Mr. and Mrs. Twit are just about as nasty and revolting as two people can get. The only thing that brings the two of them pleasure is playing pranks on one another. But, when a new family called the Lovelies move in next door, with their lively 10-year-old twins, they teach The Twits to stop being so mean and horrible and they all live happily ever after . . . Ha! Not really. The Twits HATE the Lovelies.

But how far will The Twits go to rid themselves of their horribly nice new neighbours? And what happens when these new neighbours, who are armed with utter loveliness, start to fight back?

Can the new Famous Five catch the thief and find the forgotten treasure before it's too late? Join the original Famous Five and a new group of children in this exciting new adventure by bestselling author Chris Smith, inspired by Enid Blyton. When Fran, Tom, Maddy and Gilbert the dog stay with Professor George Kirrin for the holidays, they soon find themselves caught up in a robbery of a top-secret treasure map. Professor George will have to tell them about an old case of the Famous Five if they're ever going to catch the thief and rescue the forgotten treasure... The Famous Five by Enid Blyton was one of Chris Smith's favourite series as a child. Now, this bestselling author weaves the action, adventure and danger of this thrilling and exciting world into a brand-new story, perfect for every generation of readers, with artwork by James Lancett. Join the adventure!

_______________ The first book in a laugh-out-loud funny adventure series for readers aged 8+, from radio stars Greg James and Chris Smith _______________ 'So funny, it's almost criminal' - Independent 'Outrageous capers' - Guardian SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE A TOM FLETCHER BOOK CLUB PICK _______________ Murph Cooper has a problem. His new school is top secret, and super weird. His classmates can all fly or control the weather or conjure tiny horses from thin air. And what's Murph's extraordinary skill? Um, oh yeah - he hasn't got one. Just as well there are no revolting supervillains lurking nearby, their minds abuzz with evil plans. There are!? Right. Ok, then... It's time for Kid Normal to become a hero!

NOW WITH REVOLTING EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT!!!

A wickedly funny and prank-filled adventure starring one of Roald Dahl’s most hilarious and popular creations, The Twits.

This brand-new and deliciously revolting story is brilliantly written by internationally bestselling authors and children’s literacy advocates Greg James and Chris Smith and illustrated by Emily Jones.

Mr and Mrs Twit are just about as nasty and revolting as two people can get. The only thing that brings the two of them pleasure is playing pranks on one another.

But, when a new family called the Lovelies move in next door, with their lively 10-year-old twins, they teach The Twits to stop being so mean and horrible and they all live happily ever after . . .

Ha! Not really. The Twits HATE the Lovelies.

But how far will The Twits go to rid themselves of their horribly nice new neighbours? And what happens when these new neighbours, who are armed with utter loveliness, start to fight back?

Loved The Twits Next Door? Read more fantastically funny adventures from Greg James and Chris Smith:
- The Kid Normal series
- The Great Dream Robbery
- Super Ghost
- The Kid Who Fell Through Time

Greg James (Author)
GREG JAMES AND CHRIS SMITH are the multi-award-wining and bestselling authors of The Great Dream Robbery, Super Ghost and the Kid Normal series. They have been translated into over 20 languages and been shortlisted for both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Laugh Out Loud Award. Greg and Chris have championed children’s books widely, were judges for the Blue Peter Book Award in 2017 and were official World Book Day authors in 2020. They are also committed advocates for children’s literacy and are founding members of the Primary School Library Alliance – a campaign launched by Penguin Random House and the National Literacy Trust to address the lack of investment in UK primary school libraries – and were awarded in 2024 the Ruth Rendell Literacy Award, presented to those who have had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year, for their work promoting reading in schools. Outside of their writing partnership, Greg James is a radio and television broadcaster and Chris Smith a solo author of acclaimed children’s books Frankie Best Hates Quests and Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency.

Chris Smith (Author)
GREG JAMES AND CHRIS SMITH are the multi-award-wining and bestselling authors of The Great Dream Robbery, Super Ghost and the Kid Normal series. They have been translated into over 20 languages and been shortlisted for both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Laugh Out Loud Award. Greg and Chris have championed children’s books widely, were judges for the Blue Peter Book Award in 2017 and were official World Book Day authors in 2020. They are also committed advocates for children’s literacy and are founding members of the Primary School Library Alliance – a campaign launched by Penguin Random House and the National Literacy Trust to address the lack of investment in UK primary school libraries – and were awarded in 2024 the Ruth Rendell Literacy Award, presented to those who have had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year, for their work promoting reading in schools. Outside of their writing partnership, Greg James is a radio and television broadcaster and Chris Smith a solo author of acclaimed children’s books Frankie Best Hates Quests and Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency.

Emily Jones (Illustrator)
Emily Jones wanted to illustrate children's books for a living immediately after reading 'I want my potty' by Tony Ross. It's been a little while since that pivotal moment in Jarrow library aged 7 but she has finally achieved it.
She lives in Cardiff with her partner and English Bull Terrier Whippet Cross, Augustus, who despite having never entered a beauty pageant, would definitely win one.

The epic conclusion to the awesome, award-winning, bestselling, super-charged KID NORMAL series by Greg James and Chris Smith.

Praise for Kid Normal:

'So funny, it's almost criminal' INDEPENDENT
'Outrageous capers' GUARDIAN

Murph Cooper is famous… and he's not happy about it.

Kid Normal and the Super Zeroes used to save the day in secret. But suddenly everyone knows who they are.

Oily villain Nicholas Knox has told the public that superheroes are dangerous. He wants to lock them all up and take over the world! *Cue evil cackling*

Murph must expose Knox's evil plan, or the world of heroes is doomed forever!

Whether on vinyl or in digital form, the album has become an integral part of our cultural history. 100 Albums That Changed Popular Music: A Reference Guide tells the stories behind the most groundbreaking, influential, and often controversial albums ever recorded. Narrative chapters in this chronologically organized volume describe how the albums reflected the political, social, and economic culture of the era. Individual entries discuss these albums histories, the inspiration behind their creation, and why they continue to stand the test of time. Selected on the basis of their popular appeal, historical significance, and influence on later genres, the albums included represent a wide variety of genres, such as blues, jazz, rock, reggae, rockabilly, folk, soul, hip-hop, and country. Among the featured are releases from the hard-blues explosion of the '60s, including Robert Johnson's King of the Delta Blues Singers, a landmark album whose songs were later covered by the likes of Cream, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones. Punk made its mark in the '70s with such albums as Patti Smith's Horses and the Clash's London Calling. In the '80s Michael Jackson's blockbuster LP, Thriller, not only topped the charts, it become the best-selling record of all time. Diversity defined the '90s, with the most influential albums ranging from Garth Brooks' No Fences, which made country one of the hottest musical genres of the decade, to Dr. Dre's debut, The Chronic, a multi-platinum smash hit that brought West Coast hip hop into the mainstream. Each album entry in this book lists the publication information, including release date, label, and producer. A timeline of important events, a selectedbibliography for further reading, and an appendix of albums that almost made the cut round out this volume, making it an ideal resource for students, music fans, and general readers alike.

Labour in Transition (1992) examines the massive transformations undertaken by state socialist regimes at the end of the 1980s. It traces developments in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and China, in particular the impact of changes in the labour process and broader political economy. Detailed empirical analysis of reform processes is effectively combined with a broader comparative examination of capitalism, socialism and the process of transition to new social formations.

Originally published in 1986, the 1970s and 80s saw the emergence of the 'the new working class' or 'new middle class'. This book is an authoritative study of the 'white collar workers' relationship with their unions and analysis of their newly designated class. The authors drew extensively on original fieldwork and verbatim accounts from technical workers and foremen in industry. White Collar Workers examines the particular circumstances of different groups of workers and their functions in relation to capital and labour. It analyses changes in the composition of union membership and the effect of these changes on the structure and policy of unions.

Debates about the consequences for work practices posed by the rapidly growing transnationalisation of business have become increasingly central to management studies, sociology, political science, geography and other disciplines. Remaking Management brings together a range of international contributors from different sub-disciplines in management to examine current theories of change or continuity of work practices in the context of fashionable claims about unstoppable globalisation or unmoveable national business systems. It provides theoretical and empirical challenges to both of these explanations. Rejecting an overemphasis on inevitable convergence or enduring divergence, the book reveals a mix of international, national and organisational-level influences on workplace practice. This is a rich and wide-ranging resource for graduate students and academics concerned with how organisations are responding to an increasingly complex commercial environment.

The third book in the bestselling, award-winning, laugh-out-loud funny KID NORMAL series by Greg James and Chris Smith

Praise for KID NORMAL:

'So funny, it's almost criminal' INDEPENDENT

'Outrageous capers' GUARDIAN

YOU DON'T NEED SUPERPOWERS TO BE A HERO ... Or do you?

Despite having no powers, Murph Cooper is part of the best team in the Heroes' Alliance. So when supervillain Magpie declares all-out war, Kid Normal and the Super Zeroes lead the charge.

But Magpie believes that a powerless hero is no hero at all. And he's building a dastardly device to prove it.

When Kid Normal enters the Shadow Machine, THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME ...

Global Japaniziation? Brings together research from North America, Japan, Europe and Latin America to analyse the influence of Japanese manufacturing investment and Japanese working practices across the global economy. The editors present original case studies of work reorganization and workers' experiences within both Japanese companies and those of their competitors in diverse sectors and national settings. These studies provide a wide-ranging critique of conventional accounts of Japanese models of management and production, and their implications for employees. They offer new evidence and fresh perspectives on the role of "transplants" in disseminating manufacturing innovations, and on the responses of non-Japanese firm in reorganizing production operations and industrial relations.

Gifted education is a highly topical but controversial subject. Unlike most books on the subject of inclusion for gifted learners, this single volume presents the opposing views of first-class experts from the field to challenge the assumption that educational inclusion relates only to those pupils with learning difficulties. In this book, the authors examine the extent to which a truly inclusive context can provide a challenging environment for gifted and talented pupils.
Key issues explored include:
* the social and emotional aspects of being a gifted and talented pupil
* the pros and cons of being labelled gifted and talented in very young children
* why 'regular' classrooms are the best place to educate gifted and talented pupils
* modifying the basic school curriculum to meet the needs of gifted and talented pupils
* what is submerged talent and how can it be found?
By engaging in discussions about the nature of inclusion and how varying perspectives can lead to very different practices being implemented, the effectiveness of educating the most able pupils is examined.
As the Government has recently initiated the Excellence in Cities scheme, this thought-provoking volume will be an invaluable read to student teachers, practitioners, academics and researchers who wish to further their study in this hot topic.

Gifted education is a highly topical but controversial subject. Unlike most books on the subject of inclusion for gifted learners, this single volume presents the opposing views of first-class experts from the field to challenge the assumption that educational inclusion relates only to those pupils with learning difficulties. In this book, the authors examine the extent to which a truly inclusive context can provide a challenging environment for gifted and talented pupils.
Key issues explored include:
* the social and emotional aspects of being a gifted and talented pupil
* the pros and cons of being labelled gifted and talented in very young children
* why 'regular' classrooms are the best place to educate gifted and talented pupils
* modifying the basic school curriculum to meet the needs of gifted and talented pupils
* what is submerged talent and how can it be found?
By engaging in discussions about the nature of inclusion and how varying perspectives can lead to very different practices being implemented, the effectiveness of educating the most able pupils is examined.
As the Government has recently initiated the Excellence in Cities scheme, this thought-provoking volume will be an invaluable read to student teachers, practitioners, academics and researchers who wish to further their study in this hot topic.

Unlike most 12 year-olds, Maya Clayton is desperate to go to bed early. Falling asleep is the only chance she has to save her dad - the brilliant but slightly odd Professor Dexter. The Professor invented a device that allows you to visit other people's dreams. But the devious Lilith Delamere has trapped him inside a nightmare and Maya and the mysterious Dream Bandits must find a way to rescue him before it's too late! Maya will face a dangerous journey and some difficult choices. But sometimes all you need is a dream . . . and a bit of courage. Featuring a hospital heist, some banana-loving llamas and a talking cat called Bin Bag, this is one mind-bending adventure you won't want to wake up from.

We all have to work to pay the bills - but what influence do we really have over our pay and working conditions? The emergence of the global economy, digital technologies, mass migration, gig work and zero hours contracts have thrust this question to the forefront of HRM. So how can we keep the 'human' in human resource management faced by these pressures? This book adopts a critical approach to today's major workplace challenges. It turns traditional HRM on its head by placing workers' perspectives towards the workplace alongside those of managers to create an HRM textbook for the 21st century. Written by two experienced and research-active authors, the book: * locates control of labour costs and productivity at the heart of HRM policy and practice; * covers key issues that are overlooked in many textbooks, including conflict and resistance, the 'new' unitarism, migration and the challenges of Artificial Intelligence; * adopts a critical approach that will appeal more to students who don't wish to become traditional managers; * includes current examples and case studies from the international world of work and business that will bring the subject to life. This is a comprehensive one-stop resource for students and lecturers alike.

Global Japaniziation? Brings together research from North America, Japan, Europe and Latin America to analyse the influence of Japanese manufacturing investment and Japanese working practices across the global economy. The editors present original case studies of work reorganization and workers' experiences within both Japanese companies and those of their competitors in diverse sectors and national settings. These studies provide a wide-ranging critique of conventional accounts of Japanese models of management and production, and their implications for employees. They offer new evidence and fresh perspectives on the role of "transplants" in disseminating manufacturing innovations, and on the responses of non-Japanese firm in reorganizing production operations and industrial relations.

We all have to work to pay the bills – but what influence do we really have over our pay and working conditions? The emergence of the global economy, digital technologies, mass migration, gig work and zero hours contracts have thrust this question to the forefront of HRM. So how can we keep the ‘human’ in human resource management faced by these pressures? This book adopts a critical approach to today’s major workplace challenges. It turns traditional HRM on its head by placing workers’ perspectives towards the workplace alongside those of managers to create an HRM textbook for the 21st century. Written by two experienced and research-active authors, the book: • locates control of labour costs and productivity at the heart of HRM policy and practice; • covers key issues that are overlooked in many textbooks, including conflict and resistance, the ‘new’ unitarism, migration and the challenges of Artificial Intelligence; • adopts a critical approach that will appeal more to students who don’t wish to become traditional managers; • includes current examples and case studies from the international world of work and business that will bring the subject to life. This is a comprehensive one-stop resource for students and lecturers alike.

This volume will look at the history of trepanation, the identification of skulls, the tools used to make the cranial openings, and theories as to why trepanation might have been performed many thousands of years ago.

The second epically funny adventure starring Murph Cooper and the Super Zeroes from Greg James and Chris Smith.

Running a team of crime-fighting superheroes is a complicated business - especially when your mum's not allowed to know that you're doing it. But Murph Cooper is making it work: he's a schoolkid by day and a member of the top-secret Heroes' Alliance by night.

Not that anyone at The School seems to care. Most of Murph's teachers and classmates still believe that unless you have a proper superpower you can't be a real hero.

But his achievements have caught the attention of at least one person .

Far away in a maximum security prison, the world's most notorious supervillain, Magpie, has just broken a 30-year silence.

Magpie's special power? Draining heroes of their Capabilities and taking them for his own. And his first words? 'Bring Kid Normal to me .'

Why use expensive beauty products when you can moisturise with jellyfish? Have you ever suspected pollution was to blame for your children's plummeting IQ? Ready to take a sea change . . . on Mars? And how about chopping an onion that doesn't make you cry? This is the perfect present for enquiring minds. Compelling, quirky and packed fully of curious facts, The Naked Scientist: Life Under the Microscope is a treasure trove of cutting-edge research, far-flung factoids and the ability to see into our scientific future, answering those fascinating questions you never thought to ask.

John Cairncross was among the most damaging spies of the twentieth century. A member of the infamous Cambridge spy ring, he leaked highly sensitive documents from Bletchley Park, MI6 and the Treasury to the Soviet Union - including the first Atomic secrets and raw decrypts from Enigma and Tunny that influenced the outcome of the Battle of Kursk. Based on newly released archival materials, this biography will be the first to cover the life and espionage of this singularly important spy. In 2014 Cairncross appeared as a secondary, though key, character in the biopic of Alan Turing's life, The Imitation Game. The result was considerable negative reaction within the national press. Despite this clear interest, the function filled by Cairncross remains an untold story. Where all of the other members of the Cambridge spy ring have been the subject of extensive biographical study, Cairncross has largely been omitted by both academic and popular writers, and no biography has yet been penned of his life.

Why learn F#? With this guide, you'll learn how this multi-paradigm language not only offers you an enormous productivity boost through functional programming, but also lets you develop applications using your existing object-oriented and imperative programming skills. You'll quickly discover the many advantages of the language, including access to all the great tools and libraries of the .NET platform.

Reap the benefits of functional programming for your next project, whether you're writing concurrent code, or building data- or math-intensive applications. With this comprehensive book, former F# team member Chris Smith gives you a head start on the fundamentals and walks you through advanced concepts of the F# language.Learn F#'s unique characteristics for building applicationsGain a solid understanding of F#'s core syntax, including object-oriented and imperative stylesMake your object-oriented code better by applying functional programming patternsUse advanced functional techniques, such as tail-recursion and computation expressionsTake advantage of multi-core processors with asynchronous workflows and parallel programmingUse new type providers for interacting with web services and information-rich environmentsLearn how well F# works as a scripting language

Originally published in 1992. In an increasingly competitive climate, well-trained, experienced management is vital for establishing the long term future of industry. In response to this need, the number of management training courses have been growing in recent years. However, there is a group of highly skilled professionals who are not always recognized for their management potential. Engineers, often viewed as nothing more than technicians, are a valuable but neglected human resource. Their expertise has helped to generate the recent organizational restructuring throughout the manufacturing industry. This study compares the situation of engineers in Britain with those in other countries. It analyzes the industrial cultures of countries that have developed along very different traditions such as Japan, Germany and Hungary as well as countries like Canada and the US where British traditions have prevailed but where the outcomes are different. Bringing together leading writers on management who have specialist knowledge of the engineering profession, it covers such issues as education, employment and labour relations to show how far engineers are undervalued in British culture. This book should be of interest to undergraduates, MBA students, academics and researchers in management, engineering, new technology, industrial sociology and organizational behaviour.