Book picks similar to
Mortimer and Arabel by Joan Aiken


childrens
children-s-books
fantasy
fiction

Krazy Kow Saves the World - Well, Almost


Jeremy Strong - 2002
    He’s trying to make a film starring the Kow as she battles against the Dark Contaminator. But first he has to cope with a few little problems, like exploding strawberries, rampaging toddlers and hostile football fans. After this, saving the world should be a doddle!

The Boy Who Climbed Into the Moon


David Almond - 2010
    There’s Mabel, who now calls herself Molly and whose brother hides under a paper bag. Then there’s Clarence, the poodle who thinks he can fly. But the strangest notion of all is Paul’s. You see, Paul believes that the moon is not the moon but a great hole in the sky. And he knows that sausages are better than war. How on earth (or not) will he find out if he is bonkers or a genius? With a few equally bonkers (or genius) helpers and a very long ladder, that’s how! From a master of magical realism and a celebrated artist comes another delightfully outrageous expedition.

The Pranksters Club: The Wimpy Kid Takeover


J.C. Foster - 2014
    And how can that get any worse for this Wimpy Kid? By finding out that you’re getting the meanest teacher in the school this year AND she just moved down the street.Leave it up to Connor, Max and Milo to turn the miserable first week of school into the biggest and most exciting party ever. All while avoiding the bully squad, outsmarting Molly, the teacher’s pet and staying one step ahead of Mr. Mooger, the principal.But everything is not as it seems and the three soon find out that they haven’t been the only one’s pulling pranks.Join Connor, Max and Milo on their new adventures in middle school, watch them out smart the bullies and stay one step ahead of the teachers. This illustrated book is a humorous and fun ride through middle school, never knowing what's just around the corner or under your seat. Connor's Diary of the Wimpy Kids in his prankster's club will keep you guessing and laughing out loud.Also Available: The Pranksters' Club: Ripped - Book 2 of the Series

The Land of Green Ginger


Noel Langley - 1937
    This beloved classic is a funny, clever, and original novel that opens with Aladdin, now Emperor of China, trying to decide what to name his new son, a child who won't stop talking and is already far too articulate for his own good.

My New Life


Katrina Kahler - 2016
    Her mom calls it a gift but Emmie does not agree. Being a mind reader is not at all what it's made out to be and Emmie constantly finds herself in trouble. The girls at school think she's creepy and try to avoid her. This leads to an ongoing change of schools and a struggle to make friends, leaving Emmie feeling lonelier than ever. However, when Emmie and her mom decide to move to Carindale, Emmie happens to meet a girl called Millie Spencer and everything changes. Emmie has never had a best friend before and feels that finally her life has turned in a positive direction. Meeting Millie's friend, Jack adds to the excitement, especially when she realizes he is someone she cannot stop thinking about. Then some strange events take place and when Millie's old friend, Julia Jones makes an unexpected visit, Emmie's world turns upside down.Can she use her mind reading abilities to help her or will she find herself in more trouble than ever before?If you enjoyed Julia Jones' Diary then Mind Reader is another series that you will love. This exciting book for girls is filled with unexpected plot twists and turns, drama, romance, boy crushes, friendship issues and much, much more. It will hook you in from beginning to end and is sure to become a new favorite!

The Fearsome Foursome


Amicus Arcane - 2016
    With eerie illustrations throughout and a beautiful three-piece cloth cover, the books are designed to look like they came straight from the library in the Haunted Mansion. Tales from the Haunted Mansion is a fun, spooky ride, just like the attraction from the Disney Parks. And if readers are familiar with the ride, they'll see elements of it throughout the entire story, from items straight of the Mansion (are those pictures stretching?) to lyrics from the narration that is heard in each Doom Buggy. In this bone-chilling book, you will hear the terrifying tales of the Fearsome Foursome--four kids who look to out-scare each other. But just wait until they hear my spooky stories. Who am I? I am Amicus Arcane, your librarian and host. Your Ghost Host. So read on... if you dare!

The Nightmare Room: The Nightmare Begins!


R.L. Stine - 2001
    Take a step away from the safe, comfortable world you know. Unlock the door to terror. There's always room for one more in ... The Nightmare Room.A Triple threatDanielle hypnotized her brother as a joke --but now she can't wake him up!DON'T FORGET ME!Will Luke defeat the evil Fate Master who lives in his locker? Or will he pass the curse on to his best friend?LOCKER 13Maggie has her palm read at a carnival -- and then the terrifying accidents begin!MY NAME IS EVIL

The Nipper


Catherine Cookson - 1970
    15-year-old Sandy loses his job and his home when the small farm he lives on is sold, and then is horrified when "The Nipper" is sold as a pit-pony.

Osbert the Avenger


Christopher William Hill - 2012
    Meet Osbert Brinkhoff, the unlikeliest of avengers. His is a tale of dark delights and ghastly goings-on, of injustice and revenge. The villains are vicious. The settings are sinister. And good does NOT always prevail...If you prefer cleavers to kittens and fiends to fairies...then welcome to the GRUESOMELY FUNNY Tales from Schwartzgarten.

The Adventures of Miss Petitfour


Anne Michaels - 2015
    The first book for children by an internationally acclaimed novelist and poet.     Miss Petitfour enjoys having adventures that are "just the right size - fitting into a single, magical day." She is an expert at baking and eating fancy iced cakes, and her favorite mode of travel is par avion. On windy days, she takes her sixteen cats out for an airing: Minky, Misty, Taffy, Purrsia, Pirate, Mustard, Moutarde, Hemdela, Earring, Grigorovitch, Clasby, Captain Captain, Captain Catkin, Captain Cothespin, Your Shyness and Sizzles. With the aid of her favorite tea party tablecloth as a makeshift balloon, Miss Petitfour and her charges fly over her village, having many little adventures along the way. Join Miss Petitfour and her equally eccentric felines on five magical outings -- a search for marmalade, to a spring jumble sale, on a quest for "birthday cheddar", the retrieval of a lost rare stamp and as they compete in the village's annual Festooning Festival. A whimsical, beautifully illustrated collection of tales that celebrates language, storytelling and small pleasures, especially the edible kind!

The Darke Toad


Angie Sage - 2013
    Is Simon ready to do his master’s bidding? And in the state that Dom Daniel is in, how will he fare against the nasty—and ever entertaining—Port Witch Coven?A novella that takes places between the stories told in MAGYK and FLYTE.

The 13 Clocks and The Wonderful O


James Thurber - 1958
    It has everything to please everybody. There is a princess in distress, a prince in disguise, a wicked uncle, and a last minute race between good and evil which is as exciting as any thriller. James Thurber wrote it, when he was supposed to be writing something quite different, because he couldn’t help himself, which must be why it bubbles with gaiety and wit, and why everybody who has read it immediately wants to read it all over again.The Wonderful O, the second story in this book, is about two abominable villains, a man with a map and a man with a ship, who sail to the island of Coroo in search of treasure and, when they can’t find it, revenge themselves on the gentle inhabitants by banning everything with an O in it. First they take the O’s out of all the words and then they start forbidding such things as dogs, cottages, coconuts, and dolls. They are just getting round to forbidding mothers when the islanders decide there are four things with an O in them that must not be lost. Three of them are ‘hope’, and ‘love’ and ‘valour’. The fourth and most important is really the whole point of The Wonderful O, which is a wonderful book.

The Wishbird


Gabrielle Wang - 2013
    But in the City of Soulless there is danger everywhere. Can Oriole and Boy save Soulless and the Wishbird, or will the city's darkness prove too great even for magic?

The Big Life of Remi Muldoon


Daniel Kenney - 2015
    And when Remi's attempt to become popular upsets the balance of the universe, things get worse. MUCH worse. Now, Remi must race against the clock to fix history before it's too late and along the way, he might just learn that the smallest of kids can have the biggest of lives. In this first book in the Big Life graphic novel series, Author/Illustrator Daniel Kenney brings us the spunky, curious, and loveable Remi Muldoon. Perfect for children ages 7-10, The Big Life of Remi Muldoon is an illustrated book that will have kids laughing all way!

The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection


Neil Gaiman - 2004
    This collection includes:The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish: An unforgettable story that will take readers on a journey into the murky mind of a young boy and the perils of striking a bargain.The Wolves in the Walls: Lucy is sure there are wolves living in the walls of their house -- and, as everybody says, if the wolves come out of the walls, it's all over. Her family doesn't believe her. Then one day, the wolves come out.Cinnamon: This charming fable of an exotic princess who refuses to speak currently exists only on Neil's official website and has never been published in print or any other format.Crazy Hair: Bonnie tries to comb the narrator's crazy hair -- where gorillas leap and tigers stalk -- and is in for a surprise in this delightful rhyming tale.