The Literacy Classroom
Improving, inspiring and supporting
English teaching and learning
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
How to Fight a Dragon's Fury
by Cressida Cowell
Dragons vs Humans: can Hiccup save the dragons? Find out in the EPIC finale to the How to Train Your Dragon series.
It is the Doomsday of Yule. At the end of this day, either the humans or the dragons will face extinction. Alvin the Treacherous is about to be crowned the King of the Wilderwest on the island of Tomorrow. His reign of terror will begin with the destruction of dragons everywhere.
The fate of the dragon world lies in the hands of one young boy as he stands on the nearby isle of Hero’s End with nothing to show, but everything to fight for. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third’s Quest is clear. First he must defeat the Dragon Guardians of Tomorrow and prove that he is in fact the rightful king, even though Hiccup has none of the King’s Things and Alvin the Treacherous has all ten of them.
And then he faces his final battle: Hiccup must fight the Dragon Furious and end the Rebellion … ALONE.
As Doomsday draws to an end can Hiccup be the Hero of the hour? Will the dragons survive?
The Accidental Secret Agent
by Tom MacLaughlin
Schoolboy turns secret agent in this hilarious spy spoof!
Before you read this, I want you to carefully check that no-one is reading over your shoulder – go ahead, do it now.
First off, that was terrible – really obvious. If I’m going to tell you top secret government information, you’re going to have to be a bit more stealthy. Try again.
Was anyone looking? No? Right, then I’ll begin.
This year the secret service made a major mix up, they mistook a 13-year-old boy called Kevin for a secret agent (I know, so much for an ‘intelligence’ agency). This was the sort of kid that would try and zip wire across a building and end up falling head first into a fountain with his bum on show, so can you imagine what happened when he was allowed access to the amazing sort of spy gadgets that James Bond would use?
Despite this, it was up to Kevin to save us all from an evil supervillain. It was the most dangerous, daring mission in the history of the secret service, and also its biggest blunder.
This top secret book uncovers the entire story of Kevin’s fateful and hilarious mission.
Nelly and the Quest for Captain Peabody
by Roland Chambers
One girl. One turtle. One epic voyage! If you like Pippi Longstocking, you’ll love Nelly Peabody.
When Nelly says she’s going to do a thing, she does it, whatever it is.
Learn to juggle china cups? Of course!
Live on lemons for a month? Why not?
Set out in a boat with knitted sails to find her long-lost father, with only her turtle Columbus for company? Absolutely!
And she won’t let anything get in her way . . .
If you love Pippi Longstocking, you’ll love Nelly Peabody!
Alfie Bloom and the Secrets of Hexbridge Castle
by Gabrielle Kent
Alfie Bloom’s life is dull. Dull and lonely. All of that changes when he is summoned to the bizarre offices of mysterious solicitor, Caspian Bone, and inherits a castle full of wonders that has been sealed for centuries. Alfie is astounded to learn he was born in that very castle six hundred years ago during a magical timeslip. There, Orin Hopcraft, the last of the druids hid an ancient magic inside him, which others seek but should never be used. With the help of his cousins Madeleine and Robin, a shapeshifting solicitor and a flying bearskin rug Alfie must keep the magic safe from terrifying adversaries to make sure the secrets of Hexbridge Castle stay secret, forever.
The Tale of Emily Windsnap
by Liz Kessler
Emily Windsnap lives on a boat, but her mother has always been oddly anxious to keep her out of the water. It is only when Emily has her first school swimming lesson that she discovers why: as soon as she gets into the water, she grows a tail!
Soon Emily discovers a glorious underwater world of fishes, coral, shipwrecks and mermaids, and, best of all, she finds a best friend! With mermaid Shona Silkfin by her side, Emily uncovers a surprising family secret and embarks on a quest to reunite her mum and dad.
This enchanting fantasy deals with universal themes of family, friendship, love and justice – all handled with the lightness of touch for which Liz Kessler is so well known.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
My Brother is a Superhero
by David Solomons
Luke is a comic-mad eleven-year old who shares a treehouse with his geeky older brother, Zack. Luke’s only mistake is to go for a wee right at the wrong time. While he’s gone, an alien gives his undeserving, never-read-a-comic-in-his-life brother superpowers and then tells him to save the universe. Luke is massively annoyed about this, but when Zack is kidnapped by his arch-nemesis, Luke and his friends have only five days to find him and save the world…
A Boy and a Bear in a Boat
by Dave Shelton
A boy and a bear go to sea, equipped with a suitcase, a comic book and a ukulele. They are only travelling a short distance and it really shouldn’t take long. But their journey doesn’t quite go to plan . . .
Faced with turbulent storms, a terrifying sea monster and the rank remains of a very dangerous sandwich, the odds are against our unlikely heroes. Will the Harriet, their trusted vessel, withstand the violent lashings of the salty waves? And will anyone ever answer their message in a bottle?
Brilliantly funny and tender, this beautiful book maps the growth of a truly memorable friendship and explores how, when all else is lost, the most unexpected joys can be found.
The Accidental Prime Minister
by Tom MacLaughlin
When Joe tells a local news reporter exactly what he would do if he were leader of the country, the video goes viral and Joe’s speech becomes famous all over the world!
Before long, people are calling for the current leader to resign and give someone else a go . . . and that’s how an ordinary boy like Joe ended up with the most extraordinary job. Now the fun can really start . . .
Hats for cats! Pet pigs for all! Banana shaped buses! Swimming pools on trains!
A hilarious story of one boy’s meteoric rise to power!
Demolition Dad
by Phil Earle
This is the story of Jake Biggs and his dad, George. George spends all week knocking down buildings … and all weekend knocking down wrestlers. He’s the Demolition Man, and Jake couldn’t be prouder. But when Jake hears about a pro-wrestling competition in the USA, and persuades his beloved dad to apply, things don’t quite turn out the way he expected…
This is DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD in Spandex, a hilarious, warm-hearted story from a talented writer.
Witch Wars
by Sibeal Pounder
When Fran the Fabulous Fairy turns up in Tiga Whicabim’s shed to tell her she’s a witch, Tiga doesn’t believe her. Or at least not until Fran points out that TIGA WHICABIM is actually an anagram of I AM A BIG WITCH and magics her away down the drainpipes to compete in Witch Wars – the competition to crown the next Top Witch of Ritzy City.
Filled with silly spells, delectable dresses, ridiculous riddles and a serious shoe problem, Witch Wars is a witch story like no other. Although if you enjoyed The Worst Witch, you’ll love this too!
The Owl Tree
by Jenny Nimmo
The owl-tree is not like any tree Joe has ever seen. It’s huge and leafy and shivers like a person; it even seems to speak. Granny Diamond once saw an owl perched among its branches and she has loved the tree ever since. It means the world to her. But her neighbour, Mr Rock, wants to cut it down. Why does he dislike the owl-tree so much? Does it have a secret to tell Joe? And how can he, a boy too scared even to climb the tree, be the one to save it?
Operation Bunny
by Sally Gardner
Emily Vole makes headline news in the first weeks of her life, when she is found in an abandoned hatbox in Stansted Airport.
Then, only a few years later, her neighbour Mrs String dies leaving Emily a mysterious inheritance: an old shop, a small bunch of golden keys and a cat called Fidget. It’s the beginning of an adventure of a lifetime as the old Fairy Detective Agency comes back to life.
It is up to Emily to reopen the shop, and recall the fairies to duty. Together they must embark on their first mystery and do battle with their great fairy-snatching enemy, Harpella.
Oliver and the Seawigs
by Philip Reeve, illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
A lively, gorgeously illustrated story from Dynamic Duo, Reeve and McIntyre!
Along with his new friends, a grumpy old albatross, a short-sighted mermaid, and a friendly island called Cliff, Oliver goes off in search of his missing parents. But before he can put his rescue plan into action there's the evil Stacey de Lacey and an army of greasy, green sea monkeys to contend with . . .
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
by Chris Riddell
Introducing Miss Ottoline Brown, an exceptionally inquisitive Mistress of Disguise, and her partner in crime, Mr. Munroe. No puzzle is ever too tricky for the two of them to solve . . .
Ottoline lives in a stylish apartment in Big City with a small hairy creature called Mr. Munroe. Together they look after the Brown family's eclectic collections - and dabble in a spot of detective work. So they are the first to the scene of the crime when a string of high-society dog-nappings and jewel thefts hits Big City. Ottoline (who luckily has a diploma from the Who-R-U Academy of Disguise) and Mr. Munroe go undercover - and expose an ingenious scam masterminded by furry feline crook, the Yellow Cat.
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat is a quirky mystery-adventure from star author/illustrator, Chris Riddell. Winner of the Nestle Prize, and crammed with black and white illustrations, Ottoline and the Yellow Cat is perfectly packaged and highly collectable.
The Jolley Rogers and the Ghostly Galleon
by Jonny Duddle
Every full moon, a mysterious ship is seen off the coast of Dull-on-Sea. Then, the day after, gold and jewellery are missing from the town. Can Matilda and Jim Lad retrieve the stolen booty from the mysterious ship before the moon fades? Or will they end up stuck on board with ghostly pirates until the next full moon?
CLASSICS
Just William
by Richmal Crompton
In Richmal Crompton’s Just William the Outlaws plan a day of non-stop adventure. The only problem is that William is meant to be babysitting. But William won’t let that stop him having fun with his gang – he’ll just bring the baby along!
There is only one William. This tousle-headed, snub-nosed, hearty, loveable imp of mischief has been harassing his unfortunate family and delighting his hundreds of thousands of admirers since 1922. This delightful children’s classic features a contemporary cover look illustrated by Chris Riddell, along with the original inside illustrations by Thomas Henry, which will bring the antics of the mischievous William Brown to a new generation of children.
Emil and the Detectives
by Erich Kastner
If Mrs Tischbein had known the amazing adventures her son Emil would have in Berlin, she’d never have let him go.
Unfortunately, when his seven pounds goes missing on the train, Emil is determined to get it back – and when he teams up with the detectives he meets in Berlin, it’s just the start of a marvellous money-retrieving adventure . . .
A classic and influential story, Emil and the Detectives remains an enthralling read.
The Animals of Farthing Wood
by Colin Dann
Both heart-wrenching and heart-warming, The Animals of Farthing Wood is a classic animal story of adventure and the fight for survival. Farthing Wood is being bulldozed and a drought means the animals no longer have anywhere to live or drink. Fox, Badger, Toad, Tawny Owl, Mole and the other animals band together and leave their ancestral home and set off to move to a far-away nature reserve. Their journey is full of adventure and fraught with disasters: a fire, a storm, a treacherous river crossing and a hunt. The animals must unite in adversity and in doing so they learn about each other’s habits and limitations. The story about tolerance, cooperation, survival and friendship is one of the most popular animal stories in children’s literature and is still in print nearly 35 years after first publication.
Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White
An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads “Some Pig”, convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of friendship, hardship and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things.
Pippi Longstocking
by Astrid Lindgren
Have you performed at the circus? Pippi has!
Can you wiggle your toes while you’re sleeping? Pippi can!
Are you going to be a pirate when you grow up? Pippi is!
Pippi is an irrepressible, irreverent and irrefutably delightful girl who lives alone (with a monkey) in her wacky house, Villa Villekulla. When she’s not dancing with the burglars who were just trying to rob her house, she’s attempting to learn the “pluttification” tables at school, fighting Adolf, the strongest man in the world at the circus or playing tag with police officers. Pippi’s high-spirited, good-natured antics cause as much trouble as fun, but a more generous child you won’t find anywhere.