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Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter book

The unforgettable tale of an orphan in Victorian London, based on the boy whose plight inspired Dr Barnardo to found his famous children’s homes.

When his mother dies, Jim Jarvis is left all alone in London. He is sent to the workhouse but quickly escapes, choosing a hard life on the streets of the city over the confines of the workhouse walls.

Struggling to survive, Jim finally finds some friends… only to be snatched away and made to work for the remorselessly cruel Grimy Nick, constantly guarded by his vicious dog, Snipe.

Will Jim ever manage to be free?

Picturebook

It’s 1914 when everything changes for a group of bys growing up and playing football in the Suffolk countryside. Far away, in a place called Sarajevo, an Archduke has been killed and a web of global events results in a call for all British men to do their duty ‘for King and Country’ and join the army to fight the germans overseas. The boys sign up for what sounds like an adventure and a chance to see the world.

After basic training the boys sail to France where they find themselves fighting on the front line. Living in the trenches in constant fear for their lives is nothing like they expected and only a bombed-out wasteland, no-man’s-land, separates their trences from those of their German enemies.

Then, on Christmas Day, something remarkable happens as the German and British armies stop fighting and meet in the middle of no-man’s-land. The enemies talk, play football and become friends. But the war isn’t over, the two sides resume fighting and the group of Suffolk lads are ordered to charge across no-man’s-land…

Chapter book

Told in the voice of Private Tommo Peaceful, the story follows twenty-four hours at the front, and captures his memories of his family and his village life – by no means as tranquil as it appeared.

Full of vivid detail and engrossing atmosphere, leading to a dramatic and moving conclusion, Private Peaceful is both a compelling love story and a deeply moving account of the First World War.

Extra material:

– Introduction by Michael Morpurgo
– Inspiration letter by Michael Morpurgo
– Background on the execution of British soldiers in WW1 for cowardice, including personal testimony from soldiers

Non-fiction

Find out all about the ancient kingdom of Benin, the tribes that lived there, how they lived and were ruled, and how the nation changed and developed over time.

Chapter book

A hilarious tale of history come to life, from former children’s laureate and master storyteller, Michael Morpurgo.

Living with a ghost can have its difficulties, I discovered, even if he is your friend.

Remember Sir Walter Raleigh, who laid his cloak in a puddle so Queen Elizabeth I could walk across? Well, Bess meets his ghost and finds out she’s his ancestor!

How will Bess explain Sir Walter to her family? Especially when he breaks her brother’s fishing rod, steals a horse and smokes cigars in her room!

Michael Morpurgo demonstrates why he is considered to be the master storyteller, with a uniquely funny take on spirits from the other side.

Look out for Michael’s other ghostly stories The Ghost of Grania O’Malley and The White Horse of Zennor.

Chapter book

Join everybody’s favourite flat boy for another magical adventure – It’s Jeff Brown’s Flat Stanley.

The Great Egyptian Grave Robbery

Flat Stanley is back! Ever since Stanley was flattened by a bulletin board, there are places he can get to that no one else can. So when Stanley receives a letter from an archaeologist, he travels by airmail to Egypt to help find an ancient treasure deep in the heart of a great pyramid. But what if even the flattest boy on earth can’t wriggle out of this dark tomb – and the terrible mess he finds himself in?

Jeff Brown’s world-famous character Flat Stanley continues to charm half a century after he first found his way into print.

Chapter book

As Erik and the crew of The Golden Dragon set off in search of adventure, little do they know that their courage, skill, strength and stamina will all be tested to the extremes…

Includes an exclusive foreword from Monty Python’s Terry Jones and newly coloured illustrations from Michael Foreman.

Chapter book

The astonishing, beautiful new story for all readers of 10 and over from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author of TIME TRAVELLING WITH A HAMSTER.

There are stories about people who want to live forever.

This is not one of those stories.

This is a story about someone who wants to stop…

Alfie Monk is like any other nearly teenage boy – except he’s 1,000 years old and can remember the last Viking invasion of England.

Obviously no one believes him.

So when everything Alfie knows and loves is destroyed in a fire, and the modern world comes crashing in, Alfie embarks on a mission to find friendship, acceptance, and a different way to live…

… which means finding a way to make sure he will eventually die.

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