'[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing.' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh 'A shining light in our dark days' - 5 STAR reader review After an eventful start to his first ever teaching post in the sleepy village of Risingdale, Tom Dwyer is hoping for a bit of calm. Nursing a broken heart after a romantic disappointment, he just wants to keep his head down and get on with his job. But it is not to be. A beautiful London artist sets tongues wagging when she moves into the village, and her precocious yet frail son is in Tom's class. On top of that, his colleague's malicious ex-husband is back, determined to create mischief, and a tragedy on one of the winding country roads sends the village reeling. And all this alongside a class of children who still seem to know more about farming than fractions. With its colourful mix of characters both old and new and its many laugh-out-loud moments, Tales Out of School is a warm, humorous portrayal of life in a small Yorkshire village. Readers are loving TALES OUT OF SCHOOL: 'Loved it. So easy to read, lovely story, unforgettable characters.' - 5 STARS 'Brilliant!' - 5 STARS 'Could not put the book down. Gervase Phinn is an expert story teller.' - 5 STARS 'Such a relaxing and calming read' - 5 STARS 'I have been waiting for this sequel and it didn't disappoint.' - 5 STARS

This book offers teachers a useful and very readable text to help them select stories, poetry and non-fiction material for the primary classroom, with ideas on how to teach them. Appropriate selection criteria are discussed and suggestions are given about keeping up with the range of available texts. The author offers a comprehensive guide to the whole range of books appropriate for use in the Literacy Hour. The tried and tested practical approaches provided in the book reflect guidance on The National Curriculum Programmes of Study for English and The National Literacy Strategy. Gervase Phinn has rare gifts as a teacher, speaker, storyteller and writer, all of which skills come together in the authoring of this book. It will inform, stimulate and entertain all who engage in literacy teaching throughout the English-speaking world -- even in places which have no knowledge of the Literacy Hour.

First Published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level Three folk tales from around the world retold by the wonderful storyteller Gervase Phinn. In the first, a golden turtle offers a kindly fisherman riches beyond his wildest dreams. In the secod, Amparo’s daughter looks sweet, but when she’s determined to do something nothing gets in her way. In the third, a naughty leprechaun gets a big shock! Sapphire/Band 16 books offer longer reads to develop children's sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically. A ‘wanted’ poster on pages 54 and 55 for the leprechaun in the last story helps children to recap all the naughty things he did. Text type: Three stories from other cultures. This book is paired with The Ultimate World Quiz, a non-fiction information book full of facts about our planet. Curriculum links: Geography: Passport to the world; Citizenship: Choices, Living in a diverse world. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

The third and final novel in the delightful Top of the Dales series from bestselling author Gervase Phinn. 'A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing.' - Alan Titchmarsh Change is afoot in the usually sleepy village of Risingdale. Gerald Gaunt, headmaster of the primary school for over thirty years, is retiring. It is the end of an era and Gerald hopes that his replacement will work with him to secure a bright, happy future for the school. But Mr Smart has his own ideas about how things should be run, and things start to become fraught very quickly. On top of this, the teachers have plenty of other dramas to contend with. Still dealing with a class of children who seem to understand agriculture better than arithmetic, Tom Dwyer is pining over Janette, his one-that-got-away. Meanwhile, his colleague Joyce Tranter's new marital bliss is shattered by the arrival of her husband's avaricious, scheming nephew. And elsewhere in the village, Sir Hedley's long-cherished plans for his future are jeopardised by the arrival back in his life of his bitter, desperate ex-wife. Can the residents of Risingdale pull together and achieve happiness against the odds? With a lively cast of characters both old and new and countless laugh-out-loud moments, A Class Act is a warm, enchanting portrayal of life in a small Yorkshire village. Readers are loving the Top of the Dales series: 'Loved it. So easy to read, lovely story, unforgettable characters.' - 5 STARS 'Brilliant!' - 5 STARS 'Could not put the book down. Gervase Phinn is an expert story teller.' - 5 STARS 'Such a relaxing and calming read' - 5 STARS 'I have been waiting for this sequel and it didn't disappoint.' - 5 STARS

Sail away with the delightful new novel from Gervase Phinn, bestselling author of The School at the Top of the Dale A summer cruise should be just the ticket for a few weeks of luxury and relaxation - but for the passengers and crew of the Empress of the Ocean, the sights of the Mediterranean are nothing compared to the excitement on board... For bickering couple Albert and Maureen, the trip might prove a much-needed escape - or the final straw. Elegant Frances de la Mare is determined to hobnob with the right kind of people - but her penthouse suite proves lonelier than she ever imagined. Meanwhile, precocious twelve-year-old Oliver discovers that guidebooks don't teach you everything, sparks fly when the port lecturer finds himself upstaged by a popular author, dancers Bruce and Babs can't keep in step, and cruise expert Neville just wants someone to speak to. But as unlikely friendships are forged, feuds bubble in the laundry room, and everyone jostles for a seat at the Captain's table, they might find all their plans going overboard.... Warm, funny and uplifting, this is the perfect escapist read for fans of Gervase Phinn's Yorkshire novels, as well as readers of Celia Imrie, Alan Titchmarsh and Maeve Haran. '[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh

Sail away with the delightful new novel from Gervase Phinn, bestselling author of The School at the Top of the Dale A summer cruise should be just the ticket for a few weeks of luxury and relaxation - but for the passengers and crew of the Empress of the Ocean, the sights of the Mediterranean are nothing compared to the excitement on board... For bickering couple Albert and Maureen, the trip might prove a much-needed escape - or the final straw. Elegant Frances de la Mare is determined to hobnob with the right kind of people - but her penthouse suite proves lonelier than she ever imagined. Meanwhile, precocious twelve-year-old Oliver discovers that guidebooks don't teach you everything, sparks fly when the port lecturer finds himself upstaged by a popular author, dancers Bruce and Babs can't keep in step, and cruise expert Neville just wants someone to speak to. But as unlikely friendships are forged, feuds bubble in the laundry room, and everyone jostles for a seat at the Captain's table, they might find all their plans going overboard.... Warm, funny and uplifting, this is the perfect escapist read for fans of Gervase Phinn's Yorkshire novels, as well as readers of Celia Imrie, Alan Titchmarsh and Maeve Haran. '[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh

Childhood is a magical time, when every experience is new and fresh, and the world is awash with wonder and amazing adventures. Gervase's selection ranges from medieval times to the present day, and from famous figures to moving reminiscences from ordinary people with a powerful tale to tell.

This is Gervase Phinn's third collection of children's insightful observations, amusing remarks and impossible-to-answer questions.

This entertaining volume of verse for the very young is the perfect introduction to poetry. It includes poems about everything that is important to children: animals, family, food - and some very good jokes. Jane Eccles' humorous and wacky illustrations perfectly complement this lively and amusing collection. Complete with Audio CD to aid independent reading.

Rich in language, humour and rhyme, this hilarious tale is perfectly complemented by Amanda Montgomery-Higham's witty illustrations. Lizzie and Dominic desperately want a kitten but they get much more than they bargain for! Complete with Audio CD to aid independent reading.

'[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing.' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh 'A shining light in our dark days' - 5 STAR reader review After an eventful start to his first ever teaching post in the sleepy village of Risingdale, Tom Dwyer is hoping for a bit of calm. Nursing a broken heart after a romantic disappointment, he just wants to keep his head down and get on with his job. But it is not to be. A beautiful London artist sets tongues wagging when she moves into the village, and her precocious yet frail son is in Tom's class. On top of that, his colleague's malicious ex-husband is back, determined to create mischief, and a tragedy on one of the winding country roads sends the village reeling. And all this alongside a class of children who still seem to know more about farming than fractions. With its colourful mix of characters both old and new and its many laugh-out-loud moments, Tales Out of School is a warm, humorous portrayal of life in a small Yorkshire village. Readers are loving TALES OUT OF SCHOOL: 'Loved it. So easy to read, lovely story, unforgettable characters.' - 5 STARS 'Brilliant!' - 5 STARS 'Could not put the book down. Gervase Phinn is an expert story teller.' - 5 STARS 'Such a relaxing and calming read' - 5 STARS 'I have been waiting for this sequel and it didn't disappoint.' - 5 STARS

'Miss, who's that funny man at the back of the classroom?'

So begins school-inspector Gervase Phinn's second year among the frankly spoken pupils and teachers of North Yorkshire. The sight of Gervase calmly getting out his notebook and pen provokes extreme reactions from children and adults alike. He finds himself unwillingly playing the stooge to Mrs Peterson's class of juniors, confronting a Mr Swan whose hunger for lunchtime exceeds his appetite for English and alarmingly disarmed by a pupil unsure whether he is 'learning' French or German.

But Gervase is far from daunted. He's still in pursuit of his dream girl - headteacher Christine Bentley, he is ready to brave the steely glare of the officious Mrs Savage and even feels up to helping Dr Gore organize the Feoffees - just as soon as someone tells him what they are!

This is a delectable second helping of hilarious tales from the man dubbed 'the James Herriot of schools'. It will have you laughing out loud.

‘Could you tell me how to spell “sex”, please?’

Gervase Phinn thinks he’s heard just about everything in his two years as a school inspector, but a surprising enquiry from an angelic six-year-old reminds him never to take the children for granted.

This year, however, he has a few important things on his mind besides the schools. His impending marriage to Christine Bentley, the prettiest headteacher for miles around, finding themselves somewhere to live in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales, and the chance of a promotion all generate their fair share of excitement, aided and abetted as usual by his colleagues in the office. But it’s in the classroom where Gervase faces his greatest challenge, keeping a straight face as teachers and children alike conspire to have him – and us – laughing out loud.

Escape to the country with Gervase Phinn's heartwarming tales of life as a school inspector in Yorkshire 'Gervase Phinn's memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms' Daily Telegraph ______ What's your name? I asked the child. 'Tequila,' she replied. I'm named after a drink.' 'Tequila Sunrise,' I murmured. 'No,' pouted the child. 'Tequila Braithwaite.' Now in his fourth year as an Inspector for English in the Yorkshire Dales, Gervase Phinn still relishes visiting the schools - whether an inner-city comprehensive fraught with difficulties or a small Dales Primary school where the main danger is one of closure. With endless good humour, he copes with the little surprises that occur round every corner. Some things never change: Mrs Savage roars, Connie rants, and Gervase's colleague in the office play verbal ping-pong. But all this can be put behind him each day when he returns home to his lovely wife, Christine, who is expecting their first baby. Up and Down in the Dales is charming montage of Gervase Phinn's experiences will keep you amused and will win a place in your heart. Gervase Phinn has an extraordinary talent to entertain, and the latest instalment to the Dale Series is heart-warming, wry and will make you laugh out loud.

Rich in language, humour and rhyme, this hilarious tale is perfectly complemented by Amanda Montgomery-Higham's witty illustrations. Lizzie and Dominic desperately want a kitten but they get much more than they bargain for!

'[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing.' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh Love is in the air in the little village of Barton-in-the-Dale. Anyone can see that Ashley Underwood and Emmet O'Malley are made for each other. They've just got to admit it to themselves . . . But as the saying goes, the course of true love never did run smooth. While romance blossoms on one side of the village, an angry young boy struggles to believe in love. But when tragedy strikes, he learns that comfort and care can come from the most unexpected of places. Meanwhile, head teacher Elisabeth Stirling faces a new challenge for the start of the school year. An eccentric teacher joins the staff, and there's also a worrying case of potential negligence to answer. In the village too, a puritanical new vicar stirs up trouble. But as always, mixed in with the drama there's plenty of gossip, laughter, friendship - and love - in Barton-in-the-Dale. Readers are loving A LESSON IN LOVE! 'When you pick up one of his books you don't want to put it down.' - 5 STARS 'A beautiful book.' - 5 STARS 'The best book ever.' - 5 STARS 'A charming, lovely book' - 5 STARS 'A great, colourful, packed-with-character read.' - 5 STARS

The third and final novel in the delightful Top of the Dales series from bestselling author Gervase Phinn. 'A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing.' - Alan Titchmarsh Change is afoot in the usually sleepy village of Risingdale. Gerald Gaunt, headmaster of the primary school for over thirty years, is retiring. It is the end of an era and Gerald hopes that his replacement will work with him to secure a bright, happy future for the school. But Mr Smart has his own ideas about how things should be run, and things start to become fraught very quickly. On top of this, the teachers have plenty of other dramas to contend with. Still dealing with a class of children who seem to understand agriculture better than arithmetic, Tom Dwyer is pining over Janette, his one-that-got-away. Meanwhile, his colleague Joyce Tranter's new marital bliss is shattered by the arrival of her husband's avaricious, scheming nephew. And elsewhere in the village, Sir Hedley's long-cherished plans for his future are jeopardised by the arrival back in his life of his bitter, desperate ex-wife. Can the residents of Risingdale pull together and achieve happiness against the odds? With a lively cast of characters both old and new and countless laugh-out-loud moments, A Class Act is a warm, enchanting portrayal of life in a small Yorkshire village. Readers are loving the Top of the Dales series: 'Loved it. So easy to read, lovely story, unforgettable characters.' - 5 STARS 'Brilliant!' - 5 STARS 'Could not put the book down. Gervase Phinn is an expert story teller.' - 5 STARS 'Such a relaxing and calming read' - 5 STARS 'I have been waiting for this sequel and it didn't disappoint.' - 5 STARS

Gervase Phinn is offered the post of County Inspector of Schools in North Yorkshire because of his good sense and lack of pretension. 'We don't put people on pedestals in Yorkshire', he's told, 'they nobbut want dustin'. As Gervase Phinn reveals in this warm and wonderfully humorous account, his first year was quite an educational experience.

He quickly learns that he must slow his pace and appreciate the beautiful countryside - 'Backwatersthwaite's been theer since time o' Vikings. It'll still be theer when thee finds it'. He meets some larger than life characters, from farmers and lords of the manor, to teaching nuns and eccentric caretakers. And, best of all, he discovers the endearing and disarming qualities of the Dales children, including the small boy who, when told he's not very talkative, answers: 'If I've got owt to say I says it, and if I've got owt to ask I asks it'.

With his keen ear for the absurd and sharp eye for the ludicrous, Gervase Phinn has delighted audiences with tales of his experiences as a school inspector. Now, for the first time, readers, can enjoy him too.

‘We’ve been baking in class today,
Would you like my last jam tart?
It’s funny how clean my hands are now.
They were dirty at the start!’

'[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing.' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh 'It's a small village is Barton-in-the-Dale, Mrs Stirling,' said the shopkeeper. 'You ought to know that by now. Nothing can be kept secret for too long. News travels fast.' In the little village of Barton-in-the-Dale, long-hidden secrets are bubbling to the surface. Ashley Underwood and Emmet O'Malley are set to tie the knot, when a revelation from the handsome Irishman's past returns to haunt him. The town's resident nosey-parker discovers some juicy gossip about the primary school's dishy new staff-member, and head teacher Elisabeth Stirling has a very special secret of her own. As the wedding day draws closer, brewing secrets threaten to boil over. But along with the skeletons tumbling out of the closet comes plenty of laughter, drama, friendship and love. One thing's for sure: for some, life in Barton-in-the-Dale will never be the same again. Readers are loving SECRETS AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE SCHOOL: 'Wonderful' - 5 STARS 'Perfect light summer reading' - 5 STARS 'Just as good as his previous book in the series.' - 5 STARS 'I so enjoy the trials and tribulations of this Yorkshire school. Gervase is a fine writer.' - 5 STARS 'It's like having a gossip with a good friend - a beautiful series of books.' - 5 STARS

For Gervase Phinn, growing old is not about a leisurely walk to the pub for a game of dominoes or snoozing in his favorite armchair. As this sparkling collection of his very best humorous writing shows, he may be "out of the woods" but he is certainly not "over the hill." Looking back over more than 60 years of family life, teaching, inspecting schools, writing, and public speaking, Gervase never fails to unearth humor, character, warmth, and wisdom from the most diverse of experiences, whether they be growing up in Rotherham with the most un-Yorkshirelike of names or describing why loud mobile phone users get his goat.
Brimming with nostalgia, gently mocking life's absurdities, never shy of an opinion, this is Gervase Phinn at his wittiest, twinkly-eyed best.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Stars is the second delightful collection of stories and poems from Gervase Phinn. Following on from the terrific success of A Wayne in a Manger, Gervase Phinn has collected together from his bestselling Dales books his favourite stories about children, and included some poems from his popular Puffin poetry books. In this humorously illustrated book, the stories have one thing in common - the wonderfully funny (and usually innocent) things that children say. What makes Naomi's granny wobble? What's the secret ingredient in Richard's jam tarts? What is Billy's unconventional method for making babies? Whether they are stories about children who cannot read very well but know the names of many breeds of sheep or children who are more privileged (coming to school in a Wolls-Woyce), they are simply delightful. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Stars is a heart-warming book will enchant you, as Gervase Phinn helps you look at life through a child's eyes - and that's quite a special thing. 'Gervase Phinn's memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms' Daily Telegraph Gervase Phinn is an author and educator from Rotherham who, after teaching for fourteen years in a variety of schools, moved to North Yorkshire to be a school inspector. He has written autobiographies, novels, plays, collections of poetry and stories, as well as a number of books about education. He holds five fellowships, honorary doctorates from Hull, Leicester and Sheffield Hallam universities, and is a patron of a number of children's charities and organizations. He is married with four adult children. His books include The Other Side of the Dale, Over Hill and Dale, Head Over Heels in the Dales, The Heart of the Dales, Up and Down in the Dales and Trouble at the Little Village School.