Book picks similar to
Cracking Codes by Diana Kimpton


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My Secret Diary


Jacqueline Wilson - 2009
    Read extracts from her real secret teenage diaries and the stories she wrote as a teenager, to build up a fascinating picture of a real teenager and her inner life. Covering issues as diverse as the songs she danced to and the way she created beehive hairdos to her troubled school life and her parents' problematic relationship.This follows on from the massive success of Jacky Daydream, her first memoir. Written in Jacqueline's usual and inimitable style, this will be fascinating reading for her fans, and for anyone who's interested in life in the UK in the Fifties and Sixties.

The Upstairs Room


Johanna Reiss - 1972
    Annie de Leeuw was eight years old in 1940 when the Germans attacked Holland and marched into the town of Winterswijk where she lived. Annie was ten when, because she was Jewish and in great danger of being captured by the invaders, she and her sister Sini had to leave their father, mother, and older sister Rachel to go into hiding in the upstairs room of a remote farmhouse.Johanna de Leeuw Reiss has written a remarkably fresh and moving account of her own experiences as a young girl during World War II. Like many adults, she was innocent of the German plans for Jews, and she might have gone to a labor camp as scores of families did. "It won't be for long and the Germans have told us we'll be treated well," those families said. "What can happen?" They did not know, and they could not imagine... but millions of Jews found out.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch


Jean Lee Latham - 1955
    Nathaniel Bowditch grew up in a sailor’s world—Salem in the early days, when tall-masted ships from foreign ports crowded the wharves. But Nat didn’t promise to have the makings of a sailor; he was too physically small. Nat may have been slight of build, but no one guessed that he had the persistence and determination to master sea navigation in the days when men sailed only by “log, lead, and lookout.” Nat’s long hours of study and observation, collected in his famous work, The American Practical Navigator (also known as the “Sailors’ Bible”), stunned the sailing community and made him a New England hero.

Bucket List of an Idiot


Dom Harvey - 2012
    No two bucket lists are the same, but each list has the same ultimate goal—to make the list maker feel like they are doing something useful with their life instead of just sitting around, writing lists, and watching Morgan Freeman movies. Dom had seen some of those lists and they looked so difficult that he wondered whether dying would be a better option than actually ticking off the items. "I am a paid-up life-member of a place called the comfort zone. People always go on about the importance of getting out of your comfort zone. Not me. Any day I can stay inside it is a good day. All of which makes it a bit odd that I decided to complete a bucket list of my own. Not just any bucket list though. This is a reverse bucket list—a bunch of stuff that I could have happily passed away without ever doing—stuff like getting a tattoo I'd instantly regret, arm wrestling a professional rugby player, and being the model for a life drawing class—and I recruited some of my closest family and friends to compile it for me. In hindsight, this was a bad idea. But here it is—my pain, discomfort, and humiliation for your pleasure."

Where's Waldo?


Martin Handford - 1987
    And now readers can also search for Woof, Wenda, Wizard Whitebeard, Odlaw, and much more—all newly added to this special edition!

A Little House Sampler: A Collection of Early Stories and Reminiscenses


William Anderson - 1988
    This charming collection of early stories contains many never before published newspaper pieces, stories and essays by Laura Ingalls and Rose Wilder. Inspiring the popular series, these works are a vivid and personal testament to American life and history as seen by two remarkable pioneers.

Children's Miscellany: Useless Information That's Essential to Know


Matthew Morgan - 2004
    Whether you want to know how to beat an alligator in a fight, ways to speak in secret code, which insects are edible, or what the heck scolionophobia means, this is the book for readers both young and old.

Happy Horsemanship


Dorothy Henderson Pinch - 1966
    My name in Latin is Equus. From this name comes the word ‘equine’ which means something to do with a horse, and the word ‘equestrian,’ which means one who rides a horse.” With this, Happy Horsemanship starts you and your child on a most wonderful journey. Told from the point of view of the horse, this little gem introduces every aspect of riding and caring for horses—from body to mind, from tack to riding position.

I Am Pusheen the Cat


Claire Belton - 2013
    Birthday: February 18Sex: Female Where she lives: In the house, on the couch, underfootHer favorite pastime: Blogging, sleepingHer best feature: Her toe beans Her favorite food: All of themPusheen is a pleasantly plump cat who has warmed hearts and tickled funny bones of millions worldwide with her signature GIF animated bops, bounces, and tail wiggles. Now, Pusheen is ready to make the leap from digital to print in her first comic collection! Learn what makes her purr and find out why millions of people have already fallen in love with this naughty, adorable kitty. Featuring some of the most popular stories from Pusheen’s Tumblr and Facebook pages (plus a healthy serving of never-before-seen material), I Am Pusheen the Cat is a treat for cat lovers and comics fans alike.

Greek Myths: Meet the Heroes and Heroines, Monsters and Gods of Ancient Greece


Jean Menzies - 2020
    Perfect for children aged 7 to 9, this collection contains more than 30 enthralling new retellings of favourite myths as well as some you might not have heard before.Including Theseus and the Minotaur, The 12 labours of Herakles, and the escapades of Jason and the Argonauts, each myth is told in engaging modern language, which is easy for children to understand yet still retains the humour and intrigue of the original tales. Stunning illustrations by multi-award winning artist Katie Ponder breathe new life into each classic story.Additional feature pages delve deeper into the mythical world, providing profiles of the gods and a map detailing Odysseus' long voyage home from the Trojan War. The reference section provides key background information, such as Ancient Greek storytelling and the incredible beasts of the myths, and a pronunciation guide.Greek Myths is the perfect gift, featuring foil on the cover and beautiful illustrations throughout. Children will love exploring the tales by themselves or as bedtime stories. It will be treasured forever.

Soccer


Hugh Hornby - 1960
    This stunning guide to the international sport of soccer features full-color photographs of players in action, soccer uniforms, equipment and memorabilia present a unique picture of the game and the people who play it.

Everybody Needs a Rock


Byrd Baylor - 1974
    Everybody needs a rock -- at least that's the way this particular rock hound feels about it in presenting her own highly individualistic rules for finding just the right rock for you.

Star Crazy Me


Jean Ure - 2008
    She has a great voice, has taught herself to play the guitar, and writes her own songs with help from her friend Josh. The school is having a contest for would-be pop stars, and Carmen eagerly puts her name on the list. But when Carmen hears a spiteful girl at her school make comments about her weight, she stays home from school and swears she is never going back.

The Walkaway Shoes and Other Stories


Enid Blyton - 1998
    Contents:- The Walkaway Shoes- The Poor Little Sparrow- Oh, Sammy!- The Tail of Bup the Bunny- The Clockwork Mouse- The Dog with the Very Long Tail- Pipkin Plays a Trick- Muddy-One and Pranky- Biddy's Toys- The Three Bad Boys- The Wizard's Pink Cloak- The Six Little Motor-Cars- The Quick Kite- Lazy Little Pimmy- A Lame Duck and a Stile- Let's Pass It On!

Shrek 2


Jesse Leon McCann - 2004
    Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey are trying to live "happily ever after" but it isn't easy, and you can get in on all the fun just by reading this book.Shrek and Fiona return from their honeymoon to find Donkey living happily in Shrek's house in the swamp. Before they can discover the reason why, a herald from the Kingdom of Far, Far Away arrives with an invitation. Fiona's parents, the King and Queen, want to meet her Prince Charming. But the reunion does not go smoothly. With the addition of a Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming, and a fierce ogre-hunter named Puss-in-Boots, chaos ensues. Join your fairy tale favorites for a hilarious adventure that proves that nothing is quite what it seems and that living happily ever after isn't easy.