ReadingSuggestions

KeyStage2

Thereisahugerangeofexcellentfictionforthe7–11yearagerange.Theselistsforeach

yeargrouplistjustafewandmanycrosstheyeargroupboundaries.Somemaylooktoo

youngbutthelengthofabookcanbedeceptive.Somefeaturemoreillustrationthantext:

illustrationcanbeasimportantinthetellingofastoryaswordsandwillintroducechildren

tokeyillustrators.

Therearealsoplentyofseriesthatareperfectforthisagerange,

withvariousgoodauthorswritinginthesameformat,getting

childrenusedtobooksthatarenottoolongbutwhichareof

guaranteedquality:BananaBooks,ColourJets(illustratedhere),

Jets,SeriouslySillyStories,CollinsShiveryStorybooks,CorgiPups,

BooksforBoys,Sprinters,YoungPuffinsetc.

SomeauthorssuchasJacquelineWilsonandMalorieBlackmanwriteacrosstheagerange

andsomeoftheirtitlesaremoresuitedtoolderchildrenthanthoseinlowerKeyStage2.

TheHarryPotterseriesiswellknownandnotincludedintheselists.Childrencantryitoutat

anystage,thoughatYear3/4,itmightbebettertoreaditwiththechild.

ReadingSuggestionsYear4(age8-9)

Year4studentsshouldbepickingfromourclassbookcornersinordertoprogresstheir

reading.Whilethechildrenmayfeelthatreadinglongerbooksisabetterprogression,

readinglotsofshorterbooksisveryhelpfulfortheircreativeEnglish,astheyexperience

newvocabulary,charactersandplaces.

Ifyourchildisacompetentreaderorhasreadallthesetitlesthentrythebooksfromthe

Year5list.Alternatively,ifthesebooksarealittlechallenging,trybooksfromtheYear3list.

TheHarryPotterseriesiswellknownandnotincludedintheselists.Childrencantryitoutat

anystage,thoughitmightbebettertoreadpartswiththechild.

ABoyandaBearinaBoatDaveSheltonAboyandabeargotosea,equippedwithasuitcase,acomicbookandaukulele.Theyareonlytravellingashortdistanceanditreallyshouldn'ttakelong.Buttheirjourneydoesn'tquitegotoplan...Facedwithturbulentstorms,aterrifyingseamonsterandtherankremainsofaverydangeroussandwich,theoddsareagainstourunlikelyheroes.WilltheHarriet,theirtrustedvessel,withstandtheviolentlashingsofthesaltywaves?Andwillanyoneeveranswertheirmessageinabottle?Brilliantlyfunnyandtender,thisbeautifulbookmapsthegrowthofatrulymemorablefriendshipandexploreshow,whenallelseislost,themostunexpectedjoyscanbefound.

AnElephantintheGardenMichaelMorpurgo,M.B.E.Athrillingandmovingnovelaboutanextraordinaryanimalcaughtupinaveryhumanwar,foranyonewholovedTheAmazingStoryofAdolphusTipsorTheButterflyLion...Bytheaward-winningformerChildren'sLaureateandauthorofWarHorse.Dresden,1945.ElizabethandKarli'smotherworksatthezoo,whereherfavouriteanimalisayoungelephantnamedMarlene.Thenthezoodirectortellsherthatthedangerousanimals-includingtheelephants-mustbeshotbeforethetownisbombed.UnabletogiveMarleneup,theirmothermovesherintothebackgardentosaveher...andthenthebombsstarttofall.Theirhomedestroyed,thewholefamilymustfleethebombed-outcityandthroughtheperilous,snow-coveredlandscape,allthewhileavoidingtheRussiantroopswhoaredrawingevercloser.Itwouldbehardenoughtodo,withoutanelephantintow...

AramintaSpook:MyHauntedHouseAngieSageAramintaSpookisjustlikeanygirl.Shelikesbats,ghosts,werewolvesandvampires.OneofAraminta'sgreatestambitionsistoseeaghost,andlivinginSpookHousewithherauntandunclethereisafairchanceshewill.ThenherAuntTabithadropsabombshell:theyaremoving.Theboilerisamenace,plusthereareafewotherissuesrelatingtodustandspiders.TabithaisnotgoingtotakethislyingdownanddevisesanarrayofCunningPlans.Sheisdeterminedtostay,andperhapsthereisstillachancehergreatestambitionwillcometrue,too.

AsterixtheLegionaryGoscinny,UderzoGaulwasdividedintothreeparts.No,fourparts-foronesmallvillageofindomitableGaulsstillheldoutagainsttheRomaninvaders.Ahugelyfunseries.BOOK10-AsterixandObelixenlistintheRomanarmytorescueTragicomix,theforciblyconscriptedfianceofthebeautifulPanacea.

Charlotte'sWebE.B.WhiteThisisthestoryofalittlegirlnamedFernwholovedalittlepignamedWilburandofWilbur'sdearfriend,CharlotteA.Cavatica,abeautifullargegreyspider.WiththeunlikelyhelpofTempletontherat,andawonderfullycleverplanofherown,CharlottesavesthelifeofWilbur,whobythistimehasgrownuptobequiteapig.Atime-honouredclassicfavourite.

FergusCranePaulStewart,ChrisRiddellFERGUSCRANE!YOUAREINGREATDANGER!IAMSENDINGHELP.SignedT.C.,yourlong-lostUncleTheoFergusCranehasanalmostordinarylife-havinglessonstaughtbyratheroddteachersontheschoolshipBettyJeanne,helpinghismotherinthebakery.Butthenamysteriousflyingboxappearsatthewindowofhiswaterfronthome-andFergusisplungedheadlongintoanexcitingadventure!Theboxisfollowedbyawingedmechanicalhorsethatwhiskshimofftomeethislong-lostuncleandhispenguinhelpers,Finn,BillandJackson.Fergusfindsoutthathisteachersarenotquitewhattheyseem-they'reactuallypirates!CanFergusandhiswingedhorsesavehisschoolmatesfromthefar-offFireIsland?Andwhoelsewillhefindthere...?

George'sSecretKeytotheUniverseLucyHawking,StephenHawkingTakearollercoasterridethroughthevastnessofspaceand,inthemidstofanexcitingadventure,discoverthemysteriesofphysics,scienceandtheuniversewithGeorge,hisnewfriendsnextdoor-thescientistEricandhisdaughter,Annie-andasuper-intelligentcomputercalledCosmos,whichcantakethemtotheedgeofablackholeandbackagain.Orcanit?AndwhoelsewouldliketogettheirhandsonCosmos?Afunnyandhugelyinformativerompthroughspace,timeandtheuniverse.

GobbolinotheWitch'sCatUrsulaMorayWilliamsGobbolinobyUrsulaMorayWilliamsisthecharmingtaleofawitch'scatwhowouldratherbeakitchencat.Gobbolinohasonewhitepawandblueeyesandisn'twickedatall,sohismotherdoesn'tlikehim.Heescapestolookforakitchenhomebutisdistrustedeverywherehegoesandblamedformysterioushappenings,suchasthefarmer'smilkturningsourandtheorphanagechildren'sgruelturningintochocolate.

GothGirlandtheGhostofaMouseChrisRiddellAdaGothistheonlychildofLordGoth.ThetwolivetogetherintheenormousGhastly-GormHall.LordGothbelievesthatchildrenshouldbeheardandnotseen,soAdahastowearlargeclumpybootssothathecanalwayshearhercoming.Thismakesithardforhertomakefriendsand,ifshe'shonest,she'sratherlonely.ThenonedayWilliamandEmilyCabbagecometostayatthehouse,andtogetherwithaghostlymousecalledIshmaeltheyandAdabegintounraveladastardlyplotthatMaltravers,themysteriousindoorgamekeeper,ishatching.AdaandherfriendsmustworktogethertofoilMaltraversbeforeit'stoolate!

HowtoTrainYourDragonCressidaCowellReadthebooksthatinspiredtheHowtoTrainYourDragonfilms!Thisbookwillbeahitwithchildrenandadultsalike.ThestorybeginsinthefirstvolumeofHiccup'sHowtoTrainYourDragonmemoirs...

HiccupHorrendousHaddockIIIwasanawesomesword-fighter,adragon-whispererandthegreatestVikingHerowhoeverlived.Butitwasn'talwayslikethat.Infact,inthebeginning,HiccupHorrendousHaddockIIIwasthemostputuponVikingyou'deverseen.Notloudenoughtomakehimselfheardatdinnerwithhisfather,StoicktheVast;nothardenoughtobeathischiefrival,Snotlout,atBashyball,thenumberoneschoolsportandCERTAINLYnotstupidenoughtogointoacavefullofdragonstofindapet...It'stimeforHiccuptolearnhowtobeaHero.

IamDavidAnneHolm'Youmustgetawaytonight,'themanhadtoldhim.DavidescapesfromtheconcentrationcampwherehehasspenthisentirelifeandfleesacrossEurope.Heisutterlyalone-whocanhetrust?Whatwillawaithim?Andallthewhile,howcanhebesurethattheywon'tcatchupwithhim...ThisistheremarkablestoryofDavid'sintroductiontotheworld:sea,mountainsandflowers,thecoloursofItaly,thetasteoffruit,peoplelaughingandsmiling,allarenewtoDavid.Davidlearnsthathispolitemanner,hishauntedeyesandhisthinfeaturesarestrangetootherpeople.Hemustlearntofendforhimselfinthisstrangenewworld.Anincrediblestoryofsurvivalagainstalloddsandselfdiscovery.

IgrainetheBraveCorneliaFunkeAnadventureiswhatIgrainewishesformostintheworld-andonhertwelfthbirthdayshefindsone!EveryoneatCastlePimpernelislookingforwardtoIgraine'sbirthday.Butwhenhermagicalpresentgoeswrongandherparentsturnthemselvesintopigs,it'suptoIgrainetoputthingsright-evenifthatmeansfacinggiants,andapaticularlySpikyKnight.

IWasaRat!Or,theScarletslippersPhilipPullmanIWASARAT!'SoinsistsRoger.Maybeit'strue.ButwhatisheNOW?Aterrifyingmonsterrampaginginthesewers?TheDailyScourgeissureofit.Amoney-spinningfairgroundfreak?HeistoMrTapscrew.Achampionwrigglerandadownycard?That'swhatBillyhopes.Orjustanordinarysmallboy,thoughalittlerattyinhishabits?Onlythreepeoplebelievethisversionofthestory.OnlyoneofthemknowswhoRogerreallyis.Andluckilyastoryabouthercansellevenmorenewspapersthanoneaboutarat-boy...

JustSoStoriesRudyardKipling,JonathanStroudThisbookpresentsthedelightfultalesofwhalesandcatsandkangaroosandcrabs-everythingfromhowthecamelgotinahumph(andgothishump!)tohowthealphabetwasinvented.Enchantingandfunny,thesefantasticalstoriescontinuetodelighteachandeverygeneration.

KrazyKowSavestheWorld-Well,AlmostJeremyStrongKrazyKowisJamieFink'sidea-acowsuperherowithsomeamazingudderattachments.He'stryingtomakeafilmstarringtheKowasshebattlesagainsttheDarkContaminator.Butfirsthehastocopewithafewlittleproblems,likeexplodingstrawberries,rampagingtoddlersandhostilefootballfans.Afterthis,savingtheworldshouldbeadoddle!

Lost!TheHundred-Mile-An-HourDogJeremyStrongFromTheHundred-Mile-an-HourDogtokarateprincessesandhotcrossbottoms,there'saJeremyStrongstorytosuiteverychild'ssenseofhumour.Jeremy'sreadersrangefrom7toteen,perfectforfansofRoaldDahlandAndyStanton.Streakerthedogislost.Andnotjustabitlost,butreallylost.Itwasn'tevenherfault!ShewantedtoprotectsomepiesfromthePIEROBBERandsuddenlyshe'smilesfromhomeandtwo-leggedTrevorANDshehastomakefriendswithacat.ACAT!ButitgetsalotHAIRIERwhentheyfindthemselvesface-to-facewithababoon...WillStreakereverseeherbelovedpupsagain?Andmoreimportantly,willsheevereatanotherdonutagain?

LunaticsandLuckMarcusSedgwickJointhewonderfullyweirdOtherhandfamilyandtheirfaithfulguardian,Edgartheraven,anddiscoverthedarksecretsofCastleOtherhand.SolsticeandCudweedareappalledtofindtheirfatherhasappointedanewschoolmaster.Butthingsgetevenworsewhenthegrumpy,viciouslymeanteacheractuallyarrives.TheOtherhandchildrenaresurethere'ssomethingmoretohimthanmeetstheeye-thetroubleis,whowillbelievethem?Nooneitseems.Except,perhaps,Edgar.Winnerofthe2011BluePeterBookAwardforMostFunStoryWithPictures,LUNATICSANDLUCKisthethirdstoryinthishilarioussixbookmysteryseries(withatouchofgoth-froth)for9yearoldsfrombestsellingauthor,MarcusSedgwickwithquirkyblackandwhitelineillustrationsfromnewtalent,PeteWilliamson.

MatildaRoaldDahlMatildaisoneofRoaldDahl'smostmagicalstories!NowpartofthePuffinModernClassicsseries.MatildaWormwood'sfatherisameancrookedcrook.Andhermother'sjustplainstupid.TheythinkMatildaisanuisancewhoshouldwatchmoreTVandreadfewerbooks!ButherlovelyteacherMissHoneythinksMatildaisagenius.Matildahasafewextraordinarytricksuphersleeve,soherhorribleparentsandevenmorehorribleheadmistresshadbetterwatchout.

MidnightforCharlieBoneJennyNimmoSincehisfatherdied,CharlieBonehaslivedwithhismotherandhermother,inthehouseofhisothergrandmother,GrandmaBone.Lookingatapictureofacouplewithababyandacat,hesuddenlydiscovershecanheartheirvoices.Althoughhetriestohidehisnewgift,GrandmaBoneandherscarysisterssoonfindout,andsendhimtoBloor'sAcademy.CharliequicklyfindslifeatBloor'sprettytough,withitsstrictrulesandthemalevolentheadboy,Manfred,setagainsthim.WhenCharliediscoversthatthechildinthephotographisbeingheld,hypnotised,againstherwill,heandhisnewfriendswith'gifts'trytoawakenher.ButcantheyovercomeManfred'ssinisterhypnoticgifts?

MonsterMissionEvaIbbotson'Wemustkidnapsomechildren,'announcedAuntEtta.'Young,strongones.Itwillbedangerous,butitmustbedone.'Threechildrenarestolenandtakentoabizarreisland,whichishometosomeextraordinarycreatures--includingmermaids,selkiesandthelegendarykraken.Theislandisthebaseforaverymysteriousmission.Butthemagicaladventureiscutshort,whentheislandissuddenlyundersiege.Cantheysavethemselvesandtheirnewfriends?

MrStinkDavidWalliamsThesecondoriginal,touching,twisted,andmostofallhilariousnovelforchildrenfromDavidWalliams,numberonebestsellerandfastestgrowingchildren'sauthorinthecountry-beautifullyillustratedbyQuentinBlake.MrStinkstank.Healsostunk.AndifitwascorrectEnglishtosayhestinked,thenhestinkedaswell...ItallstartswhenChloemakesfriendswithMrStink,thelocaltramp.Yes,hesmellsabit.Butwhenitlookslikehemightbedrivenoutoftown,Chloedecidestohidehiminthegardenshed.NowChloe'sgottomakesurenoonefindsouthersecret.Andspeakingofsecrets,therejustmightbemoretoMrStinkthanmeetstheeye...orthenose.

MyLifeasaGoldfishAndOtherPoemsRachelRooneyMagicslipsbetweenthecracksinreallife.Onedayyouwillsteponit.Amonster'slunch,awolfboy,Mondaymornings,monkeys,headlice,Christmas,makingfriends,goldfish-andlotsmore.Fullofjokes,surprisesandpuzzles,butalsosensitiveandthought-provoking,thisisaspellbindingnewcollectionfromthewinneroftheCLPEPoetryAward.

OliverandtheSeawigsPhilipReeveAlively,gorgeouslyillustratedstoryfromDynamicDuo,ReeveandMcIntyre!Alongwithhisnewfriends,agrumpyoldalbatross,ashort-sightedmermaid,andafriendlyislandcalledCliff,Olivergoesoffinsearchofhismissingparents.Butbeforehecanputhisrescueplanintoactionthere'stheevilStaceydeLaceyandanarmyofgreasy,greenseamonkeystocontendwith...Format:PaperbackPrice:£5.59-Saving-Saving£1.40(20%)

OttolineandtheYellowCatChrisRiddellIntroducingMissOttolineBrown,anexceptionallyinquisitiveMistressofDisguise,andherpartnerincrime,Mr.Munroe.Nopuzzleisevertootrickyforthetwoofthemtosolve...OttolinelivesinastylishapartmentinBigCitywithasmallhairycreaturecalledMr.Munroe.TogethertheylookaftertheBrownfamily'seclecticcollections-anddabbleinaspotofdetectivework.Sotheyarethefirsttothesceneofthecrimewhenastringofhigh-societydog-nappingsandjeweltheftshitsBigCity.Ottoline(wholuckilyhasadiplomafromtheWho-R-UAcademyofDisguise)andMr.Munroegoundercover-andexposeaningeniousscammastermindedbyfurryfelinecrook,theYellowCat.

RevoltingRhymesRoaldDahlThisisRoaldDahl'sirreverentandhilariouscollection,RevoltingRhymes.Sixofthebest-lovednurserytales,retoldwithsurprisingandsometimesdisgustingtwists!Wickedbeasts,brazencrooksandaghastlygiantstarinthesehilariousnurseryrhymeswithbite.

StigoftheDumpCliveKingStigoftheDumpbyCliveKingis50yearsoldandthestoryofBarneyandhisbestfriend,cave-manStig,isasfreshtodayasitwaswhenfirstpublished.'Stig'snice.He'smyfriend'NobodybelievesBarneywhenhesayshe'sdiscoveredaboylivingwildinthedump.ButforBarney,Stigistotallyreal.Theybecomegreatfriends,learneachother'swaysandembarkonaseriesofexcitingadventures.

StuartLittleE.B.WhiteStuartLittleistheenchantingtaleofthemousewhoissmallinsizebutenormousinspiritbyE.B.White,authorofCharlotte'sWeb.StuartLittleisnoordinarymouse.BorntoafamilyofhumanshelivesinNewYorkCitywithhisparents,hisolderbrotherGeorgeandSnowballthecat.He'sanadventurousandheroiclittlemouse.Whenhisbestfriend,abeautifullittlebirdcalledMargalodisappearsfromhernest,Stuartisdeterminedtotrackherdown.Heventuresawayfromhomefortheveryfirsttimeinhislifeandfindshimselfembroiledinoneexcitingadventureafteranother,makingnewfriendsandmeetingoldonesalongtheway.

TheAdventuresofSholaBernardoAtxaga,MikelValverdeWinnerofthe2014MarshAwardforChildren'sLiteratureSholaisalittledogwithattitude.Frustratinglyforher,shelovesbothcomfort(mainlyintheformoffood)andadventure(intheory,atleast),andspendsmuchofhertimetryingtodecidebetweenthetwo.Whethersheisfacedwiththepossibilitythatshemayreallybealionortheprospectofaboar-hunt,witheccentricAmericanvisitorsorinsufferablecountrybumpkins,Sholaisnotafraidtopursueherdreams...uptoapoint.

TheBoyintheDressDavidWalliamsDenniswasdifferent.Whywashedifferent,youask?Well,asmallcluemightbeinthetitleofthisbook...Charming,surprisingandhilarious-TheBoyintheDressiseverythingyouwouldexpectfromtheco-creatorofLittleBritain.DavidWalliams'sbeautifulfirstnovelwilltouchthehearts(andfunnybones)ofchildrenandadultsalike.

TheDancingBearMichaelMorpurgo,M.B.E.Agentleanddeeplymovingstoryofayounggirlandherbear,toldwithgreatcharmbyamasterstoryteller.Highinthemountains,inatinyvillage,anabandonedbearcubisadoptedbyalonelyorphanchild.Soontheyareinseparable,belovedbythewholevillage-safe,untilthearrivalofaglamorousfilmcrewwhoneedadancingbear...

TheFirework-maker'sDaughterPhilipPullmanWhatLilawantstobemorethananythingelseintheworldis...aFirework-Maker!Butfirework-makingisnotjustaboutbeingabletomakeCrackle-DragonsandGoldenSneezes.Thereisalsoonespecialsecret:everyFirework-MakermustmakeaperilousjourneytofacetheterrifyingFire-Fiend!NotknowingthatsheneedsspecialprotectiontosurvivetheFire-Fiend'sflames,Lilasetsoffalone.Herfriends,ChulakandHamlet-theKing'swhiteelephant-raceafterher.Butcantheypossiblyreachherintime?

TheGreatHamsterMassacreKatieDaviesAverynaturalandhonestversionoflife'seventsfromtheperspectiveofayounggirl-fromhersuspicionsaboutherneighbours,toherrockyfriendshipwiththegirlnextdoor;fromthesuddendeathofherbelovedgrannytoherrelentlessquestforapethamster,onlytothenfinditmysteriouslyslaughtered-whichkickstartsalocalinvestigationof'suspects'.

TheGruntsInTroublePhilipArdaghMeetMrandMrsGrunt.Oh,goon.They'renotthatbad.No,actually,theyARE.Maybeworse,even.ButSunny,theirsort-ofson,isokay.Theystolehimfromawashinglineasababy.Hewashangingbyhisears,whichprobablyexplainswhythey'resowonky(butnotwhyhehassticky-uphairthatNEVERliesflat,evenifyoupourglueintoitortrytapingitinplace).Stickyaroundandyou'llalsomeetLordBiggofBiggManor,Bigg-haterLarrySmalls,MimitheBiggManorbootboy(yup,she'sagirl)and...Well,you'llhavetoREADthebooktofindthatout.ButIshouldmentionthebees.DidIwarnyouaboutthebees?!

TheIronManTedHughesMankindmustputastoptothedreadfuldestructionbytheIronManandsetatrapforhim,buthecannotbekeptdown.Then,whenaterriblemonsterfromouterspacethreatenstolaywastetotheplanet,itistheIronManwhofindsawaytosavetheworld.

TheRomanBeanfeastGillianCrossLikeeveryotherschoolinthecountry,Davy'sclassareworkingontheRomans.EveryoneistodoapieceofworkbasedonthevisittheymadetoaRomanfortandthebestwillgetaprizeattheRomanFeastplannedbytheschool.Davy'sproblemisthatbossyMollyfromnextdoorkeepsstealinghisideas.ThatisuntilDaveydrawsinspirationfromJuliusSneezertheRomansoldier.AfunnyandinsightfulstoryfromthepopularprizewinningauthorofTheDemonHeadmaster.

TheSheep-pigDickKing-SmithTheSheep-pigisoneofDickKing-Smith'smostfamoustales.Itshottofurtherfamewhenthefilmadaptation,Babe,wasreleasedin1995.

'Whycan'tIlearntobeaSheep-Pig?'WhenBabe,thelittleorphanedpiglet,iswonatafairbyFarmerHogget,heisadoptedbyFly,thekind-heartedsheep-dog.BabeisdeterminedtolearneverythinghecanfromFly.Heknowshecan'tbeasheep-dog.Butmaybe,justmaybe,hemightbeasheep-pig.

TheTerribleThingThatHappenedtoBarnabyBrocketJohnBoyneThere'snothingunusualordifferentabouttheBrocketfamily-andthey'rekeentokeepitthatway.ButwhenBarnabyBrocketcomesintotheworld,it'sclearhe'sanythingbutordinary.Tohisparents'horror,Barnabydefiesthelawsofgravity-andfloats.Soon,theBrocketsdecideenoughisenough.Theneighboursarestartingtotalk.Theyneveraskedforaweird,abnormal,floatingchild.Barnabyhastogo...Betrayedandfrightened,Barnabyfloatsintothepathofaveryspecialhotairballoon-andsobeginsamagicaljourneyaroundtheworld,withacastofextraordinarynewfriends.

TheUnlikelyAdventuresofMabelJonesWillMabbittThefirstbookbybrilliantnewcomicauthor,WillMabbitt.WhenMabelJonesunknowinglycommits'TheDeed'shefindsherselfswiftlybundledintoasackandcarriedofftothepirateshiptheFeroshusMaggot.CrewedbythestrangestbunchofpiratesyouwouldeverwanttomeetandcaptainedbythedreadedIdryssEbeneezerSplit(awolfwithafalselegcarvedfromahumanthighbone,arustycutlasssheathedinhisbeltandaloadedpistoltuckedinhispantswithnofearoftheconsequences),theFeroshusMaggotwhisksMabelJonesoffontheadventureofalifetime.

TimmyFailure:MistakesWereMadeStephanPastisPerfectforfansofWimpyKidandBigNate,TimmyFailure:MistakesWereMadeisthefirstbookintheNewYorkTimesbestsellingseries.Listedasoneof100ModernChildren'sClassicsbyTheSundayTimes,itwasalsoaBooktrustBestBookAwardswinner.MeetTimmyFailure,founderofthebestdetectiveagencyintown-TotalFailure,Inc.Withthehelpofhispolarbear,Total,theclueless,comicallyself-confidentTimmyalreadyhasplansforworlddomination.Plansthatwillmakehismotherrichandunpaidbillsathingofthepast.AndplansthatwilldefeatCorrinaCorrina,TheOneWhoseNameShallNotBeUttered.Butshe'snotgoingaway.

WhaleBoyNicolaDaviesMichael,ayoungboygrowinguponthetropicalislandofRoseTown,hasbeensavingupforhisownfishingboatforyears.Butwhenaterriblestormwreckshishome,Michaelisforcedtotakeajobworkingforarich,mysteriousnewcomernamedSpargo.SpargoasksMichaeltosearchforonethinginthedeepwatersaroundRoseTown-whales...