It’s full-time monkey business for Noah Wild on the high seas in this new family adventure from Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.
Noah can’t believe it when he finds out his uncle owns a zoo! But the zoo is closing down, and there are animals who need homes. Before he knows it, Noah and his family are setting sail on a round-the-world trip returning the zoo animals to the places they were born.
But when they try to return one very cheeky monkey, they’re in for a whole boat-load of trouble!
Read a review on the Books up North website here.
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Hari is an ordinary boy with an extraordinary talent. He has an easy smile, a spring in his step and likes nothing more than watching—and learning from—his beloved Bollywood films. Then one day Hari’s fancy footwork is spotted by the kindly Mr Ram, a man on a mission to resolve conflicts near and far. Hari’s magical dancing so entrances everyone that soon he’s summoned to the White House itself where his electric feet bring harmony to the world—and an easier life for his family.
With a wonderful Indian backdrop, this is a feel-good story that shimmers with Alexander’s trademark wisdom and joy.
Hear Alexander talk about Hari and his Electric Feet.
Hari and His Electric Feet is published by Barrington Stoke, the ‘dyslexia-friendly’ publisher—although these days they prefer to say ‘super-readable’ instead. This is because a book that is accessible to an individual with dyslexia or visual stress in not ‘for’ them and them alone.
Barrington Stoke books are designed with an eye to text accessibility. This means:
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Excerpt
This is the story of a boy who could dance. Lots of boys can dance, but there was something special about the way Hari danced. It was so special that it changed everything for Hari and for other people too. It was so special that when I heard about it, I decided that I should write the whole story down. And here it is – the story of Hari exactly as it happened.
Jane has always been just a little bit different—she has springs in her knees! She bounce, bounce, bounces all over town and they call her Springy Jane. She wins all the high jump competitions and can reach the top book shelf, and if anyone stares too hard she just bounces right over them! But a terrible flood and a trapped old lady mean Springy Jane is called on for help—will her springs save the day?
Part of Barrington Stoke’s picture book range for all the family, with easy-read font, and lively illustrations by Zoe Persico.
Two hilarious stories of mangled mayhem, illustrated by Kate Hindley
In Spaghetti Tangle, John and Nicky’s aunty won’t let them eat anything that’s not raw. They’re desperate for chips or chocolate cake! One day they sneak out and slurp down a plate of spaghetti. Now they want more … Can they win the competition to visit the spaghetti factory and eat as much as they like?
Teacher Trouble is about Jenny’s first day at a new school. She looks very grown-up – her mum has made sure of that – but when the rest of her class assume she is their new teacher, Jenny finds herself in all sorts of tricky situations …
Two terrific tales of adventure—on the high seas and in the dangerous jungle, illustrated by Kate Hindley.
Join Lucy, Hermione and Sam in The Popcorn Pirates as they foil a greedy gang of grub-guzzling pirates. Then solve a jungle mystery with Billy and Nicola in The Bubblegum Tree—but watch out for tigers!
“That,” said Mr Borthwick, “was the best hamburger I’ve ever tasted!”
Joe has just created the yummiest, juiciest, most delicious hamburger ever—and his friend Mr Borthwick wants to sell it in his new hamburger shop. But Joe has forgotten the recipe, and the shop is opening really soon.
Joe needs to remember how to make the perfect hamburger, and fast!
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Join the Shortbread family and their spectacular circus as they travel the country performing gravity defying tricks and solving incredible mysteries. Can Billy, Fern and Joe put their skills to the test and solve the clues in time in The Case of the Vanishing Granny…?
Billy, Fern and Joe Shortbread are the stars of their family circus, but they also have another talent … they’re experts at solving mysteries! When their circus moves into a new town, they soon make friends with a young boy named Tom. But Tom can’t enjoy the show because his granny has disappeared and he’s worried he’ll never see her again. With the help of their astonishing circus skills, can the Shortbread stars crack the clues and find Tom’s granny before they have to leave town?
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Patty lives with her Aunt Bat on a small banana plantation in Jamaica. But because they’re so small, they can’t keep up with the competition and Aunt Bat is worried they’ll have to sell up. Patty needs to think of a way help her aunt, and fast! Inspiration comes to her as she’s digging into a chocolate banana special ice cream. All she needs to do is invent a machine—a banana machine.
Will Patty’s mechanical wizardry help the plantation out of its crisis?
When working in Mr Prendergast’s junk shop one Saturday, Jeffrey discovers a mysterious machine. It turns out to be an extremely funny joke-producing machine. Soon everyone in town wants a joke—everyone except Mr Jenkinson, the miserable shop-owner next door. Jeffrey thinks Mr Jenkinson needs to get a sense of humour instead of trying to ruin everyone’s fun. But who will get the last laugh?
Ted, the school bully, is always pushing people around, including poor Gordon. So when Gordon spots an advertisement for Mr World’s muscle machine, he decides to give it a try. But Gordon gets a big surprise when he uses the machine and his muscles just keep on growing!
It’s so embarrassing! No matter how hard Annie tries, she just cannot do even the simplest sums. She can’t work out how much money to spend in the shops and her maths homework is always marked with a big fat zero. But one night Annie goes to sleep with a calculator under her pillow, and something very strange happens. Annie becomes a maths maestro capable of solving problems at super speeds. But when an international maths genius puts Annie’s powers test, will she be able to succeed in his challenge?
It’s mystery time once again for child-sleuths Max and Maddy Twist. In this adventure the cluesome twosome find themselves following a criminal who’ll stop at nothing to sabotage Mr Helium’s international hot-air balloon race. There’s a lot at stake—all the money from the event goes to the Home for Children Whose Parents Have Disappeared in Balloons, not to mention the 1 million and 1 dollar prize money.
Maddy and Max have to take to the skies to catch the cheat, but will they fall victim to the dastardly villain’s dangerous schemes and dirty tricks?
Max and Maddy Twist have a flair for solving crimes. Their parents used to be famous, international detectives before the evil Professor Sardine ruined their careers. Now they run an ice-cream parlour while people turn to their crime-busting Cluedo-champion children to solve mysteries. In The Chocolate Money Mystery, Max and Maddy set out to catch a bank robber. But instead of a dastardly thief, they find themselves hot on the trail of a gang of St. Bernards.
Jim thinks a doughnut sale is the perfect fund-raiser to help his friend, Mr. Pride, who has had his car stolen and needs to buy a new one. He and his friends try making their own, but they can’t make them fast enough. Then Jim’s e-mail asking for doughnut donations gets out of control, and he finds himself up to his ears in them! Will he ever be able to sell all the stock, and stop the doughnut ring for good?
When Harriet Bean’s absentminded father told her that she had five aunts—none of whom she had met before—the nine-year-old sleuth set out to find them at once. So imagine her surprise when she discovers she has another. Harriet heads out to the Wild West and discovers that not only is Aunt Formica a real cowgirl, she’s also got a mystery on her hands: cattle rustlers have been stealing from her ranch. Harriet and her aunts need to be quick to get on the trail of the slippery thieves.
Harriet Bean returns to help her two mind-reading detective aunts, Thessalonika and Japonica, investigate some serious cheating in the world of horse racing. Aunt Thessalonika disguises Harriet as a jockey, and the brave 9 year-old sets to work uncovering the dastardly deeds of the unscrupulous League of Cheats.
But dealing with the League’s slimy president Charlie Heat, is risky … will Harriet be up to the challenge?
One day, out of the blue, Harriet Bean’s dad says, ‘Your aunts would like to hear about that!’ Harriet is shocked. This is the first time she’s heard about any aunts, and suddenly, she has five! Of course, she is curious to meet these long lost family members, especially as they each have a very special talent (apart from Aunt Majolica who’s just extremely bossy).
But Harriet’s family have all lost touch with one another. Will she be able to find all her aunts and finish the family portrait they started all those years ago?
A beautiful, heartwarming story set in Africa about a young boy and his yearning for a pet dog. From internationally bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith. Timo and his mother do not have much money—in fact, they have almost none. But that does not matter too much, because Timo has his mother and she has him. They have their little house. They have friends and neighbours. They have the world about them. All of that can be enough for happiness. There is one more thing, though, that Timo would like to have … a dog!
High quality cream paper and a special easy-to-read font ensure a smooth read for all.
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Roll up, roll up for a sensational circus story with fun, energetic illustrations by Kate Hindley throughout.
Join Freddie Mole as he tumbles through the air, flies around the big tent and tames four growling lions!
Freddie is an ordinary boy who joins the circus one day. He can’t believe his luck as he is asked to understudy some of the acts. But is he brave enough to go into the lions’ cage?
A joyful, exciting tale of bravery and showbusiness glamour by a much loved author.
Reviews
Roll up, roll up for a sensational circus story with fun, energetic illustrations by Kate Hindley throughout.
Join Freddie Mole as he tumbles through the air, flies around the big tent and tames four growling lions!
Freddie is an ordinary boy who joins the circus one day. He can’t believe his luck as he is asked to understudy some of the acts. But is he brave enough to go into the lions’ cage?
A joyful, exciting tale of bravery and showbusiness glamour by a much loved author.
