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Alex T. Smith Books

Astrid and the Space Cadets: Danger at the Black Lagoon!

Chapter book

Blast off on an adventure with the Space Cadets! From beloved children’s author-illustrator Alex T. Smith, the bestselling creator of Claude and How Winston Delivered Christmas, comes a funny and fast-paced illustrated adventure through space.

Filled with out-of-this world illustrations on every page, Astrid and the Space Cadets: Danger at the Black Lagoon! is perfect for fans of Grimwood and Bad Guys, and for kids who are ready to read by themselves.

Astrid and the gang are excited to help two scientists track down a mysterious, never before seen fish rumoured to be living on an underwater planet. But it isn’t long before things take a shocking turn when Astrid and the Space Cadets discover that they have been tricked – the scientists are actually infamous Intergalactic Sea Bandits!

Can the gang catch the Sea Bandits and rescue the treasure? It’s going to prove a difficult job especially when they find themselves swallowed whole by one of the Guard Sharks . . .

Join Astrid and the gang on more adventures in Attack of the Snailiens and Race from Planet Peril!

Claude: Going for Gold!

Alex T. Smith

Chapter book

Come with Claude on a smashing adventure! These waggy tales are perfect for new readers, with illustrations on every page. As seen on TV – Claude is the star of his very own TV show!

Claude and Sir Bobblysock are excited to discover a Stonking Great Big Sports Day at their local sports centre! They are even more excited when they are asked to take part. But Claude’s doggy paddle isn’t quite fast enough, and he’s not quite as good at gymnastics as he thought he might be. Then some robbers steal the big gold trophy and Claude chases them – can he run fast enough to catch them?

Astrid and the Space Cadets: Attack of the Snailiens!

Alex T. Smith

Chapter book

This is the first book in the new Early Readers series from Alex T. Smith.

The Space Cadets, Astrid, Zoink, Beryl and Dr. Quackers must complete tasks assigned to them to earn gold stars to be in the running for the grand prize. It is the Space Cadet mission to help at all times, no matter what – so when they get a distress call from the Planet Hortensis while cleaning the Milky Way, they rush to help. Snailiens have invaded the garden of Flora Mulch and are headed for her prize-winning Astro Potatoes. The cadets must figure out how to save the day in their own unique way.

This early chapter book is all about teamwork and helping people, which is a great message for young readers. The series contains easily accessible vocabulary and gorgeous illustrations to add to the appeal for young readers exploring short, illustrated chapter books. There is also a good deal of humour which also adds to the fun factor. I’m looking forward to more adventures from the crew!

Claude on the Slopes

Alex T. Smith

Chapter book

Come with Claude on a smashing adventure! These waggy tales are perfect for new readers, with illustrations on every page. As seen on TV – Claude is the star of his very own TV show!

In this winter adventure Claude goes from throwing snowballs and making snowmen to causing an all-out avalanche!

The Nutcracker: And the Mouse King’s Christmas Shenanigans

Alex T. Smith

Chapter book

The perfect gift for any child this Christmas. From Alex T. Smith, bestselling author of festive favourites How Winston Delivered Christmas, How Winston Came Home for Christmas and The Grumpus, comes a gorgeous retelling of children’s Christmas classic The Nutcracker – a Christmas Story in twenty-four-and-a-half chapters.

The Mouse King is up to some very sneaky shenanigans.

The night before Christmas, he steals the key to the Kingdom of Sweets and sets out to cause as much festive mayhem as he can!

Clara and Fritz Strudel, and their new friend the Nutcracker, are the only ones who can stop him. But when a magical curse is put on Fritz, it’s a race against time to make it to the Kingdom of Sweets and find the Sugar Plum Fairy – the only one who can break the spell!

Can the adventurers stop the Mouse King’s naughty plan and save Fritz, before it’s too late?

With irresistible colour illustrations, a festively foiled cover and a chapter to enjoy each day in December, this gorgeous hardback is the perfect gift for any child at Christmas.

The Grumpus and his Dastardly, Dreadful Christmas Plan

Alex T. Smith

Chapter book

Do you know about The Grumpus?

And his Dastardly, Dreadful Christmas Plan? And about the Awful Thing that happened at the North Pole on Christmas Eve?

Perhaps I should tell you about it…

This heartwarming story follows the adventures of an unlikely hero as he journeys to the North Pole, unwittingly and somewhat reluctantly making lots of new friends along the way. A beautiful hardback with a festively foiled cover and beautiful artwork from the author, it is the perfect Christmas gift, destined to becoming a modern Christmas classic that adults and children alike return to year after year.

The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair

Alex T. Smith & Natasha Hastings

Chapter book

Thomasina’s family own a sweet shop and she longs to take over the business one day. However, since the death of her twin brother, Thomasina’s dad barely talks to her and her mum has taken to her bed with grief and no longer speaks to anyone. Thomasina helps to make sweets to sell in the shop and is in charge of running the household.

One winter, the River Thames freezes over solid enough for people to walk on. A number of local businesses decide to set up stalls on the Thames, including Thomasina’s dad. She helps him to make extra sweets and to sell them on the Thames and it becomes known as ‘The Frost Fair’. She also meets Anne, who works in a local apothecary. Thomasina hasn’t really had a proper friend since her brother Arthur died, so she enjoys her newfound friendship with Anne.

One night, Thomasina has a strange dream about a conjurer named Inigo who promises that he can conjure her brother back from the dead in exchange for the temporary loss of her memories of him. She must visit ‘The Other Frost Fair’ with Inigo, where she encounters frost folk, frost beasts and the creepy Father Winter.

A brilliant creepy tale involving magic, but also rooted in a family dealing with grief, The Miraculous Sweetmakers is an atmospheric read. Particularly appropriate to read on a cold winter’s night, children looking for something atmospheric and intriguing will enjoy this book. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and the twists and turns the story took – I was never quite sure what was going to happen next!

Reviewer: Kristen Hopwood

Claude On Holiday

Alex T. Smith

Chapter book

Hooray for super-cute and funny Claude, and his brilliant sidekick Sir Bobblysock, who has wormed his way into my heart like no sock before or since. His sandcastle prowess in this book is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen, and I think of him every time I’m on a beach with sandcastle-show-offs around. Gorgeous, whimsical and a little bit bonkers.

Claude: Comic Capers

Alex T. Smith

Graphic novel

Meet Claude – the ordinary dog with an extraordinary life. Now the star of his very own TV show on Disney Junior and ITVBe.

Join Claude and Sir Bobblysock and all their Pawhaven friends in their first ever comic book! Featuring four of their most thrilling adventures from the hit TV show.

Will Claude find out who stole Mr Lovelybuns’ jam tart in Drama on the Pawhaven Express?
Will his superhero alter-ego save the day in Superpaw?
Can he help PC Cuffs catch Barry Rascal in PC Claude?
Will his first-aid skills be up to scratch in Nurse Claude?

How Winston Came Home for Christmas

Alex T. Smith

Picturebook

There’s no feeling quite like cosying up with the next instalment of a much loved story – and Alex T. Smith’s Winston books offer an almost month-long delight of a festive tale.

A cross between a Christmas story and an advent calendar, the Winston books are charming full-colour hardbacks structured into 24½ chapters – one for each day of advent. Each day’s offering includes the next chapter of the story and easy-to-follow instructions for an accompanying craft to make or activity to try. New this year, How Winston Came Home for Christmas is the second Winston story and follows Winston the mouse on a quest to find a long lost friend.

Themes of kindness, connecting with loved ones, recovering what is lost and valuing friendships abide – all perfect for Christmas time – and the daily activities range from art and baking to giving gifts to others and finding out about festive traditions from different cultures.

This is a gorgeous gift book that will be treasured year after year as a treasured festive tradition for young readers.

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