The Best Books to Gift to Your Class

The Day the Banana Went Bad

LOCK UP all your lemons and BEWARE your orange juice! The rotten fruit’s REVOLTING – BAD BANANA’S ON THE LOOSE! Bad Banana has had ENOUGH. And he’s going BANANAS! It’s time for the unruly fruit to shake off their labels – can Bad Banana show the other fruit what going bad REALLY means?

A laugh-out-loud picture book from Michelle Robinson and Tom Knight, the bestselling creators of When Jelly Had a Wobble and The Day Cucumber Lost His Cool.

The Ugly Five Early Reader

From the bestselling author and illustrator duo of The Gruffalo! Who’s that singing on the savannah? It’s the top-five ugly animals in Africa! The wildebeest, warthog, vulture, hyena and marabou stork swagger proudly across the savannah, rejoicing in their ugliness – and delighting their babies, who think they’re perfect just the way they are.

Inspired by the real-life Ugly Five safari animals, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s gorgeous picture book is a jubilant celebration of animals who are often rather unloved. The funny, heart-warming rhyme is a joy to read aloud, while bold, comical illustrations bring the savannah spectacularly to life.

This Early Reader edition contains the complete classic story and pictures, in a pocket-book format, and with an extra-clear font and layout, to support children who are gaining confidence in reading.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark

A heart-warming classic full of animal antics by Jill Tomlinson.

Plop, the Baby Barn Owl, is like every Barn Owl there ever was, except for one thing – he is afraid of the dark. “Dark is nasty” he says and so he won’t go hunting with his parents. Mrs Barn Owl sends him down from his nest-hole to ask about the dark and he meets a little boy waiting for the fireworks to begin, an old lady, a scout out camping, a girl who tells him about Father Christmas, a man with a telescope and a black cat who takes him exploring. He realizes that through these encounters that dark is super after all.

Filled with gentle humour and comfort, Jill Tomlinson’s animal stories have been enjoyed by children who want to snuggle down with a good read for decades. This edition of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark is beautifully illustrated by Paul Howard.

Mac B., Kid Spy: The Impossible Crime

From the esteemed New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author Mac Barnett comes a thrilling, hilarious fully-illustrated spy adventure series!

Before Mac Barnett was an author, he was a kid.And while he was a kid, he was a spy. Not just any spy. But a spy…for the Queen of England. The precious Crown Jewels have been stolen, and there’s only one person who can help the Queen of England: her newest secret agent, Mac B. Mac travels around the globe in search of the stolen treasure…but will he find it in time? Features:

• historical facts masterfully woven throughout the plot
• full-colour illustrations on every page.

One Dog and His Boy

All Hal had ever wanted was a dog.

But a dog would damage the carpets in Hal’s house, and so his parents refused to let him have one. Then they discover Easy Pets, a convenient dog-rental agency. Terrier Fleck arrives on Hal’s birthday, but when he discovers that his dog must be returned, he runs away.

An irresistible adventure from a truly great and much-loved children’s author that every dog-loving child will adore. Perfect for fans of 101 DALMATIANS.

A Medal for Leroy

Michael can’t remember his father, an RAF pilot who was killed in a Spitfire battle over the Channel. And his French mother, heartbroken and passionate, doesn’t like to talk about him. But when Michael’s Auntie Snowdrop gives him a medal and a faded photo, a story begins to be told. A hidden story of love and loss, courage and family secrets. A story that will change everything – and show Michael who he really is…

• A powerful novel from master writer Michael Morpurgo
• Inspired by the true life of black army officer Walter Tull
• Michael’s books include War Horse and Private Peaceful
• Explores themes of identity, family and the legacy of war

Stories from Around the World

A complete collection of beloved tales, myths and legends from around the world, bound into a beautiful new edition.

Whether you’re ready to sail the high seas with Sinbad the Sailor, or fight alongside brave warrior Hua Mulan, you’re guaranteed to find all of your favourite legends right here.

And no matter how the story starts, you’ll always find your happy ending. Including: Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, Hua Mulan and many more.