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Michelle Harrison Books

theres a shark in my pants

There’s A Shark in My Pants

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Picturebook

We flew in an airplane, Mum, Boo and me,
To a fancy hotel overlooking the sea.
We stuffed a big suitcase right up to the brim,
With flip flops and snorkels and goggles squeezed in.

Flip flops, snorkels and goggles aren’t the only things that have come with Pip on her summer holiday . . . There’s also something with big white, jagged teeth that is sure to make this trip even more memorable! What COULD it be? Find out what happens in this wildly hilarious picture book by much-loved author Michelle Harrison and bestselling illustrator David Tazzyman.

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theres a beach in my pants

There’s A Beach in My Pants!

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Picturebook

A little girl’s trip to the seaside delivers more than she bargained on when she brings the whole beach home in her pants! After spending the day on the beach with her mum and pet dog, eating sandwiches, playing in the sea and drinking fizzy drinks, the little girl is finally worn out and it’s time to go home. When they get home it’s bath time, where the real fun begins. As she takes her pants off, the sand starts pouring out . . . over the bathroom floor . . . down the stairs . . . into the kitchen . . . and the lounge . . . And the sand doesn’t come on its own, crabs and seagulls, mermaids and pirates accompany it.

But, as we all know, there does eventually come a time when you can have too much sand. Fortunately, Mum’s left the bath taps on and all the sand is washed away by a huge wave. Does the little girl want to go back to the beach? Of course she does!

A beautifully illustrated picture book, told in rhyme (I love a picture book which rhymes!), will appeal to any young child or parent who loves the beach, even if they don’t love having sandy pants. I can’t wait to share this book!

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twice upon a time

Twice Upon a Time

Chapter book
book-of-the-month

This story about twins who can stop time to solve mysteries is a delicious combination of mystery and fantasy – there is enough gore in here to keep it tense and thrilling and enough magic to make it unexpected.

The premise of the story, that a set of twins can see back and forwards in time, gives a twist that children will enjoy. There is a disappearance (or is it a murder?) to be solved and seeing back in time might come in very handy. Whilst the twins may look identical, their different personalities come through clearly in the story. Twins often fascinate people, and it is not such a stretch to imagine that they might have unusual abilities. The villain is vile and reminded me of a James Bond villain, stroking his rabbit rather than a cat. Even the rabbit seemed to have villainous tendencies!

In many ways, the setting steals the limelight. Who wouldn’t be interested in exploring an old house, with a fire-damaged wing and secret rooms? I could almost smell the mustiness of the old house and I would have wanted to explore the house and grounds in the same way. I can’t help feeling this book lends itself to a sequel, though I would miss Fox House if it did not feature in that sequel.

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midnight magic mirror mischief

Midnight Magic: Mirror Mischief

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Poetry

Black cats born at midnight
Are different indeed
A mischievous, odd
And peculiar breed.

Who says that two magical cats are better than one?

When Trixie is at school one day, Midnight gets up to some mischief with the bathroom mirror and brings her reflection to life! The mirror-Midnight causes all sorts of chaos ‒ safely on the other side of the glass. That is, until Twiggy the broomstick accidentally smashes the mirror, setting the destructive double free!

As Trixie, Dad and Nan get tangled up in the turmoil, can they work together and send the badly behaved magical cat back to where it came from before it’s too late?

A bewitching new series from the best-selling author of A PINCH OF MAGIC, Michelle Harrison. Told in rhyming verse and illustrated in colour throughout, this is perfect for readers of SQUISHY MCFLUFF, HUBBLE BUBBLE and GOBBOLINO.

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midnight magic

Midnight Magic

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Chapter book

Black cats born at midnight
Are different indeed
A mischievous, odd
And peculiar breed

In the middle of winter, three kittens are born in a barn. Two are ordinary, but the third, jet black and born on the stroke of midnight, is brimming with magic from whiskers to tail – even sparking life into a dusty old broomstick! While her siblings pounce at rats, Midnight perfects her flying skills on the broom, not noticing how her mother disapproves of her magical ways…

When Midnight finds herself abandoned, the little black kitten sets out to find a new home with only her loyal broom Twiggy at her side. The pair soon befriend a kind-hearted girl called Trixie. But how will Trixie’s family react to Midnight’s extraordinary powers and taste for mischief?

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A Pinch of Magic

Chapter book

Spellbinding from start to finish, this is an enchanting tale of sisterhood, dark magic and a thrilling meeting of past and present worlds.

The story follows the three Widdershins sisters – Betty, Fliss and Charlie – who live with their overprotective grandmother on the isle of Crowstone. Their island is surrounded by unpredictable marshes and is set in the shadow of an inescapable prison tower. As if that’s not enough to make the girls feel caged in, they discover an ancient family curse meaning that any Widdershins girl who dares to leave Crowstone will die by the following sunset.

Middle sister Betty is a feisty protagonist who has always longed for adventure. Not the type to allow anything (be it grandmother’s strict rules or a seemingly unbreakable ancient curse) get in her way of exploring the wider world, Betty uses her steely determination and strength of mind to try to figure out a way to break the hold of the dark magic that grips her family history. Along the way, the sisters encounter magical objects, mysterious prisoners and perilous boat rides as they embark upon a spellbinding adventure that will change their lives forever.

I loved the strong female characters, the convincing magical realism and the thrilling sense of danger that kept me hooked until the end of the story. With some darker themes and hints of romance, this is most suitable for upper primary and lower secondary year groups. If you are looking for an original story that is bound to enchant and thrill its readers, this is the one for you.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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