture wardrobe, eyebrows rise even higher. The only way for Nora to keep her name clear and save her sanity is to snoop among the snooty…until she sniffs out the truth.

Reading - Daisy and the Trouble with Life

Daisy and the Trouble with Life by Kes Gray

A Junior Fiction

 

You absolutely can't go anywhere at all when you're grounded, so Daisy has plenty of time to think about what she's done. If only her pocket money hadn't run out and if someone hadn't dropped a strawberry candy on the pavement and if strawberry candy wasn't Daisy's absolute favorite, things could have turned out differently. Who knew that it had invisible red germs that are so totally teensy and that Auntie Sue says give you tummy trouble? Daisy's trips to the bathroom are interspersed with hilarious musings about the trouble with everything, from her goldfish Freddie who thinks it's a dolphin, to the school name-caller Jack Beechwhistle, and garden hoses that don't do as they're told. Now, if only Daisy can find a word to rhyme with hippopotamus, she and Gabby can magically turn her next door neighbor's cat into a hippo. When she's un-grounded and off the toilet, of course.

Reading - Bombs on Aunt Dainty

Bombs on Aunt Dainty by Judith Kerr

A Junior Fiction

 

It is hard enough being a teenager in London during the Blitz, finding yourself in love and wondering every night whether you will survive the bombs. But it is even harder for Anna, who is still officially classified as an “enemy alien”. Those bombs are coming from Germany – the country that was once her own. If Hitler invades, can she and her beloved refugee family possibly survive?

Reading - Murder Melts in Your Mouth

Murder Melts in Your Mouth by Nancy Martin

 

Down-to-earth debutante Nora Blackbird is having a meltdown.  Her sister Libby got herself run over by a Rolls-Rouce and is recuperating at the Ritz, leaving her five kids in Nora's charge.  And sis Emma Blackbird is on the brink of another bender.

 

Fortunately Nora has some time on her hands to deal with these mishaps - until noted Philly philanthropist Hoyt Cavendish takes a swan dive from an office balcony and Nora's friend Lexie stands accused of the murder.  Then her scheming parents suddenly reappear, sending all three Blackbird sisters in to a panic.  Now Nora must uncover her parents' scandalous high jinks before she winds up taking the heat .... and strangling her father with his own ascot.





Reading - Boy Overboard

Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman

A Junior Fiction

Jamal loves playing football, which isn't easy if your goalie only has one leg and you keep having to dodge landmines to get your ball back. Jamal's stubborn little sister Bibi is even better at football than Jamal. But girls playing football is against the law in Afganistan. When it is discovered that Jamal's mother has been secretly running a school, the family must leave their home immediately and begin a long and dangerous journey to Australia. The children survive separation from their parents, hunger, and violent smugglers only to find that Australia isn't as welcoming as they had thought but, even though they face an uncertain future, Jamal, Bibi and their parents know that as long as they are together, that is all that matters.

Reading - Once

Once by Morris Gleitzman

A Junior Fiction

Felix, a Jewish boy in Poland in 1942, is hiding from the Nazis in a Catholic orphanage. The only problem is that he doesn't know anything about the war, and thinks he's only in the orphanage while his parents travel and try to salvage their bookselling business. And when he thinks his parents are in danger, Felix sets off to warn them--straight into the heart of Nazi-occupied Poland.

To Felix, everything is a story: Why did he get a whole carrot in his soup? It must be sign that his parents are coming to get him. Why are the Nazis burning books? They must be foreign librarians sent to clean out the orphanage's outdated library. But as Felix's journey gets increasingly dangerous, he begins to see horrors that not even stories can explain.

Reading - Daisy and the Trouble with Burglars

Daisy and the Trouble with Burglars by Kes Gray

A Junior Fiction

No matter the occasion, Daisy just can't help getting into trouble! When a series of burglaries baffle Daisy's neighborhood, Daisy wants to help. Along with Gabby and Dylan, she turns detective and sets out to catch the culprit. Trouble is, detective work is hard when you're not allowed to go further than the end of the road.

Reading - The Good Little Devil and Other Tales

The Good Little Devil and Other Tales by Pierre Gripari

A Junior Fiction

There once was a good little devil - did you read that right? Yes you did: not a wicked little devil but a good one, and boy, was he in a fix!

Instead of doing bad things like forgetting his homework and playing tricks on his teachers, this little devil kept trying to be good. He did all his homework - and sometimes enjoyed it! He was never rude and he even encouraged sinners to say sorry. His parents were at their wits' end. So the little devil struck out on his own.

On his quest to learn to be good, our little devil meets all kinds of people, from priests to police and from the Pope in Rome to Little Jesus himself. But will the angels let a little red devil with black horns into Heaven?

In these thirteen tales, clever young people find nifty ways to overcome greedy kings, wicked witches, unlucky spells and even silly names. And there's a big dash of magic to help them on the way!

Reading - The Vicar of Nibbleswicke

The Vicar of Nibbleswicke by Roald Dahl

A Junior Fiction

 

 

Reading - Theodore Boone: The Activist

Theodore Boone: The Activist by John Grisham

A Junior Fiction

 

Theodore Boone is back in action! As all of Strattenburg sits divided over a hot political and environmental issue, Theo finds himself right in the thick of it. The county commission is fighting hard to change the landscape of the town, and Theo is strongly opposed to the plans. But when he uncovers corruption beneath the surface, no one—not even Theo—is prepared for the risks—and potential harm—at stake. Torn between his conscience and the law, Theo will do whatever it takes to stand up for what is right.

Reading - The Time Keeper

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

 

The man who became Father Time.In Mitch Albom's newest work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years.

Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.

Reading - Fox Evil

Fox Evil by Minette Walters

 

 

When elderly Ailsa Lockyer-Fox is found dead in her garden, dressed only in night clothes and with blood stains on the ground near her body, the finger of suspicion points at her wealthy, landowning husband, Colonel James Lockyer-Fox. A coroner's inquest gives a verdict of 'natural causes' but the gossip surrounding him refuses to go away. Why? Because he's guilty? Or because resentful women in the isolated Dorset village where he lives rule the roost? Shenstead is a place of too few people and too many secrets. Why have James and Ailsa cut their children out of their wills? What happened in the past to create such animosity within the family? And why is James so desperate to find his illegitimate grandchild? Friendless and alone, his reclusive behaviour begins to alarm his London-based solicitor, Mark Ankerton, whose concern deepens when he discovers that James has become the victim of a relentless campaign which accuses him of far worse than the death of his wife. Allegations which he refuses to challenge . . . Why? Because they're a motive for murder? . . .

Reading - Freaky Families

Freaky Families by Diana Wynne Jones

A Junior Fiction

Two quirky and hilarious stories :

THE FOUR GRANNIES. Two children are left alone for a couple of days, while their parents go away on a business trip. They have four very different grandmas – a mean one, a snobby one, an anxious one, and a delicate one. Erg (the boy) tries to make all the grannies leave him alone, but manages to turn them into one ‘Super-Granny’…

AUNTIE BEA’S DAY OUT. Annoying Auntie Bea always does things HER way. And when she decides to take the three children (Nancy, Debbie and Simon) to the seaside, despite what the signs say, she is determined that they will sit on the small, fenced off and isolated island. It turns out to be a magical island though, and whisks her & the children (and dog) around to different places trying to get rid of them…

Reading - Persuading Annie

Persuading Annie by Melissa Nathan

 

 

After years as a sweet, good-natured pushover, Annie Markham has had to face up to three hard truths:
1. You've got to be tough to succeed in business and romance.
2. Sometimes your meddling loved ones areright about your worthless, no-good boyfriend being worthless and no good.
3. The only reliable thing about men is thatthey're totally unreliable.
Okay, she's been persuaded. So now, seven years after wisely and abruptly dumping the "love of her life," Jake Mead, things should be going better for Annie Markham, right? Unfortunately, her life's going nowhere, her family's going mental, and the family business is heading straight down the tubes. Could it get worse? Of course! Jake's back, Annie's getting ready for bankruptcy, and no one's ready for Christmas ... let alone a happy New Year. And no amount of persuasion will ever convince Annie that magic does happenand dreams do come true, not even at the stroke of midnight on December 31 at New York's Plaza Hotel ... will it?

Reading - When She Came Home

When She Came Home by Drusilla Campbell

Frankie Byrne Tennyson stunned everyone when she decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now-after bravely serving her country in Iraq-she's finally come home. Home to a husband whose lingering feelings of abandonment make her wonder if their lives can ever be the same. Home to a daughter whose painful encounters with bullies can only be healed by a mother's love. And home to a father who still can't accept his daughter's decision to serve in spite of his own stellar career as a brigadier general. But the most difficult part about coming home lies within Frankie herself. To save everything she holds dear, she must face the toughest battle of her life . . . A moving portrait of a modern American family, WHEN SHE CAME HOME reminds us that some things-honor, acceptance, and, above all, love-are truly worth fighting for.

Reading - Theodore Boone: The Accused

Theodore Boone: The Accused by John Grisham

Big trouble is brewing for Theodore Boone. While all of Streenburg anxiously awaits the new trial of infamous murder suspect Pete Duffy, problems arise for their own kid lawyer. There's been a robbery and Theo is the accused. His reputation is on the line, and with the evidence building against him--and dangerous threats looming--Theo will do whatever it takes to prove his innocence--even if it means breaking a few rules.

Reading - The First Phone Call from Heaven

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

One morning in the small town of Coldwater, Michigan, the phones start ringing. The voices say they are calling from heaven. Is it the greatest miracle ever? Or some cruel hoax? As news of these strange calls spreads, outsiders flock to Coldwater to be a part of it. At the same time, a disgraced pilot named Sully Harding returns to Coldwater from prison to discover his hometown gripped by "miracle fever." Even his young son carries a toy phone, hoping to hear from his mother in heaven. As the calls increase, and proof of an afterlife begins to surface, the town—and the world—transforms. Only Sully, convinced there is nothing beyond this sad life, digs into the phenomenon, determined to disprove it for his child and his own broken heart. Moving seamlessly between the invention of the telephone in 1876 and a world obsessed with the next level of communication, Mitch Albom takes readers on a breathtaking ride of frenzied hope.

Reading - Judy Moody Declares Independence

Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald A junior fiction

Hear ye! Hear ye! Everyone knows that Judy Moody has a mood for every occasion, and now a visit to Boston has put our famous third grader in a revolutionary mood. When Judy meets an English girl named Tori at the Tea Party ship, she is gobsmacked to learn how many liberties her British friend enjoys — her very own phone, private loo, and pounds of allowance. When a day of cheerfully doing her chores doesn't earn Judy Moody more rights, and staging a revolt in the form of a tea-throwing Boston Tub Party has her dad reading the riot act, Judy is forced into temporary retreat. Who would guess that a real-life crisis involving her brother, Stink, would finally give Judy a chance to show her courageous quick thinking - -and prove her independence, once and for all?

Reading - Judy Moody was in a Mood

Judy Moody was in a Mood by Megan Mcdonald A junior fiction.

"Judy Moody was in a mood. Not a good mood. A bad mood. A mad-faced mood." To start, Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade. Her new desk won't have an armadillo sticker with her name on it. Her new classroom will not have a porcupine named Roger. And with her luck, she'll get stuck sitting in the first row, where Mr. Todd will notice every time she tries to pass a note to her best friend, Rocky. An aspiring doctor, Judy does have a little brother who comes in handy for practicing medicine, a cool new pet, and a huge Band-Aid collection.

Reading - Chickenfeed

Chickenfeed by Minette Walters

A body is found in a chicken run . . . Based on the true story of the ‘chicken farm murder’ which took place in Blackness, Crowborough, East Sussex in December, 1924. Norman Thorne was found guilty of the murder of Elsie Cameron, but even at the time of his execution there were doubts about his guilt. Still swearing his innocence, Norman Thorne was hanged on 22 April 1925.

Reading P.S. Longer Letter Later

P.S. Longer Letter Later by Paula Danziger and Ann M Martin

Elizabeth and Tara*Starr are totally different. Tara*Starr wears glitter and sequins, loves to be the center of attention, and is the only child of young parents who are taking a long time to grow up. Elizabeth is shy and quiet, hates being the center of attention, and lives in a house in which possessions are more important than feelings. So of course they're best friends. Now that Tara*Starr has moved away, the girls continue their friendship through letters. Then life changes for both of them. While Tara*Starr family settles down, Elizabeth's falls apart. Their letters chronicle these events, and the realization that they can depend on each other and on themselves.

Reading - Theodore Boone: The Abduction

Theodore Boone: The Abduction by John Grisham

When Theodore Boone's best friend, April, disappears from her bedroom in the middle of the night, no one, not even he, who knows April better than anyone - has answers. As fear ripples through his small hometown and the police hit dead ends, it's up to Theo to use his legal knowledge and investigative skills to chase down the truth and save April.

Reading - Judy Moody Around the World in 8 1/2 Days

Judy Moody Around the World in 8 1/2 Days by Megan McDonald

Judy Moody is one of a kind, and she likes it that way. Enter Amy Namey, another third-grader with a name that rhymes! She just might turn out to be Judy's worst enemy - or a new best friend. Meanwhile, Judy's old best friends, Rocky and Frank Pearl, are M-A-D that Judy's thinking more about Amy Same-Samey and the My-Name-Is-A-Poem Club than about them. How can they work together on a class Around-The-World project if they won't even talk to each other?

Reading - Jake Cake: The Pirate Curse

Jake Cake: The Pirate Curse by Michael Broad

'I'm Jake Cake, and these are my adventures. They're all true, but I bet you don't believe me. After all, have you ever been cursed by a ghostly pirate? Has an alien ever abducted your granny? Or have you ever been tricked by a genie? Stuff that happens to me is unbelievable!'

Reading - Scissors Paper Stone

Scissors Paper Stone by Elizabeth Day

Charles Redfern is in a coma. As he lies motionless in hospital, his wife Anne and daughter Charlotte are forced to come together to confront their relationships with him - and with each other. Anne, once regarded as beautiful and clever, has felt herself disappearing for years, paling beside her husband's harsh brilliance. Anxious to fit in with the expectations of the people around her, she keeps her disillusionment buried inside, mechanically attending the endless round of drinks parties and dinners in her keenly social neighbourhood, and trying to ignore the guilt that trails behind her like a shadow. Charlotte, battling an inner darkness that threatens to overwhelm her, is desperate to prevent her relationship with not-yet-divorced Gabriel from disintegrating through her own self-sabotage. As the full truth of Charles's hold over them emerges into the light, both women must come to terms with the choices they have made, and the uncertainty of a future without the figure that has dominated them for so long.

Reading - When You Were Here

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see. Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore. When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

Reading - Flights of Love

Flights of Love by Bernhard Schlink

FLIGHTS OF LOVE consists of seven stories, all of them weaving around the idea of love - why people are drawn to it and why some run away. Schlink shows us in turn love as desire, love as confusion, love as a quick affair, love as a drastic life-changing rebellion, love as a force of habit, love as self-betrayal.

Reading - Custody

Custody by Manju Kapur

When Shagun leaves Raman for another man, a bitter legal battle ensues. The custody of their two young children is thrown into question and Shagun must decide what price she will pay for freedom. Raman's new wife is unable to have children of her own, and finds another chance of happiness as a stepmother. But when the courts threaten the security of her new family, she decides she must fight for it - whatever the cost. Custody is the story of marriages that disintegrate and intertwine - with cruel and heart-rending consequences. Absorbing, moving and beautifully written, it explores the lengths we go to for the ones we love.

Reading - The BFG

The BFG by Roald Dahl

The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, or any of the other giants—rather than the BFG—she would have soon become breakfast. When Sophie hears that the giants are flush-bunking off to England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

Reading - The Longest Holiday

The Longest Holiday by Paige Toon

Laura has been married to the man of her dreams for seven months. But a week before the wedding, Matthew made a terrible mistake. Escaping the humiliation that is now her marriage, Laura is whisked off to Florida's Key West by her best friend Marty. A carefree holiday full of cocktails and fun, surrounded by gorgeous, tanned men, is exactly what the doctor ordered. Distraction comes in the form of sexy Cuban scuba diver Leo. Laura's instant attraction to him knocks her flying, and she falls hard. As the end of the holiday approaches, Laura doesn't want to go home. Is it time to face the music? Or is there more to Key West than a holiday romance?

Reading - The Reader

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover—then she inexplicably disappears. Years later, as a law student observing a trial in Germany, Michael is shocked to find Hanna in the dock. The woman he loved is a war criminal. Much about her behaviour during the trail does not make sense. Hanna must answer for a horrible crime, but she is desperately concealing an even deeper secret .....

Reading - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

Reading - George's Marvelous Medicine

George's Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl

George is alone in the house with Grandma. The most horrid, grizzly old grunion of a grandma ever. She needs something stronger than her usual medicine to cure her grouchiness. A special grandma medicine, a remedy for everything. And George knows just what to put into it. Grandma's in for the surprise of her life—and so is George, when he sees the results of his mixture!

Reading - East End Angel

East End Angel by Carol Rivers

June 1941, Isle of Dogs, London. In the dark days following the Blitz, happiness visits young Pearl Jenkins as she celebrates her marriage to Jim Nesbitt. But what should be a joyful occasion is marred when a fight breaks out between Jim and Ricky Winters, an unwelcome visitor from Pearl's past. And to Pearl's horror, the new beau of her wayward younger sister Ruby. Increasingly uneasy at staying at home when other men are off fighting for their country, Jim enlists, leaving Pearl at home—alone, pregnant, and at Ricky's mercy. Together, Pearl and Ruby must bring up baby Cynthia while struggling to make ends meet and dodge the airbombers. And all the time, Pearl must hide the dark secret she harbors, one which would tear the two sisters apart as well as her marriage. Then tragedy strikes both on the home front and in the trenches and Pearl is forced to fight like never before to keep her family safe.

Reading - Hurt Go Happy

Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby

Thirteen-year-old Joey Willis is used to being left out of conversations. Though she’s been deaf since the age of six, Joey’s mother has never allowed her to learn sign language. She strains to read the lips of those around her, but often fails. Everything changes when Joey meets Dr. Charles Mansell and his baby chimpanzee, Sukari. Her new friends use sign language to communicate, and Joey secretly begins to learn to sign. Spending time with Charlie and Sukari, Joey has never been happier. She even starts making friends at school for the first time. But as Joey’s world blooms with possibilities, Charlie’s and Sukari’s choices begin to narrow—until Sukari’s very survival is in doubt.

Reading - Danny the Champion of the World

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

"My father, without the slightest doubt, was the most marvelous and exciting father any boy ever had." Danny feels very lucky. He adores his life with his father, living in a gypsy caravan, listening to his stories, tending their gas station, puttering around the workshop, and occasionally taking off to fly home-built gas balloons and kites. His father has raised him on his own, ever since Danny's mother died when he was four months old. Life is peaceful and wonderful... until he turns 9 and discovers his father's one vice. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world.

Reading - Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Someone's been stealing from the three meanest farmers around, and they know the identity of the thief - it's Fantastic Mr. Fox! Working alone they could never catch him, but now fat Boggis, squat Bunce, and skinny Bean have joined forces, and they have Mr. Fox and his family surrounded. What they don't know is that they're not dealing with just any fox - Mr. Fox would rather die than surrender. Only the most fantastic plan can save him now.

Reading - The Magic Finger

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

To the Gregg family, hunting is just plain fun. To the girl who lives next door, it's just plain horrible. She tries to be polite. She tries to talk them out of it, but the Greggs only laugh at her. Then one day the Greggs go too far, and the little girl turns her Magic Finger on them. When she's very, very angry, the little girl's Magic Finger takes over. She really can’t control it, and now it's turned the Greggs into birds! Before they know it, the Greggs are living in a nest, and that's just the beginning of their problems….

Reading - Mr. Gum and the Secret Hideout

Mr. Gum and the Secret Hideout by Andy Stanton

Talking parrots in the rooftops? A giant cactus on the high street? Mosquitos so nasty that even their own friends don't like them? Something's gone terribly wrong in Lamonic Bibber . . . and Mr Gum is nowhere to be found. Yes, folks, Polly and Friday are facing their biggest challenge yet. So strap yourselves in, cry "HI-HO-WEIRDY!" and get ready for an adventure so crazy your feet will melt with happiness! And I'm not just saying that, I've actually seen it happen.

Reading - Agatha Parrot and the Heart of Mud

Agatha Parrot and the Heart of Mud by Kjartan Poskitt

Agatha Parrot is the most exciting and hilarious comedy series since Mr Gum! But don’t take our word for it . . . take hers! Hiya! What would you do if your smelly brother started getting emails from a mystery girl? Ha ha! OK, I admit it was my fault. My friend Martha had got into trouble with her mum and I was helping out, but things went a bit wrong, especially when the mystery girl started sending James loads of LOVE and KISSES like this XXXXX. Woo-hoo! Agatha Parrot.

Reading - Agatha Parrot and the Mushroom Boy

Agatha Parrot and the Mushroom Boy by Kjartan Poskitt

Helloooo! This story is about the time Agatha was watching SING, WIGGLE, AND SHINE on TV (the worst talent show ever WAHOO love it love it) but her evil brother James stole the TV remote so he could watch sports instead. Don't worry, she got her own back! All it took was a giant yellow cake, some fairies, a school fete, and a big sofa cushion. Oh, and Dad ended up with his toenails painted, so does that all make sense to you?

Reading - Esio Trot

Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

Mr. Hoppy is in love with his neighbor, Mrs. Silver; but she is in love with someone else—Alfie, her pet tortoise. With all her attention focused on Alfie, Mrs. Silver doesn’t even know Mr. Hoppy is alive. And Mr. Hoppy is too shy to even ask Mrs. Silver over for tea. Then one day Mr. Hoppy comes up with a brilliant idea to get Mrs. Silver's attention. If Mr. Hoppy's plan works, Mrs. Silver will certainly fall in love with him. After all, everyone knows the way to a woman’s heart is through her tortoise.

Reading - More Meerkat Madness

More Meerkat Madness by Ian Whybrow

In More Meerkat Madness, Mimi, Skeema, and Little Dream are unhappy when Uncle invites a fluffy stranger to join the Really Mad Mob. So when Little Dream dreams that their missing mama is calling him, the kits set off to search for her. But a lost lion cub has other plans for them.

Reading - Billionaire Boy

Billionaire Boy by David Walliams

Joe has a lot of reasons to be happy. About a billion of them, in fact. You see, Joe's rich. Really, really rich. Joe's got his own bowling alley, his own cinema, even his own butler who is also an orangutan. He's the wealthiest twelve-year-old in the land. But Joe isn't happy. Why not? Because he's got a billion pounds… and not a single friend. But then someone comes along, someone who likes Joe for Joe, not for his money. The problem is, Joe's about to learn that when money is involved, nothing is what it seems. The best things in life are free, they say – and if Joe's not careful, he's going to lose them all…

Reading - Follow that Bird

Follow that Bird by Eliza Teoh

I am Ellie Belly. I am 7 years old. I am in Class 1J. My best friend is Cammy. I LOVE to doodle in class when Teacher is not looking. And my BIG secret is this: I can talk to animals! Really! One day, I hear a cry for help! It is a sunbird and she is in big, big trouble! I have to help Sunbird! But first, I have to find a way to sneak out of class without Teacher – or that pesky Megan – noticing!

Reading - You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum!

You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum! by Andy Stanton

Mr. Gum is a complete horror who hates children, animals, fun and corn on the cob. And an angry fairy who lives in his bathtub. And Jake the dog, and a little girl called Polly and an evil, stinky butcher all covered in guts. And there's heroes and sweets and adventures and everything.

Reading - Mr. Gum and the Power Crystals

Mr. Gum and the Power Crystals by Andy Stanton

Good evening, children, on this dark and windy night. Now, come gather round the fireplace, for 'tis time for strange tales to be spun. Like the tale of Polly and that old tumbledown windmill by the riverside. But just what is the windmill's terrible secret ? Why is Mr. Gum lurk-lurk-lurkin' about ? And how much does old granny know ? Gather closer, childre, for all shall be revealed ....

Reading - Mr. Gum and the Dancing Bear

Mr. Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton

Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear Good evening. Do you like bears called Padlock? Course you do. Do you like hot-air balloons? Course you do. Do you like tall sailing ships with mad sea captains, and horrifying old villains and words like ‘wab!’, ‘tungler’ and ‘kelp’? COURSE you do! Well, guess what, you lucky little nibbleheads? This book’s got all of those things - and a lot more besides. It’s a rollicker! It’s a frolicker! It’s a funtime sun-time yollicker!

Reading - The Adventures of Nanny Piggins

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R. A. Spratt

When the world's most glamorous fluing pig runs away from the circus to become a nanny, Derrick, Samantha and Michael think they are the luckiest children alive. Who could not fall in love with a nanny whose only job qualifications are her astonishing ability to be fired out of a cannon and her amazing skill at making chocolate cake, sometimes both at the same time ?