Far out to sea and deep below the whispering waves lives a merman called Nen. Nen spends his days exploring his underwater kingdom, but something is missing: his heart is empty. So, Nen ventures to the forbidden world above and it is here that he meets Ernest, a lonely fisherman. But can two people from different worlds be together and what will happen when a terrifying storm gathers? A lyrical, beautiful celebration of love, acceptance and faith, with a gentle message about how we treat our oceans, and each other.

Rory loves his dad, but he also really likes his step-dad, Tony. He has weekends with Dad in the park and makes imaginary dens with Tony, so when Father's Day comes, who should he make his card for at school? Spotting his frustration, Tony spends his 'rainy-day pennies' to take Rory somewhere new - an ART GALLERY, full of wonders. As they pause to reflect in a huge room of rectangles, Rory sees his conflicting feelings glistening back at him in many powerful colours. Afterwards, a 'chance' encounter with Dad, under a red sky, helps Rory realise that he doesn't have to feel torn at all,

Violet's world has changed. Her voice has gone from a giggle to a whisper. So when her teacher casts her in the school play, she is filled with worry. How will she ever stand in front of a crowd and overcome her shyness? With the love and support of her family, Violet must find her inner confidence and turn that whisper into a roar!

A Polari-Prize-winning author presents an unforgettable story about a boy facing up to bullying - and his own truths. James loves dancing, poetry, and Mariah Carey (not in that order, though, because Mariah would obviously be first!). His teacher, Mr Hamilton, is getting married to his boyfriend and it seems that James will be part of a surprise choir performance at the wedding. But James's father seems uncomfortable about the plan, and a lot of other things - like any mention of Mr Hamilton, and James's dancing, and how James talks about his new friend Joel. Meanwhile, a different boy has been harassing James at school and calling him gay, and it's getting worse every day. James can find relief with his beloved Nan, she's been having worrying falls, and James can't tell anyone, or she might be sent to a faraway care home. The secrets are building up, and James is starting to lose his characteristic spark. Can he find the strength to let the truth out? A joyful, raw and timely novel about family, friends, enemies, and being true to who you really are. Perfect for fans of Alex Gino, A.M. Dassu, and The Boy At the Back of the Class. Ian Eagleton is the author of Nen and the Lonely Fisherman, which was shortlisted for The Bookseller's Book Of The Year - Discovery Category 2022

The Oxford Reading Tree Story Sparks Levels 1-5 Handbook has been designed to help you get the most from this emotionally-engaging fiction series. It contains valuable advice and resources to develop children's comprehension skills alongside learning to decode, and enhances enjoyment of the 36 appealing stories at Oxford Levels 1 to 5. The Handbook includes: * 72 photocopiable activity sheets to develop comprehension skills (2 activity sheets per book) * Advice on the importance of variety fiction and wordless books * Advice on the importance of good quality comprehension * Support for guided and independent reading * A suggested teaching sequence * Information for parents to help you achieve successful home-school links. Find inspirational support for teachers' professional development, plus free teaching notes and eBooks at www.oxfordprimary.co.uk.

A touching tale of love, loss and making memories. Millie has always wanted a dog, but when her grandmother passes away, she finds herself scared of letting anyone (or any dog) in. Can her dads help her find the perfect pup to teach her to love again?