Welcome to the Island of Struay, home of one of the best-loved characters in children’s books and as seen on TV – Katie Morag McColl!

Everyone is excited about the new ballet and tap classes. Everyone, that is, except Katie Morag! But the two grandmothers have decided – she will go to ballet and she will wear a frilly skirt! What is Katie Morag going to do?

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Number One bestseller Giraffes Can’t Dance from author Giles Andreae has been delighting children for over 20 years. Gerald the tall giraffe would love to join in with the other animals at the Jungle Dance, but everyone knows that giraffes can’t dance . . . or can they?

A funny, touching and triumphant picture book story about a giraffe who finds his own tune and confidence too, with joyful illustrations from Guy Parker Rees and a foiled cover.

… wonderfully funny. – Independent

A fantastically funny and wonderfully colourful romp of a picture book. All toddlers should grow up reading this or hearing their parents read it aloud to them. – Daily Telegraph

A joyful read about an outsider who finds acceptance on his own terms…. there’s also a simple moral about tolerance and daring to be different. – Junior

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July, 1936. As the Queen Mary sets sail across the Atlantic, Alice can’t wait for the summer of adventure that lies ahead. She’s excited to explore the huge ship, with its shops, animals and even celebrities on board.

As Alice’s sailor father focuses on winning a prestigious race, she witnesses a shocking attack. Alice and her new friend Sonny start to uncover a dark plot to sabotage the race, and as they investigate gold bars, anonymous notes and lost silk gloves, secrets in their own lives come to the surface.

While fog threatens the boat’s journey, and dangerous enemies show themselves, Alice and Sonny are in their own race to solve all the mysteries unfolding. But what they discover might change both their lives forever…

Praise for A.M. Howell:
WINNER OF THE MAL PEET CHILDREN’S AWARD
WINNER OF THE EAST ANGLIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR
A SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

“Howell is a hypnotically readable writer, who keeps the pulse racing, while allowing every character slowly to unravel.” The Telegraph

“Gripping plot as well as authentic historical detail.” The Daily Mail

“Fans of Emma Carroll will adore this historical tale of derring-do and righted wrongs.” The Times

“Atmospheric, full of period detail, and most importantly, thrilling.” The i

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A high-energy, laugh-out-loud, fully illustrated adventure story by much-loved actor Stephen Mangan and talented artist Anita Mangan.

“Laugh-out-loud stuff” Ray D’Arcy

It’s the most important day of the year for King Fabian as he is hosting all the neighbouring rulers. Everything simply must go perfectly.

King Fabian wakes up, stretches, and…

farts.

His wife’s fury is so huge that he panics and blames the butler, who is carted off to the dungeons. Leaving behind a big problem: Fabian isn’t really the brains behind the crown: it is the butler… how will dithery Fabian manage to pull off this high-pressure event alone? His small and smelly fart looks like it will kick off a crisis…

Frank – a kitchen boy with a big imagination – is drafted in as an emergency butler. As the banquet descends into a food fight and processions catapult out of control, Frank finds himself in an all-out farty farce. Can he save the day?

• Wildly funny and endlessly surprising, this is delightfully imaginative, surreal storytelling with a message that small events can trigger big change, and children can be heroes!
• Packed with pictures by Stephen Mangan’s sister Anita Mangan.
• Escape the Rooms is one of the most loved and bestselling children’s debuts of 2021.

Stephen and Anita Mangan are comic dynamite.

Praise for Stephen and Anita’s books:

Escape the Rooms:

“A brilliant, clever, kind of genius book” Graham Norton, Virgin Radio

‘Richly imagined and deeply heartfelt’ Hadley Freeman, Guardian

‘Manages to feel both classic and modern at the same time’ Good Housekeeping

‘A beautiful and exciting adventure that ignites the imagination’ Edith Bowman

The Fart That Changed the World

“A sure-fire way for kids to entertain themselves. What’s more, it’s also excellent for reading aloud” LoveReading4Kids

“A high-energy, brilliantly imaginative and laugh-out-loud tale that is guaranteed to blow away young readers” Lancashire Evening Post

The Unlikely Rise of Harry Sponge

“After the runaway success of joint debut novel, Escape the Rooms, and the hilarious The Fart That Changed the World, the dynamic duo return with an all-action, marvellously manic and laugh-out-loud tale with a message that any child can be a hero” Lancashire Evening Post

“hilarious … A right royal romp” First News

ABOUT THE MANGANS

Stephen Mangan is an author, script-writer and actor with huge range across TV, radio, film and theatre. From classic comedy such as Green Wing,Episodes and I’m Alan Partridge and acclaimed drama such as The Split, Stephen also presentsPortrait and Landscape Artist of the Year and regularly appears on stage, most recently as a highly praised Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Stephen also voiced the title role in Postman Pat: The Movie. He has been a member of the judging panels for the Costa Book of the Year prize and The Laugh-Out-Loud Awards (The Lollies). His children’s books are the bestselling Escape the Rooms and The Fart that Changed the World.

Stephen on writing for children (interview on ITV’s Lorraine):
“Every page has to grip them, make them laugh, be interesting because they can drop it. There are screens everywhere that they can pick up. That’s part of the reason why I started writing books because I had such fun as a kid reading books. I always had my head in a book. I wanted to write books that were unputdownable for children, that were full of adventure and crazy big characters and made them laugh.”

Anita Mangan is a celebrated graphic designer and illustrator who has designed over 60 books including for Leon Restaurants, Gizzi Erskine and Fearne Cotton. She illustrated the best-selling Be a Unicorn series. Her first children’s book was the bestselling Escape the Rooms.

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2017 will see an auspicious alignment of anniversaries. J. K. Rowling’s world-beating debut novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone turns 20 this year and Itchy Coo, celebrating 15 years in the book trade, will publish a Scots version of this classic text – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stane. The novel has already been translated into a staggering 79 languages – Itchy Coo’s Scots translation will be language number 80.

Since 2002, Itchy Coo has been wowing young readers and challenging old attitudes with bold new translations of books by Roald Dahl, Julia Donaldson, David Walliams, Alexander McCall Smith, A.A. Milne, Asterix and others – and done it all in the wonderful Scots language which has the power to engage, excite and entertain readers of all ages. Matthew Fitt’s forthcoming Scots translation of J.K. Rowling’s phenomenal adventure story will break new ground and earn a place in hearts of young Scots readers and Harry Potter fans alike.

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The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.

Parr’s message about the importance of embracing our differences is delivered in a playful way. With his trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes, this book will encourage children to ask questions about their own families. Perfect for young children just beginning to read, The Family Book is designed to encourage early literacy, enhance emotional development, celebrate multiculturalism, promote character growth, and strengthen family relationships

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