Dear D.J. Lucas,

My uncle bought me one of your books for Christmas. It's called "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Boy?" I want to be a writer. I want to write a story now. Please will you help me?

Love from Max

And so begins Max's funny correspondence with his favorite author, the world-famous D.J. Lucas. What follows is a touching tale about imagination, friendship, storytelling, and sharing secrets.

** Winner of the Children's Book Award - Gold ** ** Runner-up for the Smarties Prize ** 'Simple but ingenious' Sunday Telegraph Shhh! You are about to enter a giant's castle. Be very quiet. Can you get through the book without waking up the enormous scary giant? What will you do if he wakes up? Why shut the book of course! An interactive retelling of a classic fairy tale with flaps and peepholes that will keep children hooked! From the bestselling, award-winning author Sally Grindley, this is the perfect book for reading aloud and sharing together. Adored by children around the world for nearly 30 years! 'This book is FANTASTIC for storytime with a group of children. It's great to read it with inflection, pretending to be scared of the giant and telling the kids to SHHH!' Goodreads reviewer 'With its understated text and imaginative artwork, this unusual work draws readers into story and setting in a way that few picture books can' Publishers Weekly 'I have worked in a pre-school for 24 years and this is by far their favourite book. The children sit there quietly and as you read the book they are hooked!' Amazon reviewer

When her husband dies, Lu Si-yan's mother is encouraged to sell her young daughter into domestic service. Lu Si-yan is just eleven when sold by her uncle. Nearly two years will pass before she can get back home to her mother and brother. In this powerful and compelling novel Sally Grindley portrays the life of a young girl in China, a young girl whose life is said to be like 'spilled water'. With a brilliant first-person narrative and a powerful description of time and place, this novel is gripping, heart-wrenching and utterly mesmerising.

Pascal's life is like any other boy's as he worries about his English classes and his football skills - until the day rebels come to his village and everything changes. On the run with friends, Pascal finds himself at the mercy of some tough events. But it is not until he ends up working in a cocoa plantation that he realises he must endeavour to find his family and to set himself free of his enslavement. Armed only with his determination, and supported by his friend, Kojo, Pascal has a difficult battle ahead of him.

Discover the remarkable life of Jesus with DK's collection of child-friendly stories from the New Testament Introduce your children to stories of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, from his birth in a stable in Bethlehem to his crucifixion, death, and miraculous resurrection. What was he like as a boy? How did he start to preach? What is the meaning of the parable of the Good Samaritan? How did he feed five thousand and calm storms? All major events of Jesus's life are told in 26 stories, revealing how he reached so many people through his preaching, healing, forgiveness, and miracles. Drawing on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, this child-friendly introduction to the Bible's New Testament is sure to inspire and educate! Within this book of Bible stories you will find: -Original quotes from the Bible and extracts from the New Testament -An easy-to-read narrative voice, perfect for speaking aloud in Sunday schools and Bible study groups -Vibrant watercolour illustrations bringing the people and lands of Jesus's time to life -Background information and context about key Biblical figures Filled with engaging and enjoyable Bible tales to get kids excited about religion, this charming book is the perfect gift for a first communion or family baptism. Accompanied by rich illustrations, children can follow the book by themselves, or read aloud to parents and grandparents. So if you're looking for an age-appropriate introduction to the New Testament then look no further. Reading this book will interest young minds and bring the Bible to vivid, colourful life!

Meet Fafa the turtle, Douka the lively ladybird, Moumou the bouncy frog and Outi the cuddly seal, in the first stories to be based on Al Jazeera Children's Channel's favourite TV characters.

A boy's toy tiger turns into a real tiger in the middle of the night. The boy and the tiger leap out of the window and into a beautifully-illustrated adventure. The tiger whisks the boy away to the beautiful jungle of his homeland. But danger awaits them - will they make it back, or will the tiger lose one of his nine lives trying to escape? Oxford Reading Tree Story Sparks is an emotionally-engaging fiction series that will fire children's imaginations. These 36 original stories will get children thinking, and develop and deepen their comprehension skills. The variety of authors and illustration styles broadens children's reading experience, with something to appeal to every child. All the books in the series are carefully levelled, so it's easy to match every child to the right book for them. They also contain inside cover notes, to enable parents and teachers to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.

"Dear D.J.,

We saw my uncle Derek in a play at Christmas. He was so funny, Mum had tears rolling down her cheeks.

Now I want to write a really funny play to make her laugh some more.

Please, will you help me?

Love from Max"

And so continues MaxAs funny correspondence with his favorite author, D.J. Lucas. As Max reveals his secrets and worries, a story about love, sharing, and growing up begins to emerge.

"Bravo, Max!" will have fans cheering for Max all over again!

Pedro's adored sea shore is teeming with wildlife but then one night his special place is devastated by the oil from a crashed tanker. The rescue operation and restoration of life on the coast is sensitively told by Sally Grindley and beautifully captured with Michael Foreman's powerful artwork. The first edition of this timeless picture book will stir passionate responses from readers of all ages.