It was an ordinary morning when the ordinary boy woke up, and it was an ordinary journey to school - but then Mr Gee bounced into the classroom and everything changed. Mr Gee plays rousing music which thunders around the classroom, and asks what it makes them think of. The dull grey world has been transformed into one of colour and excitement. 'Write a story about it!' laughs Mr Gee. And the ordinary boy began to write: the words just tumbled out of him pell-mell. And the places he went to, and the things he saw were extraordinary!

Travel 20,000 years into the past and discover what life as a caveman was like in this prehistoric picture book by a prodigiously talented artist. One day a little boy is walking along when he trips, stumbles and falls ... into the Stone Age! He meets a girl his own age and her tribe, and learns all about their way of life. He watches them make tools, clothes and weapons. He sees how they hunt, fish, cook, celebrate - and even how they paint on the walls of caves. But when a furious cave bear attacks, he wakes up back in his own time where everyone tells him it was only a dream. But was it?

When Lily takes a walk with her dog Nicky, she notices many lovely things. But poor Nicky only sees monsters lurking at every turn... By interpreting the pictures, the reader can understand that Nicky's fears are only imaginary. This funny and gently scary picture book was originally published in the 1980s and has now become a classic. The clever concept and humour will delight both children and their parents, and help little ones to conquer their nightmares.

It's a dark and stormy night and Toby cannot sleep. The whole house seems to be tossing and turning like a ship in the middle of the ocean...and soon Toby enters a fantasy world where he is indeed at sea, caught up in a strange and wild adventure. Luckily, Toby's cat makes up the crew of his ship, and together they chart a course through the storm and fend off a giant sea monster - with the last minute help of a mystery submarine which comes to their aid. But hang on, the submarine is manned by his Grandma and Grandpa! Soon they are back in the safety of the harbour, ready for breakfast - but lift the flap for one last surprise! Dramatic and surreal, there is danger and bravery with a large dose of the surreal, and lots more to notice on every re-read.

Millie loves hats, but she has no money and she can't afford to buy any of the lovely hats in town. But the man in the hat shop has an idea. He produces a box containing a hat too fine and beautiful to behold, but with the most perfect shape and colour imaginable, if Millie dares to imagine it. Millie does dare, and soon she can not only see her own beautiful hat, but everyone else's hats as well.

A simple text where a visit to an art show causes a girl to imagine what the world would be like if it was wholly yellow, red or blue. Realising that the world actually consists of all the colours of the rainbow, she paints lots of multicoloured pieces of art herself. Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language. Text type - A simple non-fiction text. A gallery story map on pages 14 and 15 pictures the different stages of the girl's thought-processes for children to discuss. Curriculum links - Art and Design: Self-portrait.Science: How we see things. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

A powerful picture book about communicating emotions and relating to fellow creatures, from an award-winning duo. Creature-of-No-Words lives a happy life on his own, but one day he gets a feeling like 'the chill touch of ice' and nothing can lift his sadness. Just then Creature-of-Words arrives and senses his despair. How can she help him communicate and become happy again? Age range 3 to 6 Of 'The Young Inferno' by the same author and artist: 'The words are from the extraordinary John Agard whose inventive verse is a constant wonder. Add the delights of artwork by Satoshi Kitamura and the whole book is inspired and tremendous; a total triumph.' School Librarian

Funny, thought-provoking and bursting with curiosity, Wise Up! Wise Down! is a lively conversation between two internationally renowned poets, illustrated by treasured artist Satoshi Kitamura. How can laughter be more powerful than a sword? Why do days have names but not weeks? And do pigeons ever get a craving for cake? Two friends, internationally acclaimed poets John Agard and JonArno Lawson, take us on an inspiring, hilarious and wonderous journey through poetry, asking questions and attempting answers as they discover that life really is a forever and ever adventure.

It's a dark and stormy night and Toby cannot sleep. The whole house seems to be tossing and turning like a ship in the middle of the ocean and soon Toby enters a fantasy world where he is indeed at sea, caught up in a strange and wild adventure. Luckily, Toby's cat makes up the crew of his ship, and together they chart a course through the storm and fend off a giant sea monster - with the last minute help of a mystery submarine which comes to their aid. But hang on, the submarine is manned by his Grandma and Grandpa! Soon they are back in the safety of the harbour, ready for breakfast - but lift the flap for one last surprise! Dramatic and surreal, there is danger and bravery with a large dose of the surreal, and lots more to notice on every re-read.

Age range 0 to 6 Hattie the rabbit conjures an amazing succession of animals out of her hat, and for a grand finale produces a wonderful habitat where they can all live. Bigger and bigger animals start appearing and before each page turn is a visual clue as to who will pop out of the hat next. `A masterfully crafted story for tots, impeccable in its apparent simplicity, yet with all the elements of tension, resolution and surprise needed in a good story. Perfection!' - Carousel 'Rhythm, rhyme, tongue-twisters and a colourful explosion of animals are all delivered with a magical flourish. A perfect book for sharing!' - Alison Brumwell, Storytime Prize judge

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level In these two animal stories from the Caribbean, find out in the first why Tiger wanted to get rid of all the other animals and keep the jungle for himself and what clever Anansi did about it, and in the second how shy Owl nearly lost everything because he didn't have the courage to show his face. Topaz/Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate. Text type: Two stories from another culture. The feelings roller coaster for Owl on pages 30-31 help children to discuss the different emotions addressed in the story. Curriculum links: Geography: Passport to the world; Citizenship: Living in a diverse world; ICT: Combining text and graphics. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

A wonderful anthology of poetry by award winning poets John Agard and Grace Nichols, brought to life with beautiful illustrations by Satoshi Kitamura. Purple/Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language, with some challenging vocabulary. Text type: A poetry book. An illustration on pages 22 and 23 encourages children to recap the poems they have read in the anthology. Curriculum links: Art and Design: Portraying relationships; Music: Play it again - exploring rhythmic patterns; Citizenship: Living in a diverse world

From the mysterious power of the decimal point to the oddity of odd numbers, fun and wonder are the essence of these remarkable poems. The winner of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry takes us through the delight and silliness maths has to offer. Subjects range from the title poem in which Einstein's number-loving parents persuade her of the fun they have with maths, to poems about the magic number nine, the power of the decimal point, and the ancient Inca counting device the Quipo.

A wonderful new anthology of poems by winner of the Queens Medal and the Eleanor Farjeon Award, 2016

Do triangles

ever get into a tangle

when their sides meet their angles?

A wonderful new children's poetry collection, from a celebrated, award-winning poet. From nature and science to identity, prepare to be transported on a journey through past and present. This collection from John Agard, winner of the Queens Medal and the Eleanor Farjeon Award, explores the wonders of the world - inviting your child to ponder life's questions with lots of fun along the way!

Winner of the Mother Goose Award and the original anger management book, now with reading guide from charity ACTION FOR CHILDREN to celebrate 40 years of publication. 'Powerful... I'd like to have written or illustrated a book as perfect as Angry Arthur.' Max Porter, GUARDIAN 'Kitamura is one of the world's most original and stylish children's illustrators.' SUNDAY TIMES Arthur wants to stay up late and watch TV, and when his mum says no, Arthur gets very angry. His anger becomes a storm cloud, a hurricane, an earthquake that has shockwaves in space. What will help Arthur calm down? The original anger management book, Angry Arthur has been helping frustrated children and exasperated parents for almost 40 years!

Lionel was invited to a party but he faces a big problem: his hair looks horrible! Thus he and his hairdresser undergo through several haircuts from the bird nest style for a garden party down to the spaghetti style for a dinner party. They finally find the perfect haircut, which will turn Lionel into the party's soul.

From water-vapour to robots and outer-space to water, this highly original collection from John Agard, winner of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, explores everything exciting about science. Delighting in the wonder and oddities physics, biology and chemistry have to offer, these poems will bring out the scientist in you!