When Dani's mum gets the chance to study penguins in the Antarctic, she decides the best place for eleven-year-old Dani is a strict girls' boarding school where - uh-oh! - students wear smart uniforms that includes SKIRTS! Having failed to change Mum's mind, Dani finds herself having to say goodbye to Granny Viv, her dog Downboy and best friend Arch. But when they arrive at St Grizelda's it seems that there's been some drastic changes; gone are the uniforms and the rules, and in are chaos, anarchy and, er, goats. Surely Mum's not going to leave her at the mercy of a crazy head-butting goat, a bunch of eight-year-olds masquerading as mutant goblins and a head teacher wearing a crown of picnic cutlery? But as a homesick Dani waits for Mum to make alternative arrangements, the madness of St Grizzle's begins to warm Dani's heart... With a definite whiff of St Trinian's about it, St Grizzle's is a laugh-out-loud middle grade read by best-selling author Karen McCombie, perfect for fans of A Murder Most Unladylike and Scarlet and Ivy.

Book Band: Dark Blue, ideal for ages 9+ A heart-warming story about friendship and finding your place in the world set in an urban city, ideal for children practising their reading at home or in school. Twelve-year-old JoJo is going through a difficult time: his dad has lost his job, his best friends have completely forgotten he exists, and he's even developed an annoying nervous tick. So when he and his dad move into a new flat, the last thing he needs is a scary new neighbour! This contemporary mystery features black-and-white illustrations. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com. 'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed ... Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level When Flora dreams of happiness, she doesn’t expect to be thrown on to the back of a great, black bull! But as Flora and the bull travel from glen to glen, is the silent beast all that he seems? Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. Text type: A traditional tale Curriculum links: English: fairy stories, myths and legends; books from other cultures and traditions This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Who said friends have to match to matter? When the Star Boy's space-pod crashes in the grounds of Fairfield Academy he knows he must seek shelter.

Taking refuge in the school's boiler room to await rescue he discovers that the room's small window is the perfect place to watch humans go by. The Star Boy knows about humans from his Earth lessons but no one from his planet has ever studied them up close.

Now he has the perfect opportunity. There are two humans in particular that catch his attention - a boy called Wes and a girl named Kiki.

But as his curiosity grows so does his courage and, making a momentous decision, the Star Boy follows Wes and Kiki into class ... and into their lives. A warm and otherworldly story about finding friendship in the most unlikely of places, for fans of Tamsin Winter, Cath Howe and Ross Welford.

Life isn't easy, especially if you're from another planet... With his space-pod destroyed, the Star Boy is adapting to life on Earth with help from his friends Kiki and Wes, but Kiki's long list of don'ts is a constant reminder of how hard it is to pass for a convincing human. But more troubling for the Star Boy is the strange pings and pangs he's experiencing, and the hard-to-hide electrical surges that are worrying his human rescuers. And when the Star Boy accidentally channels his true form on to the whiteboard of every class at Riverside Academy, things reach a whole new level of panic. With frenzied reports of an alien sighting trending on social media, how can Kiki and Wes keep their friend safe? A heart-warming and otherworldly sequel to HOW TO BE A HUMAN, for fans of Tamsin Winter, Cath Howe and Ross Welford.

Sisters - one of the closest relationships in the world? Megan and Sarah wouldn't agree... MEGAN'S STORY: Megan is constantly in her big sister's shadow. Prettier, smarter, funnier, Sarah has it all; the adoration of their parents, a great group of friends, talent, and - of course - Conor. Megan struggles to retain her identity as she tries to turn the tables on her lucky, gifted sibling. But is the pecking order ever going to change? SARAH'S STORY: Now we see the sisterly relationship from Sarah's point of view, and slowly, it begins to dawn on the reader that things are not quite as they seem. Could it be that Megan's perspective is not quite as accurate as originally perceived?

Bridie lives on the remote Scottish island of Torrnish, the youngest of three sisters. Although she loves her island, with its wild seas and big skies, she guiltily nurses a secret dream of flight - to America and the freedom of the New World. But her family are struggling under the spiteful oppression of the new Laird, and it seems that even some of the Laird's own household are desperate to leave. When the Laird's full cruelty becomes apparent, there's no more time for daydreams as Bridie needs to help the people she loves escape to safety. The first in a gripping, dramatic new series from much-loved author, Karen McCombie.

Little Bird has landed in America, far from her home in Scotland and far from the danger that stalked her family. But the new world holds new perils, and soon she's on the run again. From the teeming streets of New York to the prairies of the west, Little Bird holds tight to secrets and dreams of freedom. Then, on her journey, she comes face-to-face with an unwelcome ghost from the past...

Being at home is hard for Hannah. With Mum, Dad and Vix always fighting they've got no time for her or her worries, she might as well be invisible. But when she finds an abandoned diary in the park containing snippets and photographs of the colourful life of the mysterious Sami Star, Hannah hopes she's found the real friend she always needed. Little does Hannah know Sami needs her too... A heart-warming story of finding friendship in the most unlikely of places. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+

While awaiting punishment in his headmaster's office for his latest piece of mischief, prankster Seth picks up an Egyptian amulet from the desk and is whisked back in time to Ancient Egypt. In a village by the Nile, Seth finds a place for himself, working for the local tradesmen and playing with the local children. One of his new friends, Mery, has a pet hyena that Seth grows to love, so when he hears that the hyena is going to be roasted as part of a feast for the visiting pharaoh, Seth decides to save him. But what consequences will Seth have to face for stealing the pharaoh's lunch? An absorbing time-travel adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie.

Tyra gets off to a tough start at her new school. She's loud and different and nobody seems to be particularly friendly. So when her nan gives her a beautiful china snow dragon, Tyra's decides to take it to school, hoping that people will think it's interesting and talk to her. But disaster strikes and the beautiful dragon is smashed. Can Tyra find a way to repair her treasure while also making some new friends along the way?

Sisters - one of the closest relationships in the world? Megan and Sarah wouldn't agree... MEGAN'S STORY: Megan is constantly in her big sister's shadow. Prettier, smarter, funnier, Sarah has it all; the adoration of their parents, a great group of friends, talent, and - of course - Conor. Megan struggles to retain her identity as she tries to turn the tables on her lucky, gifted sibling. But is the pecking order ever going to change? SARAH'S STORY: Now we see the sisterly relationship from Sarah's point of view, and slowly, it begins to dawn on the reader that things are not quite as they seem. Could it be that Megan's perspective is not quite as accurate as originally perceived?

Meg is the girl with the sunshine smile. That's what they call her at the wedding fairs where she models her mum's dresses. But then Mum meets Danny. Danny, with the grotty houseboat, four sons and a three-legged cat. All of a sudden, Meg's life clouds over. Will Meg ever find her sunshine smile again? A brand-new low reading age edition of a wonderfully warm and wise story about new families and new relationships from bestselling author Karen McCombie. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+

Granny's hunt for the perfect pet brings some unexpected results in this goofy adventure of family, mudlarking and mayhem. Zac and Essie have been helping their Granny Mo in her search for the perfect pet. She's tried everything from cats to axolotls and just can't find the right one. But when the trio go mudlarking in the river bank they find a creature unlike anything else ... Granny Mo might have set out looking for a pet but now she's got a monster on her hands, and it's about to get up to some mischief!

Angels Next Door is a gorgeous new magical friendship series for 8+ readers by bestselling author, Karen McCombie. Riley's best friend has gone away forever and Lauren 'Queen of Everything' Mayhew is making school a nightmare. It looks like Riley's on her own, until the three Angelos Sisters move in next door. Her new neighbours are . . . different. Colourful and sparkly, they stand out. It's not just their names or how they dress - there's something magical about them. And since they arrived there have been loads of strange coincidences. Who are these new girls and what's with all the glitter? 'A wonderful, funny, heart-warming and comforting tale . . . will be a success with female readers aged 9 and upwards' The School Librarian About the author: Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold. Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster.

Karen McCombie explores identity, friendship and fresh starts in this touching tale perfectly pitched for struggling teen readers. Ketty doesn't remember anything about the accident, or much from before. The doctors say her memories will come back, but in the meantime school is a frightening and confusing place. Otis seems to be her only friend - he's kind and caring, funny too. And he may hold the key to remembering the old Ketty ... But will Ketty recognise or even like the girl she used to be?

Orphan Ettie Shaw is penniless and homeless on the streets of London when she is spotted by her older brother Joe. Joe has fallen in with a notorious pickpocket gang run by a man called Fagin, and Ettie has to disguise herself as a boy so she can come back with him to Fagin's lair. At first Ettie is able to help out with mending and other domestic jobs, but when one of the other boys falls ill, Fagin demands that Ettie go out pickpocketing with Joe and everything goes horribly wrong ... Fagin's infamous gang comes to life once more in this exciting Oliver Twist-inspired adventure from bestselling author Karen McCombie.

Frank is shy and worried about making friends at his new school. He finds a special stone, and names it Stanley. But what will Frank's new classmates think of Stanley Stone? Oxford Reading Tree All Stars is an engaging chapter fiction series which combines age-appropriate content with imaginative stories, perfect for inspiring and stretching able infants. The series develops comprehension skills and provides a wide variety of fiction topics and styles, alongside illustrations that aid understanding. All the books in this series are carefully levelled, so it's easy to match every child to the right book - one which will develop their reading skills and fuel their love of reading. Help with children's reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.

Angels Like Me is the third title in the enchanting and magical friendship series from bestselling author Karen McCombie that began with Angels Next Door. Riley's best friends, the Angelo sisters, are special. Sparkly, strange and full of secrets . . Life at home is tricky for Riley Roberts. She misses her mum and wants to learn more about her. But Dad is as secretive as ever. She hopes the sisters can work their magic and help her find out the truth. But Riley is about to discover something more magical than she could have imagined - something that could bring her closer to her mum and answer her questions at last. About the author: Bestselling author Karen McCombie trained as a magazine journalist in her native Scotland before moving to London. After several years working on teen favourites Just 17 and Sugar, she turned to fiction, with her first series, Ally's World, becoming an instant success. In total she's had more than 70 books published and translated around the world, and more than a million books sold. Karen lives in North London with her very Scottish husband Tom, her sunshiney daughter Milly, a demented cat called Dizzy and Biscuit, the button-obsessed hamster. Angels Like Me is the third title in her Angels Next Door series. www.karenmccombie.com Also available: Angels Next Door (book 1) Angels In Training (book 2) Angels Like Me (book 3)