From bestselling children's author and illustrator Alan Snow comes the perfect Father Christmas origin story A beautiful, fresh take on a classic tale, once read it will become a family Christmas tradition forever. A beautifully-told and stunningly-illustrated Father Christmas origin story. Coming together like a perfect festive jigsaw, this story explains all of the traditions and myths around Santa Claus, from how he travels around the world in one night, how his sleigh and reindeer can fly, and why he leaves presents, to the origins of his red coat. A young boy is herding his family’s reindeer when they are drawn into a mysterious cave. The cave is the holder of eternal summer, looked after by three strange characters – a wooden creature, a bird and a fish. Once entered, the cave cannot be left without time in the outside world standing still. In his sadness at not being able to leave, the boy is granted three wishes and chooses freedom, happiness and time. He is told that they will all be granted – eventually.

Machines, mysteries and mayhem await Ollie as he travels to a food festival on a far-flung island. An encounter with a Grand Duchess leads Ollie on an undercover spying mission, that is his most exciting and dangerous yet!

The subject is one of major interest in basic microbiology and infectious diseases and the book is a known classic.

The subject is one of major interest in basic microbiology and infectious diseases and the book is a known classic.

When Aunt Liddle visits ten-year-old Patrick Biddle, she unknowingly brings along a hitchhiking ant from Scotland-ornery, overly-dramatic, yet kind-hearted, Lutz McCoon. Before Lutz continues on to visit his relations at the ant colony in the Biddle's backyard, he and Patrick become friends. When Lutz McCoon discovers that all is not right in the colony, he remembers his friend and returns to seek his help. Patrick is magically shrunk, and after defeating a beetle in battle (with the help of the chatty, absent-minded snail, Miss Swelter), enters an amazing underground world-a place filled with thousands of ants zigzagging scooters, bicycles, cars, and trucks across thirty lanes of the Queen's Highway; where Mr. Garble's Grocery Store is stocked with mosquito legs, fly guts, and caterpillar bellies; where the county fair includes a flyball soup tasting contest (where Patrick ends up, quite reluctantly, as one of the judges ); where the Garbage Police keeps everything spotless. After settling in with the McGroon family (yes, those McGroons of the "McGroon Green Aphid Ice Cream" fame), Patrick is assigned as a scout to help defend the colony. Despite his anxieties, he slowly gains confidence as he passes each challenge: leading a party of scouts up the giant apple tree to recruit Mr. Sipple; outwitting Smilk, a spider intent on eating Patrick and his friends; negotiating much needed help from stubborn, suspicious Queen Blumpus. His newfound skills, and the lessons he has learned, are put to a final severe test when he finally meets the colony's archenemy, Sotrick. Little does Patrick know that Sotrick is not only menacing, devious and smart, but he is also leading a secret army intent upon conquering. Will Patrick pass the ultimate test? Find out what happens to Patrick and his friends in the comedy, adventure tale: "Patrick Biddle's Great Adventure."

MACHINES, MYSTERIES AND MAYHEM - THIS MUST BE A CASE FOR OLLIE SPARK. Ollie Spark loves mending machines and solving mysteries. But he gets more than he bargained for when fixing Aunt Caz's van throws him into a real-life spy adventure! Ollie is whisked away to a mysterious city with strange plants, an unknown language and suspicious people round every corner. With the help of Gasket, his new dog best friend, he sets off on a mission to save the city - and Aunt Caz - from disaster. Can Ollie fix things before it's too late?!