Under his careful watch, the "Twelves" come to life, each possessing a name and a distinct personality. As Max soon learns, they share a history filled with incident and adventure -- all an imaginative legacy of the famous Brontës (Branwell, Charlotte, Emily, Anne), who were the soldiers' original owners. In its mix of invention, excitement, character, and literary history, The Return of the Twelves occupies a rare place in children's literature. Its gripping narrative and engaging figures make it perfect for young readers of ten and up.

    His new school is a frightening place, World War III might be imminent, and then there's the strange fire eater - a devil called McNulty.

    A collection of nine stories by the popular Canadian author, including The Night of the Pomegranate, Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus, and The Hope Bakery.

    At its commencement the English were traders existing on sufferance of the native princes; at its close they were masters of Bengal and of the greater part of Southern India. The author has given a full account of the events of that stirring time...

    The father is a dustman and the mother a washerwoman, but because they are poor the children find even greater opportunities for adventure in their ordinary lives.

    Sighs Dinah, "I think that we are quite likely to be bad, however hard we try not to be," and her sister Dorinda adds helpfully, "Very often, when we think we are behaving well, some grown-up person says we are really quite bad. It's difficult to tell which is which." Sure enough, the mischievous sisters soon convince a judge that minds must be changed as often as socks, stage an escape from the local zoo (thanks to a witch's potion which turns them into kangaroos), and—in the company of a golden puma and silver falcon—set off to rescue their father from the tyrant of Bombardy. A tale of hilarity and great adventure, The Wind on the Moon is also a work of high seriousness; after all, "life without freedom," as the valiant puma makes clear, "is a poor, poor thing."

    A unique story that will serve as a springboard for discussions among young readers.

    That night she has an extraordinary dream. She is transported into her own picture, and as she explores further she soon realises she is not alone. The boy at the window is called Mark, and his every movement is guarded by the menacing stone watchers that surround the solitary house. Together, in their dreams, Marianne and Mark must save themselves...

    But suddenly the horse becomes the pawn in another game - a deadly race against time between a ruthless gang of train robbers. The stakes are high: A hundred million francs... and the lives of five innocent children!

    

    The Parker children's home becomes a battlefield because they want a pet while their mother declares that she will have no gerbils in her house.

    Even his little sister can beat him at swimming. But Jack's uncle Parker has come up with a plan to make him and Zero shine: they'll pretend that Jack can tell the future! If only they could foresee what chaos the plan will cause.Helen Cresswell is the much-loved writer of over 40 children's books. She's the author of classics such as Lizzie Dripping as well as having adapted The Demon Headmaster for television. She has been runner-up for the Carnegie Medal four times.

    At first, Jess cannot understand why this painting is so important to her grandfather, especially since there doesn't seem to be any boy in it at all. But while swimming in the river herself, Jess begins to feel the presence of a strange boy. Could this be the same one her ailing grandfather struggles to paint? And if so, why has he returned?

    Doors crash open, and strange signs appear, written in an archaic hand. James finds that the ghost is the spirit of Thomas Kempe.

    This story is for children aged six to ninety plus.