A dramatic and moving story set in the same world as the international bestseller The Island from the celebrated novelist Victoria Hislop. The absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony - is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith's rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.

A poetic, powerful story about a little brother and a big sister finding a new home and new hope after being rescued from a boat lost in the dark sea. A little brother and his big sister try their best to settle in a new home, where they have nothing left from before except each other. The little one makes new friends and quickly learns to laugh again but his sister remains haunted by the shadows of their past and hides away in their broken house. Trying to help his sister, the little one catches a butterfly for her and brings it inside the house. His sister knows that she needs to set the butterfly free ... but that would mean going outside. In taking the first steps to face her fears and save the butterfly, she also begins the process of saving herself.

A poetic, powerful story about a little brother and a big sister finding a new home and new hope after being rescued from a boat lost in the dark sea. A little brother and his big sister try their best to settle in a new home, where they have nothing left from before except each other. The little one makes new friends and quickly learns to laugh again but his sister remains haunted by the shadows of their past and hides away in their broken house. Trying to help his sister, the little one catches a butterfly for her and brings it inside the house. His sister knows that she needs to set the butterfly free ... but that would mean going outside. In taking the first steps to face her fears and save the butterfly, she also begins the process of saving herself.

An enchanting and heart-warming story between a father and son, that will make you want to reach for stars. Joe wants to find a way to the stars. With the help of his dad, he builds a ladder, a tower, even a rocket to go up, up, up… Oh no! Crash, bang, wallop! What next? Together, the pair jump on pogo sticks and build sheds to paint their dreams and find a way. An uplifting and magical tale of sky-high courage, imagination and the bond between father and son that will make your heart soar. Written by internationally acclaimed author David Almond and brought to glorious life by award-winning illustrator Gill Smith in their first collaboration.

A dramatic and moving story set in the same world as the international bestseller The Island from the celebrated novelist Victoria Hislop.

The absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga – Greece's former leper colony – is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith's rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.

This is the 2nd anthology of short stories by the author. It explores the hopes, fears, imaginings and reactions of people - ordinary people - who find themselves in strange situations. Have they brought events on themselves? Are they the unwitting victims of circumstance - or even the playthings of the supernatural? The stories move with a measured pace, painting pictures in physical and metaphysical dimensions.

This is a collection of three stories for teenagers - full of magic, mystery and excitement. The Cornwall location provides a setting of rocky cliffs, deserted quarries, storm-beaten shores and the ever-changing face of the sea. The first story introduces a time long ago when four Spirit Lords fought over the fate of mankind. The second story provides a haunting glimpse of a forgotten tragedy. The third story tells of the adventures of two boys and the secrets they find on a Cornish beach. Children feature in each story, rising to the challenge of the strange events and haunting situations they find themselves in. The stories, the characters and the vivid descriptions of the Cornish landscape will entertain and leave a lasting impression.

This is a psychological novel, exploring the way in which the lives of a number of people interact, causing them to confront truths about themselves. Woven through these episodes is a story about wartime events and the way they have affected the lives of the protagonists. There is also a supernatural theme, with the shadowy figure of Athar standing in the wings and influencing events. A man dies, a murder is committed, revenge is taken on an unrepentant wartime general....Old secrets about the war come out and cause some to re-evaluate their own histories. But the core of the action is in the way the characters move through their lives and come to some sort of enlightenment.

This book was created as a series of stories for children aged 2-8 years. It uses the animal characters to describe everyday issues, explore the challenges and problems of growing up and take the reader through a series of adventures involving the very existence of dragons and wizards in the face of the troubles in the Far Lands. Jasper is the main character who grows in courage and wisdom throughout the book - learning to fly, coping with a new sister, braving the dangers of the Far Lands. His mentor is Magnus the Magnificent - a bumbling magician who gets his spells wrong sometimes but has the moral strength and skill to overcome the scariest dangers. Cyril the owl also keeps a friendly eye on Jasper, taking him to task when he doesn't live up to his potential. And each animal adds a dimension to the stories - Little Long Legs (the giraffe) is gentle and unassuming; Bing and Bong (the hedgehogs) are anxious parents, struggling to restrain their unruly son, Little Doodle; Tick and Tock (the mice) are hard-working and resourceful; Phyllis (the cow) is motherly; Sid the frog is a bit of a dare-devil; Wayne and Warren (the rabbits) are happy-go-lucky; Andrew Tortoise is a worrier; Granville the dog is an innate performer, and Moley is a good sort who is always ready to help. Children will enjoy the characters and the story lines. They will identify with Jasper's difficulties - like the time he has a bad day and everything he does makes it worse And they'll enjoy the humour of the animals making a circus - the mice doing bare-back riding on Little Long Legs' back, Sid doing a Great Plunge from the top of the tent into a bowl of water and Granville and Little Doodle being clowns (so that they can throw water over everyone ). The story of the Music Festival is even more surreal - Magnus shows he has a softer side and Jasper's Uncle Desmond looks out his old bagpipes So there are laughs and anxious moments, things to make a child smile and issues for them to ponder over. And lots and lots of charming colour drawings to bring the characters to life. Parents will enjoy reading the bedtime story - the gentle humour and unexpected story lines are fun for reading aloud.