Short and Shocking! is full of stories with a twist in the tail - each surprising and stimulating in its own way. Over forty stories in one book - all of them very, very short! None of the stories are more than two pages long, but each of them is special and thought-provoking to inspire short story writers. Drawn from a range of sources, including folk tales, urban myths, and narrative jokes, as well as original stories, the stories are ideal for use in the classroom.

Written by the author of CBBC's Scream Street TV series!

Nothing ever happens in the sleepy town of Badger's Bottom. In fact, its only claim to fame is that it's the most BORING place to live in the universe.

That's until a UFO lands in Jamie and Megan's back garden and invaders leap out to begin their conquest of Earth, under the command of Major Pain...

Tommy Donbavand's Funny Shorts is a series of 4,000-word colour illustrated, chapter-based readers, which are perfect for bridging the gap between first chapter books and independent reading.

Published by Franklin Watts EDGE, using off-white paper and a font recommended by the British Dyslexia Association.

Now a major Netflix film starring Kiernan Shipka, Shameik Moore, Odeya Rush and Isabela Moner.

It's Christmas Eve and the worst blizzard for fifty years has blanketed Gracetown. But as well as snowflakes, love is in the air - and appearing in the most unexpected ways . . .

Who'd have thought a freezing hike from a stranded train would end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger? Or that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow could lead to romance with an old friend? Or that the path to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks?

Touching, hilarious and filled with festive cheer, the magic of the holiday season shines on these three interconnected tales of love, romance and breathtaking kisses. The perfect book for a cold winter's night for any fan of The Fault in Their Stars, The Sun is Also a Star and Eleanor and Park.

Curl up with this sparkling collection of Christmas stories from the world's best-loved storyteller. Perfect for children aged 5 and up! Embrace the spirit of Christmas with tales of magic and wishes galore in this heart-warming collection. From a dog who discovers the joy of Christmas to Santa Claus who gets himself out of a muddle with a little help from his friends, these stories celebrate shared times, festivities and wonder. Filled with lots of festive fun, these stories are ideal for younger children being read to and for newly confident readers to enjoy independently, each story stands alone and is the perfect length for reading at bedtime or in the classroom. Enid Blyton remains one of Britain's favourite children's authors and her bumper short story collections are the perfect way to introduce her work to a new generation of readers. Read all 15 bumper short story collections. New in 2020: Nature Stories Stories of Rotten Rascals Magical Fairy Tales Christmas Wishes *** Enid Blyton (R) and Enid Blyton's signature are registered trade marks of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. No trade mark or copyrighted material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the trade mark and copyright owner.

A companion to the New York Times bestselling Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, now a major motion picture directed by Tim Burton. Before Miss Peregrine gave them a home, the story of peculiars was written in the Tales. Wealthy cannibals who dine on the discarded limbs of peculiars. A fork-tongued princess. These are but a few of the truly brilliant stories in Tales of the Peculiar-the collection of fairy tales known to hide information about the peculiar world, including clues to the locations of time loops-first introduced by Ransom Riggs in his #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. Riggs now invites you to share his secrets of peculiar history, with a collection of original stories in this deluxe volume of Tales of the Peculiar, as collected and annotated by Millard Nullings, ward of Miss Peregrine and scholar of all things peculiar. Featuring stunning illustrations from world-renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson this compelling and truly peculiar anthology is the perfect gift for not only fans, but for all booklovers. A perfect gift, reminiscent of classic bookmaking, this beautifully packaged volume features full-page woodcut illustrations, gold foil stamping, a ribbon, and removable back sticker. "[These tales] embody gentle, empowering messages: accept yourself and others; celebrate difference and oddity; never lose your sense of wonder." -Financial Times "With a Victorian style for writing and a capacity for subtle humor, the tales read as cautionary fables, rich with peril and phantasy, and will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike." -GeekDad.com

A Junior Library Guild Selection and "Smithsonian Magazine" Notable Book for Children.

"A literary treasure."--Philip Pullman

"My happiest discovery this year."--"Los Angeles Times"

The complete collection of twenty-four charming and magical Armitage family stories. Includes a prelude by the author and introductions from Garth Nix and Lizza Aiken.

Paul Jennings is the master of the unpredictable and one of Australia's top-selling authors, hugely popular both with children and their teachers. This collection of thirteen of his best stories takes us from a world stuck on fast- forward to a boy who is truly stuck on a girl. Not to mention another eleven weird yarns.

Ivan E. Coyote's wry, honest stories about gender and identity have captivated audiences everywhere. Ivan's eighth book is her first for LGBT youth, written for anyone who has ever felt different or alone in their struggles to be true to themselves. Included are stories about Ivan's tomboy youth and her adult life, where she experiences cruelty and kindness in unexpected places.

Funny, inspiring, and full of heart, "One in Every Crowd" is about embracing and celebrating difference and feeling comfortable in one's own skin.

Ivan E. Coyote was also featured in the anti-bullying anthology "It Gets Better."

Imagine being trapped forever in someone elseas nightmare, with no means of escape. Or caught on one of the most terrifying roller coasters of all time, when suddenly the tracks ahead just disappear. Enter the world of Darkness Creeping, where hollow-eyed skulls arrive in the mail and nothing is as it seems. Boston GlobeaHorn Book Award winner and beloved author Neal Shusterman walks on the dark side with this classic collection of masterfully creepy stories so horrifying, you may have to read them twice to remind yourself theyare not real.

Four new stories and four shorter poems introduce Alfie to the magic of the countryside, the excitement of the seaside, the mystery of night-time and the rhythm of the seasons. It is a companion volume to "The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook".

One of an innovative new series of linked stories designed to build reader confidence. Nobody wants to play with Lucy on her first day in school, so her teacher gives her some chalks and Lucy begins to draw animals on the playground. She doesn't notice Zack and Ibrahim sitting at opposite ends of a nearby bench, watching her. As the three stories progress, Lucy, Zack and Ibrahim overcome the awkwardness of being alone at a new school, and become the best of friends, drawing together. Walker Stories support beginner readers making the transition from picture books in an engaging, entertaining and accessible way. Each title features three highly-illustrated, individual short stories linked by one character, so readers can build familiarity and confidence.

To mark the centennial of the birth of Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Library of America presents a major celebration of Singer's achievement, beginning with "Gimpel the Fool" and concluding with "The Death of Methuselah."

On every street there is a story. Roll up, roll up for a circus adventure in Edwardian Yarmouth, merry-go-race through King's Lynn history with fabulous fairground animals, get swept back in time with the marvellous mice of Wymondham, meet the magical medieval dragon of Norwich and the musical Owl of Holt, discover the magnificent street procession of a Tudor Queen and get ready to be bedazzled by the delightful dancer of a Georgian theatre. Inspired by collections at Norfolk Heritage Centre and the history of Norfolk streets, this book consists of imaginative short stories where love and friendship take centre stage.

Eight delightful tales of heart-warming fun and adventure. Stories include "King Donkey Ears", "The Enormous Turnip", "Danny the Dragon", "The Inch Prince", "Androcles and the Lion", "Stone Soup", "The Clumsy Crocodile" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice". Each story is brilliantly illustrated by artists from the Usborne Young Reading Programme.

Be afraid, be very afraid of Terrifying Tales, the sixth volume in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading. Eleven masters of suspense-Kelly Barnhill, Michael Buckley, Adam Gidwitz, Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown, Claire Legrand, Nikki Loftin, Daniel Jose Older, Dav Pilkey, R.L. Stine, and Rita Williams-Garcia-have come together to bring you a bone-chilling collection of original ghost stories with illustrations by Gris Grimly, perfect for sharing around the campfire, reading under the covers with a flashlight, and scaring your friends' pants off. Compiled and edited by kid-lit madman Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: Terrifying Tales is a creepy-fun read (if you're brave enough, that is).

The Puffin Book of Stories for Seven-year-olds edited by Wendy Cooling is a perfect selection of loved stories for all 7 year olds!

Full of exciting stories from some of our best-loved authors, including Philippa Pearce, Rudyard Kipling, John Agard and Francesca Simon.

This brilliant collection is full of magic, mayhem and adventure! Find out how the camel got his hump, how Jimmy learnt to vanish and what Horrid Henry got up to on holiday . . .

Perfect for seven-year-olds to share or read alone.

Get ready to meet some hair-raisingly horrid children in these 30 classic stories from Enid Blyton. Perfect for children aged 5 and up!

From temper tantrums and telling tales to bickering and boasting, these bratty boys and ghastly girls are up to no good! Read on if you dare...

Ranging from the light-hearted to the deliciously dark, these cautionary tales will delight young readers as much today when they first appeared in the mid-twentieth century. This collection is inspired by Enid Blyton's A Book of Naughty Children, first published in 1944.

Ideal for younger children being read to and for newly confident readers to enjoy independently, each story stands alone and is the perfect length for reading at bedtime or in the classroom.

Enid Blyton remains one of Britain's favourite children's authors and her bumper short story collections are the perfect way to introduce her work to a new generation of readers.

Other Worlds, the fourth volume in Jon Scieszka's Guys Read anthology series for tween boys, features ten thrilling new tales of science fiction and fantasy from some of the biggest names in children's literature.

Prepare yourself for ten trips into the unknown, as ten of your favorite writers--Rick Riordan, who has written an all-new and exclusive Percy Jackson tale, Tom Angleberger of Origami Yoda fame, Newbery medalist Rebecca Stead, Shannon Hale, D. J. MacHale, Eric Nylund, Kenneth Oppel, Neal Shusterman, Shaun Tan, and none other than the late Ray Bradbury--spin tales of fantasy and science fiction the likes of which you have never imagined.

Compiled by National Ambassador for Children's Literature (and Secret Ambassador for the Intergalactic Alliance) Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: Other Worlds is sure to boldly take you where no reader has gone before.