Fur and fiction combine in this retelling of Charles Dickens's most famous novel, adorably adapted with an all-star cast of guinea pigs. In the misery of a workhouse, a poor, fluffy little orphan called Oliver Twist is fed on nothing but thin air and even thinner gruel. By squeaking a fateful question - 'Please, sir, I want some more' - he unwittingly sparks a series of events that lead him to the smoke and grime of the big city, where he encounters a host of four-legged friends and foes such as the crafty Fagin, mischievous Artful Dodger, faithful Nancy and treacherous Bill Sikes, who sweep young Oliver off of his paws and into the underworld of Victorian London.

A lot of leather has 'plunk-plicked' against willow since cricket was first played on the village greens of Olde England, but this doughty little book heroically manages to capture the true essence of the noble ball game in just 100 run-grabbing moments (plus a few extras for overthrows). This is the story of cricket as it has never been told before: a well tossed-up compilation of surreal match reports, spoof correspondence and quirky cartoons. From a Great Victorian refusing to walk (even though his bails have been knocked off by the bowler) to modern-day sledgers playing floodlit pyjama cricket, the game's towering achievements, hilarious happenings and ludicrous coincidences are entertainingly recalled. The book's title says it all: which other sport would have Silly positions in the field? For those who don't know, silly mid-off (facing the batsman) & silly mid-on (behind him) field within a couple of metres of the man at the crease as he flails at the ball, delivered at 140kmh, using a 1kg wooden bat.

The last 12 months have been the strangest anyone can remember; all our lives have been turned upside down. We were unable to meet and hold our loved ones. Our right to travel at home and abroad was suspended. The contestants on University Challenge had plastic screens between them. But it's comforting to know that amid all the turmoil, some things remained unchanged. And Viz Comic was one of them. And we're determined to bring normality back to all our lives with this, our brand new annual. Viz Comic - The Copper's Torch is the same hefty 226 pages as its predecessors have been for many years. Not only that, but the price remains the same at a paltry GBP12.99. And to further add to the sense of normality, the book is packed full of all the usual stuff, including... *Action packed adventure: The 999 Emergency Bomb Squad, The Adventures of Robin of Sherwood, and high-octane thrills with The Topless Speed Freaks. *Informative features: Everything you need to know about Dragons, the blood and guts story of the Colosseum, the toileting facilities of the Tour de France, and the horror of what happens when pets go big. *Letterbocks, Top Tips, Roger's Profanisaurus and all your favourite cartoon characters. So this Christmas, let The Copper's Torch shine a warming light of happiness and hope into your life, or at least into the life of someone in the tricky GBP10- GBP15 present bracket.

Welcome to the weird and warped world of Scarfolk, a town forever trapped in the 1970s... Based on the cult blog, the massive online hit which has over a million page views in a year, this is an illustrated guide to the Lancashire town which brings nightmarish childhood memories relentlessly back to life. Fans of Charlie Brooker, The League of Gentlemen and Brass Eye will love this... WHAT READERS ARE SAYING 'Delicious and hilarious' -- ***** Reader review 'Witty and savage' -- ***** Reader review 'Brutally funny and scarily accurate' -- ***** Reader review 'Marvellously dark and dangerous' -- ***** Reader review *********************************************************************************************** "Scarfolk is a town in north-west England that did not progress beyond 1979. The entire decade of the 1970s loops ad infinitum. In Scarfolk children must not be seen OR heard, and everyone has to be in bed by 8 p.m. because they are perpetually running a slight fever..." Part-comedy, part-horror, part-satire, Discovering Scarfolk is the surreal account of a family trapped in the town. Through public information posters, news reports, books, tourist brochures and other ephermera, we learn about the darker side of childhood, school and society in Scarfolk. A massive cult hit online, Scarfolk re-creates with shiver-inducing accuracy and humour our most nightmarish childhood memories. The perfect gift or self-purchase for any forty or fifty-something with a dark sense of humour!

Born into the litters of two rival families, star-cross'd lovers Romeo and Juliet fall tuft-over-paw for each other before learning that they are sworn enemies. 'O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?' squeaks Juliet from her balcony, before declarations of undying affection are made and a secret wedding is planned. But the path of true love does not run smooth, and Romeo soon finds himself banished from the city of Verona after playing his part in a fatal brawl with Juliet's family. In a desperate attempt to scurry away together, they devise a plan fraught with danger that eventually leads to heart-break...Discover Shakespeare's classic tale of romance and tragedy, retold in an entirely new way.

The Mr. Men have been tickling children for generations with their funny and charming antics. The Mr Men for Grown-Ups series now gives adults the chance to laugh along as the Mr Men and Little Miss try to cope with the very grown-up world around them. Featuring Roger Hargreaves classic artwork alongside hilariously funny new text. Little Miss Lucky is getting married and she wants to keep it simple and dignified, including the hen do. But everyone else has other ideas. Will she survive Little Miss Naughty's antics and make it to her mother's dream wedding on time? The perfect book for any bride-to-be who wonders if they really are the lucky one. Also available in The Mr Men for Grown-Ups series: Little Miss Busy Surviving Motherhood, Mr Grumpy Nails Fatherhood, Mr Greedy Eats Clean to Get Lean, Little Miss Shy Goes Online Dating, Mr Happy and the Office Party.

Did Silence of the Lambs leave you reaching for a smooth bottle of dry red wine? After reading The Shining did you have an unaccountable urge to sip a red rum concoction? And did Bram Stoker's Dracula induce a craving for... well, perhaps the less said about that the better. If so, fear not - you are not alone! Chilling Cocktails is a creepy compendium of 50 drinks inspired by the most frightening horror stories ever written. Each delicious recipe is accompanied by dark and compelling facts and anecdotes about the inspiring story, certain to get you in the mood for a cool refreshment. What's more, if you can keep your appetite after reading the grisly details, a selection of complementary snack ideas are also sprinkled throughout. Try pairing 'Dracula's Kiss' with some 'Night of the Living Dead Cheddar Bites'. Or 'Carrie's Prom Punch' with 'Paranormal eggtivity Deviled Eggs'. The perfect gift for the horror and booze fan in your life, Chilling Cocktails is all you need to get the party started for your next horror movie night or Halloween party - just make sure the doors and windows are locked first!

"Teachings of the Cat Zen Masters," by Sheryll Dahlke, is a collection of quotes by famous cats, such as T. Furball, Oscar Wildecat, and many others. Felix Waldo Emerson, for instance, says: "There is a cat-like quality in everything God has made." In these pithy sayings, cats live totally in the moment with full awareness. Like a contradiction, they study the Self to forget the Self. They are centered in balance and in time, completely within the activity of the moment--whether playing with a stone or a butterfly. "This little book is a joyous read. You will be given the powerful, loving freedom for you to be yourself."--Juanita "Catastrophe" Tobin, Poet--Blowing Rock, NC."The enlightened cat is a beautiful thing. We humans can learn a few things from "Teachings of the Cat Zen Masters." Enjoy!"--Rita Bayron, Faithful Feline Follower--Coppell, TX.

For real mums at their wits' end, this grown-up activity book is perfect for all mothers in a bad mood.

Let's face it: motherhood gives you SO many reasons for bad moods. From stretch marks to toddler rage and teenage sulking – it's as if your little (or not so little) darlings seem to have been put on this earth just to drive you up the wall. With The Little Book of Bad Moods for Mothers, you can finally drop the pretence of holding it together and simply explode. Without hurting anyone. Here are just some of the cathartic activities:

What UNWANTED advice have you been given about being a parent? Fill out the answers!

Draw yourself BEFORE AND AFTER pregnancy. Be very realistic.

What are the MOST IRRITATING characteristics that your child has inherited from your partner? A chance to secretly moan about your partner too!

What would you REALLY like to say to your child? Resist the urge! Write it down instead.

What is the most IDIOTIC TEEN TREND you have witnessed? Be honest...

So, if you have to stop yourself screaming louder than your crying infant or throwing food back at your terrible toddler, remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. This book is for you.

Journey from fantasy mountains to super-cities, through piratical seas and across space without missing any must-see sights - or putting a foot wrong with the locals! Whether you're Lord of the shoestring-budget or Luxe Skywalker - Notes from Small Planets is your pastiche passport through the best worlds of Science Fiction & Fantasy Your ultimate travel guide to all the must-see locations in the worlds of Science Fiction and Fantasy. The perfect gift for self-professed geeks and fans of all things genre - from classic genre readers to new young disciples of nerdery. From misty mountains to wizarding schools, from the homes of superheroes to lairs of infamous villains - visit your favourite worlds and discover new ones - all without ever missing a single landmark or traditional dish. What's orc for 'bon voyage'?

A hilarious fill-in activity book that encourages you to unleash your inner rage, scribble down your deepest annoyances, and creatively detail every person who has ever done you wrong.

The Little Book of Bad Moods is an irreverent adult activity book that lets you unleash all your pent-up anger and say the things that you can't say out loud. Especially during the New Year, when it's cold and dark and you're supposed to give up drinking, eating or doing anything you really enjoy. Fun and easy fill-in activities for all those minor, daily annoyances include:

– What's Wrong With My Life? And whose fault is it?

– Retrospective Comebacks. The things you should have said at the time.

– Had a Bad Week. Please, vent.

Funny, outrageous and shockingly cathartic, this is a bad little book that actively encourages you to have a really good moan. Put pen to paper and embrace your inner git (just remember to hide your copy from anyone you happen to care about).

Any sports fan can yell offensive and stupid things at anyone else. But only the best are true hecklers, game-changers as valuable in their way as LeBron James is to the Cavaliers or Tom Brady to the Patriots. The Official Heckler Handbook is the essential book for and about hecklers and for all fans ready to make a real difference on behalf of their teams and their players. Packed with outrageous illustrations, can't-miss sidebars, real-life anecdotes, and expert advice, this book breaks down: * Great moments in heckling history * The best hecklers of all time * Heckling in baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and more * The most effective lines of attack * Strategic heckling locations * Verbal and nonverbal heckling * And much, much more So, turn around and read this book with your good eye! And learn how to be among the best in the boo-bird business.

Anxious? Angry? Waking up in the middle of the night to worry about plastic pollution, Brexit and why everything seems to be so horrible all the time? Thumb sore from scrolling through the Guardian news app, even though it makes you want to cry? Us too. But help is here, in the shape of Stuart Heritage's hilarious Bedtime Stories for Worried Liberals. Put down your phone, log off Twitter, and let yourself be lulled to sleep by stories from a world where Brexit disappears in a puff of smoke, Waitrose is free, and Fairy Godmothers look a lot like Barack Obama. Including: The Three Liberal Pigs; Jack and the Sustainably Produced Meat Substitute Stalk; and The Night Before Brexmas; The Very Trendy Caterpillar; Trumplestiltskin; Camerella.

The surely soon-to-be million-copy bestselling sort-of inspirational parody.. A timeless parody of Charlie Mackesy's The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Enter the world of me, Panda, plus my sometime-friends Cat and Teddy. You will find us living our best lives, trying (and occasionally succeeding) to be kind to each other. The cat is quite nice but can be a little bit selfish. Teddy can come across as very nice, with his squeaky voice and looking so tiny and helpless. But I must warn you, Teddy can be a vicious little backstabber, actually. This is a book of nice illustrations and some words from which you will likely gain some sort of inspiration. Like: 'Just because you're struggling, it doesn't mean you're failing... But it might do.' 'Nothing beats kindness,' said the cat. 'Gin does', said Panda. 'If you don't stop saying inspirational things to me, I'm going to punch you up the hooter.' 'You OK, hun?' asked Panda, but he was just taking the piss. 'We're just so, so lucky to have each other as friends, and it's going to make a marvellous book.'

In this book, Curt Hersey explores the history of U.S. media, demonstrating how news parody has entertained television audiences by satirizing political and social issues and offering a lighthearted take on broadcast news. Despite shifts away from broadcast and cable delivery, comedians like Samantha Bee, Michael Che, and John Oliver continue this tradition of delivering topical humor within a newscast format. In this history of the television news parody genre, Hersey critically engages with the norms and presentational styles of television journalism at the time of their production. News parody has increasingly become part of the larger journalistic field, with viewers often turning to this parodic programming as a supplement and corrective to mainstream news sources. Beginning in the 1960s with the NBC program That Was the Week That Was, the history of news parody is analyzed decade by decade by focusing on presidential and political coverage, as well as the genre's critiques of television network and cable journalism. Case studies include Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update;" HBO's Not Necessarily the News; Comedy Central's original Daily Show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Colbert Report; and HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Scholars of media history, political communication, and popular culture will find this book particularly useful.

Cinderella and the Beanstalk is a family Christmas pantomime, done the Sleeping Trees way! After writing the script, booking the venue, building a set and hiring a musician, the trio realise they've forgotten one vital component; a cast. The boys have no option but to perform the entire pantomime themselves, with only their dear friend Mark Newnham on piano for compny. A glorious cocktail of your favourite pantomimes! Follow Cinderella on a perilous adventure as the scheming Rumple Stiltskin blackmails the would-be princess into retrieving the coveted golden eggs from the top of the beanstalk. Cinderella must complete her quest in order to recover her glass slipper, but with Prince Charming, the Fairy Godmother and Jack's pregnant cow all doing their best to get in the way, these delicious, oversized eggs may not be so easily sought out... Scrooge & the Seven Dwarves is the second Sleeping Trees pantomime and it enjoyed a hugely successful run over Christmas 2016, selling out over seven weeks at Theatre 503. The show sees a Wicked Witch steal all of the Christmas spirit from Santa Claus, which he needs to power his sleigh. Taking matters into her own hands, Santa's mother decides that there is only one person who can save Christmas from being ruined, the man who hates Christmas most of all, Ebenezer Scrooge... "It's pantomime with a jaunty twist and an intelligent exuberance. Even the biggest pantomime cynic would find enjoyment in this infectiously fun production." - A Younger Theatre

Everyone thinks they are smarter than everyone else, but only a precious few have the mental fortitude to be an actual genius. In this clear guide, aspiring smarty-pants will get hands-on advice, practical tips, and fact-filled profiles that will help them on their way to enlightenment. Readers will learn how to change human history with their intellect, reveal truths previously unknown, and make people gasp in wonder. Beginning with early childhood signs of genius, determining what field of expertise to pursue, and what to do when people just won't listen, readers will learn how to win a Nobel Prize, see how they measure up to geniuses of the past, and get tips on developing their own style and attitude. Complete with colorful illustrations, sidebars, and self-quizzes, would-be intellectual giants will have all the right tools for achieving greatness.