A warm and witty football tale from teen favourite Bali Rai. Baljit works in his dad's chippy but dreams of football stardom. When the chance of a lifetime comes along in the form of a national team's rep, Baljit works in his dad's chippy but dreams of football stardom. When the chance of a lifetime comes along in the form of a national team's rep, he is sure that his parents will disapprove and so a chain of lies begins. Will Baljit's fibs mean the end of his potential football stardom, or will his dreams win out? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+

"Packed full of emotion. . . . An influential read with a powerful message."-Booklist Whether goose or swan, I have wings. And I'll fly. Gus's life is about one thing-swimming. And he knows that the only coach in town who can get him to the Olympics is Coach Marks. So it seems like a simple plan: convince Coach Marks to train him, and everything from there on in is just hard work. Gus has never been afraid of hard work. But there are a few complications. For one thing, Coach Marks was Danny's coach. Danny, Gus's brother, committed suicide after failing to make the national swimming team-a big step on the way to the Olympics. And for another, Gus and Danny didn't exactly get along; Gus never liked living in Danny's shadow. A shadow that has grown even bigger since his death. In this powerful novel about the punishing and the healing nature of sports, Gus's rage threatens to swallow him at every turn. He's angry at his brother, his mother, his coach . . . even himself. But as he works toward his goal and through his feelings, Gus does everything he can to channel this burning intensity into excelling at the sport that he and Danny both loved, and finds solace in the same place he must face his demons: in the water. In addition to Gus's incredible narrative, there are four pieces of original art featured in Geese Are Never Swans. The art was curated by TaskForce, a creative agency that collaborates with the most influential nonprofits, brands, and people taking on the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world. TaskForce builds capacity and community for those shaping a more empathetic society through public opinion and policy. The artists' interpretations of their work are included in the book.

Claire Cashmore, MBE and Paralympic gold medallist, was born without a left forearm – but she never let being different stand in the way of her big dreams. Splash is based on Claire’s real-life experience: this gold-medal-winning swimmer really was scared of water … until one day, everything changed!

These are Claire’s big sisters.
They call her Bear and ruffle her hair.
And whatever Claire’s sisters can do,
Claire can do too …

But there is one thing Claire won't do …The water in the swimming pool makes her feel squirmy inside. Follow her sisters? No thank you! Not today?

Can Claire conquer her fears? Can she set foot in the water – and what will happen if she does?

Splash features a brilliantly bold heroine, who happens to be differently abled, and brims with fun, positivity and Claire Cashmore’s inspirational growth mindset message.

Brock is on the run again in New York Times bestselling author Tim Green's companion book to New Kid. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica or Dan Gutman's Baseball Card Adventure series.With his strong left arm, Brock knows he can be a great quarterback, and with the help of his new friend, Mak, he has a plan to make the first team. But the coaches have plans of their own, especially for the kids from the wrong side of the tracks, which is exactly where Brock now lives.As Brock is trying to fit in, his father's past is catching up to him--and one chance meeting causes everything to come crashing down. Will Brock finally be able to navigate his new life, or will his past force him back on the run?

The first official chapter book series based on Minecraft! Five young Minecraft players in the real world find themselves transported inside the game they love. But now it's not a game--and they will have to use everything they know to explore, build, and survive! This illustrated hardcover series will thrill and engage fans of Minecraft and action-packed fantasy stories alike. (c) 2019 Mojang AB and Mojang Synergies AB. MINECRAFT and MOJANG are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mojang Synergies AB.

The first in a fantastically fun, magical cycling adventure series from Sir Chris Hoy. Fergus Hamilton is a boy with a big imagination. Living with his mum and grandad and his dog, Chimp, he dreams of a state-of-the-art Sullivan Swift and becoming the most brilliant boy cyclist in the world. So when he gets a rusty second-hand bike for his ninth birthday he can't help feeling a bit disappointed. But then he discovers something amazing when he takes it for a ride. . . Written with award-winning author Joanna Nadin, with fantastic illustrations from Clare Elsom. "Champion cyclist Chris Hoy breathes his passion for cycling into this entertaining and imaginative adventure about an ordinary boy and his big cycling dreams." The Guardian

"Why are you arresting my daddy?"
Ten-year-old Alicia clung to her father's pant leg until the policeman pulled her off and took her father, in handcuffs, to the police car. She didn't understand. Her dad was a famous rock star from the band MAJIC. Everybody loved him. He wasn't supposed to be taken to jail
Alicia Marie Zamarelli's world turned upside down the night of the "incident" - the night her father was arrested for DUI. Her mother was no help; she and Alicia's dad had recently divorced, and besides, she was zoned out and slept all the time anyway. Alicia felt completely alone, but she still had no idea just how catastrophic her life was about to become.
How Alicia grapples with the addictions around her and manages to strengthen the relationship with her father may bring tears to your eyes, but it will also warm your heart and provide hope for finding a pathway out of the emotional upheaval that the world of alcohol and drug addictions can create.
Daddy Drinks fulfills author Channell's God-given goals to increase awareness among children about the profound effects that alcohol and drug addictions can cause, to empower young people to deal with the strong emotions they may experience and the questions they may have when faced with situations involving addictions, and to promote open communication between youths and adults.

Did you ever wonder how a hockey puck became a hockey puck? Melvin and the Big Hockey Game is the first book in a new series by author Christina Burke. Each enchanting, yet educational tale in the Melvin The Mouse series follows a resourceful, studious and hockey-loving mouse named Melvin, as he and his animal friends in the town of Shinny discover the fascinating origins of hockey. In this book, Shinny is hosting a big hockey game at the barn. After everyone in town tries various objects, unsuccessfully, to use for a puck (even meatballs ), it is Melvin who saves the day with the perfect solution Melvin and the Big Hockey Game is the perfect story for the little hockey fan in your family.

One boy's obsession for basketball stardom creates dramatic consequences for him, his friends, and his tiny hometown during one truly remarkable basketball season.

Mark Daniels spent his childhood honing basketball skills, preparing for the day he can star for Shiloh High. Now a sophomore, Mark believes his time has come, only to realize that his lack of height may forever doom that dream.

His personal fears must be set aside though when a tragic bus crash and dramatic rescue attempt plunge Mark into the center of a media storm of controversy. Even worse, Mark and his teammates then learn that the school board plans to cancel the season after the loss of seven varsity players and their coach in the accident.

A valiant battle earns a temporary reprieve, both for the season and Mark's basketball dreams. But the tragedies are far from over, as Mark must learn several more lessons before fully comprehending the importance of his dream and its impact on him and his friends.

Filled with tragedy and triumph, "The Young Rebel" begins the inspiring story of one young man's struggle to fulfill his dreams, and his understanding of himself.

""A compelling story with a spectacular opening and a satisfying ending that still leaves room for wanting more."
- Editor Genna Gifford

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the true story of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Born into a family of Samoan and Black wrestlers, little Dwayne travelled with his parents and watched his family fight in the ring, but he much preferred the football field to wrestling! He trained hard and worked to become a football player, signing with the Calgary Stampeders as a linebacker. But he was cut from the team after just two months. A natural athlete, Dwayne decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and decided to pursue professional wrestling. Taking on the persona of 'The Rock' as a wrestler in the WWE, he won 16 championships and millions of fans. After a huge wrestling career, he tried his hand at acting... andtoday is one of the biggest film stars that Hollywood has ever seen! This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athlete and actor's life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

From New York Times bestselling author and former NFL defensive end Tim Green comes a football story about a boy who is given a chance to prove that wealth and privilege don't matter on the football field, as long as he has the skills to compete. Perfect for fans of Mike Lupica!

Cory has always been passionate about football. But life for him and his single mom has been hard, making it difficult for Cory to play. And though Cory is a good kid, he's constantly surrounded by negative influences. But when the coach from an elite private school with one of the best football programs in the country recognizes his talents on the field, Cory is presented with an unbelievable opportunity.

Cory knows that football could be his ticket out. But leaving to attend private school also means struggling to fit into a world where most people look at him and just see a scholarship kid from the wrong side of town. Cory knows that if he can fight hard enough--both on and off the field--he may be able to secure a bright future that looks different from his unpromising past.