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Sally Gardner is an award-winning novelist from London. Her books have been translated into 22 languages and have sold more than one million copies in the UK.
Her historical novel for older readers, I, Coriander, won the Smarties Children's Book Prize in 2005. Two thrillers both set at the time of the French Revolution, The Red Necklace and The Silver Blade, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 2009, followed. Actor Dominic West (The Wire) has bought the film rights to both titles.
Her YA novel, The Double Shadow, was published in 2011 to critical acclaim. Sally Gardner's stories for middle readers include Lucy Willow and the popular Magical Children series of six titles: The Strongest Girl in the World, The Invisible Boy, The Boy with Magic Numbers, The Smallest Girl in the World, The Boy with the Lightning Feet, and The Boy who could Fly, which are also available as audio books. She has also written and illustrated picture books including The Fairy Catalogue, The Glass Heart, The Book of Princesses and Playtime Rhymes. Sally Gardner continues to be an avid spokesperson for dyslexia, working to change the way it is perceived by society. She is dyslexic and argues that it is not a disability, but a gift.
If you'd love to know more about Sally, click here to download a more detailed biography and Q&A.
To see a video of Sally talking about her book Fairy Shopping - CLICK HERE
Or watch a video of her talking about The Silver Blade:
What a majestic conjuration of Middle Grade magic this is – think Alice in Wonderland in a dazzling theatrical setting. The year is 1870 and Celeste is a lowly orphan who runs errands in a Royal Opera House. She wakes one day haunted by a dream in which an enigmatic emerald suited-man spoke ominously of her involvement in a game called the Reckoning. Celeste recalls a shipwreck from the dream too and then, back in what appears to be real life, the opera house’s huge galleon-shaped crystal chandelier splinters into a thousand pieces and everyone thinks Celeste is someone else. The opening in which she cascades into the story world is as exhilaratingly bewildering as Alice’s entry to Wonderland: “Down she falls. Oh, how the world has tumbled.” Why does everyone think she’s a gifted dancer called Maria? Why can’t everyone see her? And so an intricate, suspenseful tale of identity plays out as Celeste struggles to untangle the truth, with dreadfully high stakes. Gardner’s cast of larger-than-life characters is vibrantly drawn, and special mention must be made of vindictive diva Madame Sabina and her awful daughter, and Celeste’s ally Viggo. But the true star of this production is - of course – Celeste, whose resolve is adeptly expressed through the thoughts of the mysterious man in the emerald suit: “Seldom has he met a child with strength enough to move on to the final part of the game.” This is a dream of a book for confident readers who relish fiction that ignites their imaginations and delight in flexing their cerebral muscles.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, a tale of love, disappearance and trust as Becky disappears and her friend Jazmin is suspected of somehow being complicit in that disappearance. A challenging and rewarding read.
Jazmin has been shunned ever since her best friend Becky disappeared. But Becky didn't just disappear - she jumped off a tall building and seemingly never reached the ground. It was as if she simply vanished into thin air. Did Jazmin have something to do with her disappearance? Or was it more to do with Icarus, so beguiling and strangely ever youthful, with whom Becky became suddenly besotted . . . With detailed and intriguing black and white illustrations throughout.
Jam-packed tales full of hilarity, excitement and fun but this latest in the Wings and Co. series from Sally Gardner, winner of the Costa Book Award 2013, and acclaimed artist, David Roberts is even more mashed up than usual. It sounds like a case for Wings & Co, the famous fairy detective agency when a giant bunny, out of control broomstick and magically shrinking cars are causing chaos! So can the Wings and Co. detectives of Emily, Budget and Fidget put a stop to this magical mischief before it's too late? Perfect for all young readers looking for a thoroughly engaging read. If you loved David Walliams's Gangsta Granny, you'll love these hilarious tales of mischief, mayhem, magic and mystery. One of our Books of the Year 2014
A brand new quirky detective series called WINGS & Co. brimming with humour, mystery and magic by million-copy selling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by David Roberts. Operation Bunny is the first case for the Fairy Detective Agency and with the help of a talking cat called Fidget and a grumpy fairy detective called Buster, it's up to Emily Vole to get to the bottom of Operation Bunny. It's a series that 7+ year olds shouldn't be missing.
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal Award-winning Sally Gardner tells a gripping, bloody and bold story drawing on the traditions of fairy stories of all kinds and especially Hans Christian Andersen’s The Tinder Box. Tinder tells how a young and romantic soldier finds true love by overcoming every kind of magic and trickery in the world through a mixture of bravery and cunning while also trying to hold fast to goodness and truth. Behind him and almost all he meets lie the horrors and the excitement of serving as a soldier; all of them long for a peaceful life they cannot resist the heady excitement of living with danger an urge that leads them all into violence with all the terrible attendant consequences. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2016 Book Award in the 12 - 16 year old category. This novel contains some strong language. A new novel by multi-award winning Sally Gardner is always highly anticipated. She is one of the most original writers of today, and The Door That Led To Where is typical of her writing: a story that will surprise readers as it intrigues and absorbs them. This is a time travel novel. AJ, the young hero, is able to travel through a door – a door to which he alone has the key – and into the London of 1830. Dickens is a palpable presence in the book and would have appreciated the story that unfolds, one of missing children, madness and murder. Both Londons – today’s and yesterday’s – are brought to life in vivid prose and images. AJ and his associates are great company and it looks like there may be more adventures for them to come – good news for readers! ~ Andrea Reece
This novel contains some strong language. A new novel by multi-award winning Sally Gardner is always highly anticipated. She is one of the most original writers of today, and The Door That Led To Where is typical of her writing: a story that will surprise readers as it intrigues and absorbs them. This is a time travel novel. AJ, the young hero, is able to travel through a door – a door to which he alone has the key – and into the London of 1830. Dickens is a palpable presence in the book and would have appreciated the story that unfolds, one of missing children, madness and murder. Both Londons – today’s and yesterday’s – are brought to life in vivid prose and images. AJ and his associates are great company and it looks like there may be more adventures for them to come – good news for readers! ~ Andrea Reece
One of our Books of the Year 2014 - November 2014 Book of the Month Jam-packed tales full of hilarity, excitement and fun but this latest in the Wings and Co. series from Sally Gardner, winner of the Costa Book Award 2013, and acclaimed artist, David Roberts is even more mashed up than usual. It sounds like a case for Wings & Co, the famous fairy detective agency when a giant bunny, out of control broomstick and magically shrinking cars are causing chaos! So can the Wings and Co. detectives of Emily, Budget and Fidget put a stop to this magical mischief before it's too late? Perfect for all young readers looking for a thoroughly engaging read. If you loved David Walliams's Gangsta Granny, you'll love these hilarious tales of mischief, mayhem, magic and mystery.
A brand new Early Reader edition of Sally Gardner's picture book based on the favourite nursery rhyme. Wonderful Illustrations and easy to follow words bring this well-known nursery rhyme to life. Great for sharing with young children and you can also enjoy the delightful nursery rhyme together at the end. Blue Early Reader books are the first stepping stone to independent reading, perfect for sharing and reading together.
Spot on the Fishcake! The famous fairy detective agency, Wings & Co, has a problem. Really quite a big problem. Well, a few of them actually. There's the missing giant, Billy Buckle, who has vanished without a trace, and left his giant daughter with the detectives. There's a surprise visit to the seaside, which uncovers a murder and a stolen diamond. And then there's that tricky business of the TV talent show. Squat on a squid, this is Emily, Buster and Fidget's most complicated case yet.
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal - Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Award-winning Sally Gardner tells a gripping, bloody and bold story drawing on the traditions of fairy stories of all kinds and especially Hans Christian Andersen’s The Tinder Box. Tinder tells how a young and romantic soldier finds true love by overcoming every kind of magic and trickery in the world through a mixture of bravery and cunning while also trying to hold fast to goodness and truth. Behind him and almost all he meets lie the horrors and the excitement of serving as a soldier; all of them long for a peaceful life they cannot resist the heady excitement of living with danger an urge that leads them all into violence with all the terrible attendant consequences.
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal - Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Award-winning Sally Gardner tells a gripping, bloody and bold story drawing on the traditions of fairy stories of all kinds and especially Hans Christian Andersen’s The Tinder Box. Tinder tells how a young and romantic soldier finds true love by overcoming every kind of magic and trickery in the world through a mixture of bravery and cunning while also trying to hold fast to goodness and truth. Behind him and almost all he meets lie the horrors and the excitement of serving as a soldier; all of them long for a peaceful life they cannot resist the heady excitement of living with danger an urge that leads them all into violence with all the terrible attendant consequences.
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal Award-winning Sally Gardner tells a gripping, bloody and bold story drawing on the traditions of fairy stories of all kinds and especially Hans Christian Andersen’s The Tinder Box. Tinder tells how a young and romantic soldier finds true love by overcoming every kind of magic and trickery in the world through a mixture of bravery and cunning while also trying to hold fast to goodness and truth. Behind him and almost all he meets lie the horrors and the excitement of serving as a soldier; all of them long for a peaceful life they cannot resist the heady excitement of living with danger an urge that leads them all into violence with all the terrible attendant consequences. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal Award-winning Sally Gardner tells a gripping, bloody and bold story drawing on the traditions of fairy stories of all kinds and especially Hans Christian Andersen’s The Tinder Box. Tinder tells how a young and romantic soldier finds true love by overcoming every kind of magic and trickery in the world through a mixture of bravery and cunning while also trying to hold fast to goodness and truth. Behind him and almost all he meets lie the horrors and the excitement of serving as a soldier; all of them long for a peaceful life they cannot resist the heady excitement of living with danger an urge that leads them all into violence with all the terrible attendant consequences. ~ Julia Eccleshare
February 2013 Book of the Month Award-winning Sally Gardner has written a deliciously topsy-turvy story as Wings & Co, a rather special fairy detective agency, gets on the case. When Sir Walter Cross, a man of remarkably regular habits, does something totally remarkable and unusual, Wings & Co begin an investigation. When two further completely unexpected events occur, the agency concludes that magic must be involved. Charming and funny, this is an imaginative delight. David Roberts’s illustrations capture it perfectly.
One of our Books of the Year 2013. Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. And Longlisted for the 2013 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize | Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. Sally Gardner tells a story that is rich in drama and ideas as Standish Treadwell, an unlikely hero, takes on the vicious forces of the repressive motherland in a novel set in a bleak world that is redeemed only by the very human qualities of some of the survivors. Standish and his remarkable grandfather keep going, eking out a living after the disappearance of Standish’s parents. Standish struggles at school and is the victim of relentless bullying. But then he finds a friend in the newly arrived Hector. When Hector is taken, the only hope lies in Standish…Luckily, Standish has just the qualities that are needed. September 2012 Book of the Month. Author Sally Gardner said, “Maggot Moon is the book I always wanted to write and Hot Key Books is the perfect home for it.” Sarah Odedina of publisher Hot Key Books added: “Sally is a writer of great and unique originality. In Maggot Moon she has created a brilliant, nerve-wracking and utterly gripping fable that will hold readers spellbound. Standish is a fabulous character and his purpose and adventure will resonate with readers of all ages. It is a novel that will be read, talked about and admired well into the future.” In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Maggot Moon a small number of teenagers were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'This totally original story is brilliant from beginning to end and each gripping chapter urges you to keep reading.'.... Scroll down to read more reviews... .............................................................. The full CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 shortlist: • The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan • A Greyhound Of A Girl by Roddy Doyle • Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner • In Darkness by Nick Lake • Wonder by RJ Palacio • Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick • A Boy And A Bear In A Boat by Dave Shelton • Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are the UK's oldest and most prestigious children's book awards. Often described by authors and illustrators as 'the one they want to win' - they are the gold standard in children's literature.The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people.
One of our Books of the Year 2013. Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. And Longlisted for the 2013 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize | Sally Gardner tells a story that is rich in drama and ideas as Standish Treadwell, an unlikely hero, takes on the vicious forces of the repressive motherland in a novel set in a bleak world that is redeemed only by the very human qualities of some of the survivors. Standish and his remarkable grandfather keep going, eking out a living after the disappearance of Standish’s parents. Standish struggles at school and is the victim of relentless bullying. But then he finds a friend in the newly arrived Hector. When Hector is taken, the only hope lies in Standish…Luckily, Standish has just the qualities that are needed.
A lovely gift book edition of four much-loved Early Reader Magical Princess stories: Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and The Frog Prince. These universally loved fairy tales are re-told with wit and charm in this beautiful book that makes the perfect Christmas gift.
A brand new quirky detective series called WINGS & Co. brimming with humour, mystery and magic by million-copy selling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by David Roberts. Operation Bunny is the first case for the Fairy Detective Agency and with the help of a talking cat called Fidget and a grumpy fairy detective called Buster, it's up to Emily Vole to get to the bottom of Operation Bunny. It's a series that 7+ year olds shouldn't be missing.
Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. And Longlisted for the 2013 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize September 2012 Book of the Month. Sally Gardner tells a story that is rich in drama and ideas as Standish Treadwell, an unlikely hero, takes on the vicious forces of the repressive motherland in a novel set in a bleak world that is redeemed only by the very human qualities of some of the survivors. Standish and his remarkable grandfather keep going, eking out a living after the disappearance of Standish’s parents. Standish struggles at school and is the victim of relentless bullying. But then he finds a friend in the newly arrived Hector. When Hector is taken, the only hope lies in Standish…Luckily, Standish has just the qualities that are needed. A PIECE OF PASSION FROM HOT KEY BOOKS MANAGING DIRECTOR, SARAH ODEDINA: Maggot Moon is one of those rare and wonderful books that actually does change the way you enjoy reading. It is a challenging read with really important themes but it is also a wonderful novel of friendship and trust and love as explored through the relationship between Standish and Hector, two boys living in a fraught political environment. Sally's voice in the novel is also unwaveringly original and unique as she writes in the first person from the perspective of Standish. In him she creates a courageous and unwitting hero who speaks to us all. We hope that we would have his loyalty and bravery. As a reader, and as an editor, Maggot Moon is a book that really does stand out in terms of its brilliant style and disarming charm. It is a book for all readers, young or old, who want to be moved and enlightened by the books that they read. Author Sally Gardner says, “Maggot Moon is the book I always wanted to write and Hot Key Books is the perfect home for it.” Sarah Odedina of publisher Hot Key Books adds: “Sally is a writer of great and unique originality. In Maggot Moon she has created a brilliant, nerve-wracking and utterly gripping fable that will hold readers spellbound. Standish is a fabulous character and his purpose and adventure will resonate with readers of all ages. It is a novel that will be read, talked about and admired well into the future.” Did you know that every Hot Key title will give you its unique Hot Key Ingredients: 50% Friendship, 20% Dangerous, 20% Rebellion, 10% Conspiracy which, together with our review and the opportunity to read a 'try before you buy' extract will help you decide whether it's the book for you. ABOUT HOT KEY: Hot Key Books is a brand new publisher that will focus on fiction for ages 9+ to young adult. The company name derives from the power of stories to open doors and feed the imagination of readers. Hot Key Books seeks to unlock the power of reading, a love of books and a joy of stories for readers of all ages. It also reflects the digital age in which we now live through its association with 'hot key' commands - the short cut command on a keyboard.
A girl tries to free herself from the terrifying double shadow of her childhood and forge her own future, but she is trapped in a memory machine created by her father. Against the tense backdrop of the Second World War Sally Gardner explores families and what binds them, fathers and daughters, past histories, passions and cruelty, love and devastation in a novel rich in character and beautifully crafted.
Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. And Longlisted for the 2013 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize Sally Gardner tells a story that is rich in drama and ideas as Standish Treadwell, an unlikely hero, takes on the vicious forces of the repressive motherland in a novel set in a bleak world that is redeemed only by the very human qualities of some of the survivors. Standish and his remarkable grandfather keep going, eking out a living after the disappearance of Standish’s parents. Standish struggles at school and is the victim of relentless bullying. But then he finds a friend in the newly arrived Hector. When Hector is taken, the only hope lies in Standish…Luckily, Standish has just the qualities that are needed. September 2012 Book of the Month. CHECK OUT SOME REVIEWS FROM TEENAGERS IN THE REVIEW SECTION FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE Author Sally Gardner said, “Maggot Moon is the book I always wanted to write and Hot Key Books is the perfect home for it.” Sarah Odedina of publisher Hot Key Books added: “Sally is a writer of great and unique originality. In Maggot Moon she has created a brilliant, nerve-wracking and utterly gripping fable that will hold readers spellbound. Standish is a fabulous character and his purpose and adventure will resonate with readers of all ages. It is a novel that will be read, talked about and admired well into the future.”
A girl tries to free herself from the terrifying double shadow of her childhood and forge her own future, but she is trapped in a memory machine created by her father. Against the tense backdrop of the Second World War Sally Gardner explores families and what binds them, fathers and daughters, past histories, passions and cruelty, love and devastation in a novel rich in character and beautifully crafted. The Double Shadow is one of the launch titles of new Young Adult imprint, Indigo, which will include authors Marcus Sedgwick, Mia James, Cliff McNish, Annabel Pitcher and Alan Gibbons to name just five.
A classic story stylishly updated and perfect for first time readers. Sally Gardner retells this favourite tale of how a real princess can only be found by testing how delicate and sensitive she really is. Lively illustrations create a suitably snobbish royal world with a modern look to it.
The Frog Prince, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story is perfect for early readers aged 5+ particularly if they're beginning to read with confidence. It's great to see an author of the calibre of Sally devoting time to writing for younger children as well.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story, perfect for early readers.
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. Sleeping Beauty, cursed to sleep for a hundred years, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story, perfect for early readers. Look out for more magical princess stories retold by Sally Gardner - Cinderella, Snow White, The frog Prince and The Princess and the Pea. There are lots of Early Reader titles to choose from that are great for sharing with your youngsters and for kids just starting out on the reading journey to read alone. Check out the extracts on the site as some of the titles are slightly more advanced than others - for example the Francesca Simon animal story titles set at Potters Barn are great to get started on whereas the Sally Gardner, Georgie Adams and Vivian French titles have a bit more text to each page. Each and every one of them though has full colour illustrations on every page.
Cinderella and the glass slipper, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story and her transformation from servant to princess is simply told in this beautifully illustrated Early Reader. Sally Gardner’s Cinderella is delightfully good-natured while her step-mother and step-sisters are suitably disagreeable! There are lots of Early Reader titles to choose from that are great for sharing with your youngsters and for kids just starting out on the reading journey to read alone. Check out the extracts on the site as some of the titles are slightly more advanced than others - for example the Francesca Simon animal story titles set at Potters Barn are great to get started on whereas the Sally Gardner, Georgie Adams and Vivian French titles have a bit more text to each page. Each and every one of them though has full colour illustrations on every page.
Shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2009 and for the Independent Booksellers' Book Prize 2010. The dramatic, horrific and sometimes romantic events of the FrenchRevolution, which Sally Gardner so brilliantly portrayed in The Red Necklaceare moved on a stage in this equally vivid and richly imagined sequel, yet stand-alone novel, which allows those already hooked to the exploits of the fascinating and compelling characters to really engage in a turbulent time in world history. Yet those who have not read The Red Necklace will be equally drawn into the quality and richness of the story and the superb characterisation. As well as providing a terrific insight into a brutal and sometimes horrific period of European history the reader will find many threads - secrets, magic, heroism and murder as well as a touching love story - to keep them turning the pages to the very end. Meg Rosoff on The Silver Blade: "The Silver Blade is a tale of swashbuckling heroics, a tragedy dripping with blood and loss, a delicious loves story set in the whirling heart of the French Revolution." Meg Rosoff on the author, Sally Gardner: "I bow to her storytelling brilliance." The shortlisted titles for the 2010 Independent Booksellers' Award were: Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates Auslander by Paul Dowswell Dogs by Emily Gravett The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech Henderson’s Boys: The Escape by Robert Muchamore Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray What’s for Dinner Mr Gum? by Andy Stanton Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce The Last Leopard by Lauren St John Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner
Contains: The Smallest Girl Ever, The Boy with the Magic Numbers, The Boy with the Magic FeetThree enchanting stories about children discovering secret gifts: Ruby keeps getting smaller and smaller but still shows how a girl tiny enough to fit in a handbag can still be clever and brave. Billy finds out his magic moneybox can crack a safe, solve a kidnapping and help him to get to know his father again. Meanwhile chubby Timmy Twinkle gets in shape and realises he's a master on the football field - a story of a child whose unhappiness is dispelled by his hidden talent. Click here to view all Sally Gardner’s titles including a further compilation of Magical Children on audio.
Contains: The Strongest Girl in the World, The Invisible Boy, The Boy who could Fly.Each of the Magical Children stories is about a child with a special gift. In The Invisible Boy, Sam is left in the care of the horrible Hilda Hardbottom when his parents go missing on a trip to the moon and makes friends with a little alien calls Splodge who shows him how to become invisible. The Strongest Girl in the World is about Josie Jenkins, aged 8, who suddenly finds that she can lift up a double decker bus with no effort at all and learns to live with the vicissitudes of fame and fortune. The Boy who Could Fly is Thomas Top, who is granted a birthday wish by the Fat Fairy and finds that his new talent has a wonderful effect on his whole life. Click here to view all Sally Gardner’s titles including a further compilation of Magical Children on audio.
CD Audio. The dramatic, horrific and sometimes romantic events of the FrenchRevolution, which Sally Gardner so brilliantly portrayed in The Red Necklaceare moved on a stage in this equally vivid and richly imagined sequel, yet stand-alone novel, which allows those already hooked to the exploits of the fascinating and compelling characters to really engage in a turbulent time in world history. Yet those who have not read The Red Necklace will be equally drawn into the quality and richness of the story and the superb characterisation. As well as providing a terrific insight into a brutal and sometimes horrific period of European history the reader will find many threads - secrets, magic, heroism and murder as well as a touching love story - to keep them turning the pages to the very end.
Shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2009 The dramatic, horrific and sometimes romantic events of the FrenchRevolution, which Sally Gardner so brilliantly portrayed in The Red Necklaceare moved on a stage in this equally vivid and richly imagined sequel, yet stand-alone novel, which allows those already hooked to the exploits of the fascinating and compelling characters to really engage in a turbulent time in world history. Yet those who have not read The Red Necklace will be equally drawn into the quality and richness of the story and the superb characterisation. As well as providing a terrific insight into a brutal and sometimes horrific period of European history the reader will find many threads - secrets, magic, heroism and murder as well as a touching love story - to keep them turning the pages to the very end. Meg Rosoff on The Silver Blade: "The Silver Blade is a tale of swashbuckling heroics, a tragedy dripping with blood and loss, a delicious loves story set in the whirling heart of the French Revolution." Meg Rosoff on the author, Sally Gardner: "I bow to her storytelling brilliance."
Set against the turbulent and drastically violent time of the French Revolution, this story is about a boy who is destined to become a hero. The plot takes you from Paris to London and back to Paris again to confront the full horrors of the guillotine. The Red Necklace is a tremendous adventure story told a breathtaking pace. Brilliantly rich and intricate in design and characters, this story is guaranteed to excite and compel its reader. Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The winner will be announced on 18th November.
Another fantastic book in the Sally Gardner’s Magical Children Series, about children empowered by special gifts. Once again it’s utterly charming full of feeling and very funny. This is the story of a little girl who is so tiny she fits into a handbag. Whilst minute sized she grows to be brave, strong and finds love. Very touching.
CD Audio. Set against the turbulent and drastically violent time of the French Revolution, this story is about a boy who is destined to become a hero. The plot takes you from Paris to London and back to Paris again to confront the full horrors of the guillotine. The Red Necklace is a tremendous adventure story told a breathtaking pace. Brilliantly rich and intricate in design and characters, this story is guaranteed to excite and compel its reader. Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The winner will be announced on 18th November.
A truly magical and funny story that is guaranteed to inspire girls from 6-10 to become green-fingered. Lucy’s knack in growing things better than anyone is a sight to behold but she must show her true talent when someone becomes more than a little disgruntled with her success. Can Lucy save the day? The author, Sally Gardner is an inspiration to any child with the challenge of dyslexia for she herself is severely dyslexic but has turned her hand to writing with huge success and is the winner of one of the most sought-after book awards.
A truly magical and funny story that is guaranteed to inspire girls from 6-10 to become green-fingered. Lucy’s knack in growing things better than anyone is a sight to behold but she must show her true talent when someone becomes more than a little disgruntled with her success. Can Lucy save the day? The author, Sally Gardner is an inspiration to any child with the challenge of dyslexia for she herself is severely dyslexic but has turned her hand to writing with huge success and is the winner of one of the most sought-after book awards.
Sally Gardner is a formidable talent as she manages so successfully to entrance, engage and grip the reader in a historical setting and in the originality of the storyline. The richness of the prose will delight adult and child alike leaving you gasping for breath and clamoring for more.
How chubby Timmy Tinkle goes from being teased and bullied about his weight to being a superstar football. Helped by his grandfather, Sheriff the parrot and May an absolute fitness fanatic, Timmy surprises everyone by discovering that, far from being useless at almost everything, he too can be a hero. It is a neat tale about self-belief in a series about Magical Children.
This is the audio CD version of Sally Gardner's classic tale set in the 17th Century. Sally Gardner is a formidable talent as she manages so successfully to entrance, engage and grip the reader in a historical setting and in the originality of the storyline. The richness of the prose will delight adult and child alike leaving you gasping for breath and clamoring for more.
The CD version of the story of a small girl who one day finds she can lift something as big as a bus. The first of an enchanting series about children empowered by magical gifts. A story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine.
This is the CD audio version of this fantastic book in the Sally Gardner’s Magical Children series, about children empowered by special gifts. Once again it’s utterly charming full of feeling and very funny. This is the story of a little girl who is so tiny she fits into a handbag. Whilst minute sized she grows to be brave, strong and finds love. Very touching.
CD Audio. Five favourite fairy stories retold for today's children with a delightful light touch, for which Sally Gardner is well known. Includes Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Sleeping Beauty, The Princess and the Pea and Snow White. Click here to view all Sally Gardner’s titles including further audio compilations.
A great travel story filled with adventure. Billy Pickles dad has left home and has given Billy a money box, unbeknownst to Billy the money box is magic but it’s only when Billy travels to New York to find his father and his Italian grandmother that he truly discovers the secret. An engaging, magical and often touching story that comes highly recommended.
When Sam discovers his parents have become lost in space he must go with an alien named Splodge to find them. With his new talent of invisibility and a brand new spacecraft; he just might stand a chance. Funny imaginative and touching, the Invisible boy sees Sally Gardner writing at the height of her powers.
Another fantastic book in the Sally Gardner’s Magical Children Series, about children empowered by special gifts. Once again it’s utterly charming full of feeling and very funny. This is the story of a little girl who is so tiny she fits into a handbag. Whilst minute sized she grows to be brave, strong and finds love. Very touching.
What happens when a small girl finds she can lift something as big as a bus? A whole lot of adventure is the answer. The first of an enchanting series about children empowered by magical gifts. A story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine.
Following the success of their first two adventures, Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon and Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Sea Dragon, the intrepid pair join Betsy's mum, Myrtle the mermaid beneath the waves, from bestselling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by Nick Maland. Crumble cakes! When Betsy joins Myrtle the mermaid in her underwater world, she discovers there may be monsters ... shipwrecks, lost treasure and secret cities. A seapig's prize seahorse, Pudding Pie, has been stolen by a cantankerous giant octopus and Betsy and Mr Tiger must go to the rescue in their new submarine. But what happens when a tiger's whiskers and tail are simply too long to squeeze into forgotten dark caverns where even the moon cannot shine, and Betsy has to take the final steps of the adventure on her own? The hardback edition of this book will be printed in blue ink in Dyslexie, a font specially designed to make reading easier - and more fun.
The mysterious Mr Tiger and the inquisitive Betsy K. Glory set off on their second adventure, from bestselling author Sally Gardner, sumptuously illustrated by Nick Maland. Crumble cakes! A red rogue wind is blowing and a wicked pirate captain and his crew are marauding the seven seas near the island left off the map of the world. A rare egg has gone missing and a very unhappy sea dragon wants it back. A pirate ship, the Kettle Black, is anchored in a secret cove off the island left off the map of the world. Betsy and her mum, Myrtle the mermaid, must dive deep beneath the waves, while Alfonso Glory and Mr Tiger fly high above the clouds in a hot air balloon... It's time for Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Gongalongs to set off on their second adventure... The hardback edition of this book is printed in blue ink in Dyslexie, a font specially designed to make reading easier - and more fun.
From I, Coriander to Invisible in a Bright Light, Sally Gardner's first middle grade novel in 14 years soars with the imagination of a master story-teller. A pitch-perfect story about a crystal chandelier that splinters into a thousand pieces, a girl abandoned as a baby on the steps of an opera house and a dangerous game called the Reckoning. It is 1870: opening night at the Royal Opera House in a freezing city by the sea, where a huge, crystal chandelier in the shape of a galleon sparkles magically with the light of 750 candles. Celeste, a theatre rat, wakes up in a costume basket from what she hopes is a bad dream, to find that everyone at the theatre where she works thinks she is someone else. When the chandelier falls, she is haunted by a strange girl who claims to know Celeste's past and why she must risk playing a game called the Reckoning to try to save the people she loves.
What a majestic conjuration of Middle Grade magic this is – think Alice in Wonderland in a dazzling theatrical setting. The year is 1870 and Celeste is a lowly orphan who runs errands in a Royal Opera House. She wakes one day haunted by a dream in which an enigmatic emerald suited-man spoke ominously of her involvement in a game called the Reckoning. Celeste recalls a shipwreck from the dream too and then, back in what appears to be real life, the opera house’s huge galleon-shaped crystal chandelier splinters into a thousand pieces and everyone thinks Celeste is someone else. The opening in which she cascades into the story world is as exhilaratingly bewildering as Alice’s entry to Wonderland: “Down she falls. Oh, how the world has tumbled.” Why does everyone think she’s a gifted dancer called Maria? Why can’t everyone see her? And so an intricate, suspenseful tale of identity plays out as Celeste struggles to untangle the truth, with dreadfully high stakes. Gardner’s cast of larger-than-life characters is vibrantly drawn, and special mention must be made of vindictive diva Madame Sabina and her awful daughter, and Celeste’s ally Viggo. But the true star of this production is - of course – Celeste, whose resolve is adeptly expressed through the thoughts of the mysterious man in the emerald suit: “Seldom has he met a child with strength enough to move on to the final part of the game.” This is a dream of a book for confident readers who relish fiction that ignites their imaginations and delight in flexing their cerebral muscles.
'I have no idea how long I have been incarcerated in these ancient walls . . . Let me explain how I find myself in this predicament . . .' Set in the hot houses of a stately home in eighteenth century England, a gardener falls from grace when the Duke sets him the impossible task of growing prize pineapples fit to show off in high society. The gardener's star falls further when he is replaced by Mr Amicus, a pineapple 'specialist', whom he believes to be a charlatan and a trickster - but nevertheless miraculously produces fruit to delight the Duke. Determined to uncover Mr Amicus's tricks, the gardener sneaks into the pineapple house to uncover the mysterious shrouded birdcage Mr Amicus carries with him. And what he finds changes his life for ever . . . A cautionary tale with echoes of myth and fairy tale, this bewitching fable will make you careful what you wish for.
The mysterious Mr Tiger and the inquisitive Betsy K. Glory set off on their second adventure, from bestselling author Sally Gardner, sumptuously illustrated by Nick Maland. Crumble cakes! A red rogue wind is blowing and a wicked pirate captain and his crew are marauding the seven seas near the island left off the map of the world. A rare egg has gone missing and a very unhappy sea dragon wants it back. A pirate ship, the Kettle Black, is anchored in a secret cove off the island left off the map of the world. Betsy and her mum, Myrtle the mermaid, must dive deep beneath the waves, while Alfonso Glory and Mr Tiger fly high above the clouds in a hot air balloon... It's time for Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Gongalongs to set off on their second adventure... The hardback edition of this book is printed in blue ink in Dyslexie, a font specially designed to make reading easier - and more fun.
A 2018 Times Book of the Year. An enchanting fairytale about Mr Tiger, and his troupe of acrobats, Betsy K Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker, from bestselling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by Nick Maland. 'Tigers have their secrets and their whiskers, their tails and their tales.' Sally Gardner's enchanting new series, illustrated by Nick Maland, is a fairytale full of traditional ingredients. When Betsy K Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker, meets the mysterious Mr Tiger they have a giant challenge: a moon to turn blue, berries to collect and wishable-delicious ice cream to create. The sort that makes wishes come true. With Mr Tiger and his troupe of Gongalong circus acrobats, a toad under a spell, a lonely giant, and Mum and Dad, Betsy sets off on her quest. The hardback edition of this book is printed in blue ink in Dyslexie, a font specially designed to make reading easier - and more fun. Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon made the 2018 Books of the Year round-ups in The Times, the Telegraph, Evening Standard, the Scotsman and Big Issue.
An enchanting fairytale about Mr Tiger, and his troupe of acrobats, Betsy K. Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice-cream maker, from bestselling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by Nick Maland. 'Tigers have their secrets and their whiskers, their tails and their tales.' Sally Gardner's enchanting new series, illustrated by Nick Maland, is a fairy tale full of traditional ingredients. When Betsy K. Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice-cream maker, meets the mysterious Mr Tiger they have a giant challenge: a moon to turn blue, berries to collect and wishable-delicious ice-cream to create. The sort that makes wishes come true. With Mr Tiger and his troupe of Gongalong circus acrobats, a toad under a spell, a lonely giant, and Mum and Dad, Betsy sets off on her quest. This book will be printed in blue ink in Dyslexie, a font specially designed to make reading easier - and more fun. Sally is the founder of NuWord, which champions positive debate about dyslexia.
A 2018 Times Book of the Year. An enchanting fairytale about Mr Tiger, and his troupe of acrobats, Betsy K Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker, from bestselling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by Nick Maland. 'Tigers have their secrets and their whiskers, their tails and their tales.' Sally Gardner's enchanting new series, illustrated by Nick Maland, is a fairytale full of traditional ingredients. When Betsy K Glory, the daughter of a mermaid and an ice cream maker, meets the mysterious Mr Tiger they have a giant challenge: a moon to turn blue, berries to collect and wishable-delicious ice cream to create. The sort that makes wishes come true. With Mr Tiger and his troupe of Gongalong circus acrobats, a toad under a spell, a lonely giant, and Mum and Dad, Betsy sets off on her quest. The hardback edition of this book is printed in blue ink in Dyslexie, a font specially designed to make reading easier - and more fun. Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon made the 2018 Books of the Year round-ups in The Times, the Telegraph, Evening Standard, the Scotsman and Big Issue.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, a tale of love, disappearance and trust as Becky disappears and her friend Jazmin is suspected of somehow being complicit in that disappearance. A challenging and rewarding read.
An extraordinary tale about the search for love from the acclaimed Costa and Carnegie Award winning novelist Sally Gardner.Jazmin has been shunned ever since her best friend Becky disappeared. But Becky didn't just disappear - she jumped off a tall building and seemingly never reached the ground. It was as if she simply vanished into thin air. Did Jazmin have something to do with her disappearance? Or was it more to do with Icarus, so beguiling and strangely ever youthful, with whom Becky became suddenly besotted . . .With detailed and intriguing black and white illustrations throughout.
Jazmin has been shunned ever since her best friend Becky disappeared. But Becky didn't just disappear - she jumped off a tall building and seemingly never reached the ground. It was as if she simply vanished into thin air. Did Jazmin have something to do with her disappearance? Or was it more to do with Icarus, so beguiling and strangely ever youthful, with whom Becky became suddenly besotted . . . With detailed and intriguing black and white illustrations throughout.
Cinderella and the glass slipper, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story and her transformation from servant to princess is simply told in this beautifully illustrated Early Reader. Sally Gardner’s Cinderella is delightfully good-natured while her step-mother and step-sisters are suitably disagreeable! There are lots of Early Reader titles to choose from that are great for sharing with your youngsters and for kids just starting out on the reading journey to read alone. Check out the extracts on the site as some of the titles are slightly more advanced than others - for example the Francesca Simon animal story titles set at Potters Barn are great to get started on whereas the Sally Gardner, Georgie Adams and Vivian French titles have a bit more text to each page. Each and every one of them though has full colour illustrations on every page.
'Agatha Christie for kids' - a brand new mystery in the detective agency series brimming with mystery and magic by million-copy-selling author, Sally Gardner. The detectives at Wings and Co are in a bit of bother. There is a lost leprechaun on the loose and carpets are flying all over the village of Podgy Bottom, as if by magic. Oh, and worst of all, Fidget the cat has vanished on VERY URGENT business. It looks like a tricky case for our fairy detectives . . .
'Agatha Christie for kids' - the third in a detective agency series brimming with mystery and magic by million-copy-selling author, Sally Gardner, and illustrated by acclaimed artist, David Roberts. The famous detective agency, Wings & Co, has a problem. Really quite a big problem. Well, a few of them actually. There's the missing giant, Billy Buckle, who has vanished without a trace, and left his giant daughter with the detectives. There's a surprise visit to the seaside, which uncovers a murder and a stolen diamond. And then there's that tricky business of the TV talent show. Squat on a squid, this is Emily, Buster and Fidget's most complicated case yet! Includes Wings and Co detective case notes, character profiles and clues. Previously published under the title THE VANISHING OF BILLY BUCKLE.
Jam-packed tales full of hilarity, excitement and fun but this latest in the Wings and Co. series from Sally Gardner, winner of the Costa Book Award 2013, and acclaimed artist, David Roberts is even more mashed up than usual. It sounds like a case for Wings & Co, the famous fairy detective agency when a giant bunny, out of control broomstick and magically shrinking cars are causing chaos! So can the Wings and Co. detectives of Emily, Budget and Fidget put a stop to this magical mischief before it's too late? Perfect for all young readers looking for a thoroughly engaging read. If you loved David Walliams's Gangsta Granny, you'll love these hilarious tales of mischief, mayhem, magic and mystery. One of our Books of the Year 2014
A brand new quirky detective series called WINGS & Co. brimming with humour, mystery and magic by million-copy selling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by David Roberts. Operation Bunny is the first case for the Fairy Detective Agency and with the help of a talking cat called Fidget and a grumpy fairy detective called Buster, it's up to Emily Vole to get to the bottom of Operation Bunny. It's a series that 7+ year olds shouldn't be missing.
Award-winning Sally Gardner has written a deliciously topsy-turvy story as Wings & Co, a rather special fairy detective agency, gets on the case. When Sir Walter Cross, a man of remarkably regular habits, does something totally remarkable and unusual, Wings & Co begin an investigation. When two further completely unexpected events occur, the agency concludes that magic must be involved. Charming and funny, this is an imaginative delight. David Roberts’s illustrations capture it perfectly.
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal Award-winning Sally Gardner tells a gripping, bloody and bold story drawing on the traditions of fairy stories of all kinds and especially Hans Christian Andersen’s The Tinder Box. Tinder tells how a young and romantic soldier finds true love by overcoming every kind of magic and trickery in the world through a mixture of bravery and cunning while also trying to hold fast to goodness and truth. Behind him and almost all he meets lie the horrors and the excitement of serving as a soldier; all of them long for a peaceful life they cannot resist the heady excitement of living with danger an urge that leads them all into violence with all the terrible attendant consequences. ~ Julia Eccleshare
AJ Flynn has just failed all but one of his GCSEs, and his future is looking far from rosy. So when he is offered a junior position at a London law firm he hopes his life is about to change - but he could never have imagined by how much. Tidying up the archive one day, AJ finds an old key, mysteriously labelled with his name and date of birth - and he becomes determined to find the door that fits the key. And so begins an amazing journey to a very real and tangible past - 1830, to be precise - where the streets of modern Clerkenwell are replaced with cobbles and carts, and the law can be twisted to suit a villain's means. Although life in 1830 is cheap, AJ and his friends quickly find that their own lives have much more value. They've gone from sad youth statistics to young men with purpose - and at the heart of everything lies a crime that only they can solve. But with enemies all around, can they unravel the mysteries of the past, before it unravels them? A fast-paced mystery novel by one of the country's finest writers, THE DOOR THAT LED TO WHERE will delight, surprise and mesmerise all those who read it.
The story is told by Coriander, daughter of a silk merchant in 1650s London. Her idyllic childhood ends when her mother dies and her father goes away, leaving Coriander with her stepmother, a widow who is in cahoots with a fundamentalist Puritan preacher. She is shut away in a chest and left to die, but emerges into the fairy world from which her mother came, and where time has no meaning. When she returns, charged with a task that will transform her life, she is seventeen. This is a book filled with enchantments -- a pair of silver shoes, a fairy shadow, a prince transformed into a fox - that contrast with the heartbreaking loss and cruelty of Coriander's life in the real world. With its brilliantly realized setting of old London Bridge, and underpinned by the conflict between Royalists and Puritans, it is a terrific page turner, involving kidnapping, murder and romance, and an abundance of vivid characters.
A girl tries to free herself from the terrifying double shadow of her childhood and forge her own future, but she is trapped in a memory machine created by her father. Against the tense backdrop of the Second World War Sally Gardner explores families and what binds them, fathers and daughters, past histories, passions and cruelty, love and devastation in a novel rich in character and beautifully crafted.
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2016 Book Award in the 12 - 16 year old category. This novel contains some strong language. A new novel by multi-award winning Sally Gardner is always highly anticipated. She is one of the most original writers of today, and The Door That Led To Where is typical of her writing: a story that will surprise readers as it intrigues and absorbs them. This is a time travel novel. AJ, the young hero, is able to travel through a door – a door to which he alone has the key – and into the London of 1830. Dickens is a palpable presence in the book and would have appreciated the story that unfolds, one of missing children, madness and murder. Both Londons – today’s and yesterday’s – are brought to life in vivid prose and images. AJ and his associates are great company and it looks like there may be more adventures for them to come – good news for readers! ~ Andrea Reece
This novel contains some strong language. A new novel by multi-award winning Sally Gardner is always highly anticipated. She is one of the most original writers of today, and The Door That Led To Where is typical of her writing: a story that will surprise readers as it intrigues and absorbs them. This is a time travel novel. AJ, the young hero, is able to travel through a door – a door to which he alone has the key – and into the London of 1830. Dickens is a palpable presence in the book and would have appreciated the story that unfolds, one of missing children, madness and murder. Both Londons – today’s and yesterday’s – are brought to life in vivid prose and images. AJ and his associates are great company and it looks like there may be more adventures for them to come – good news for readers! ~ Andrea Reece
One of our Books of the Year 2014 - November 2014 Book of the Month Jam-packed tales full of hilarity, excitement and fun but this latest in the Wings and Co. series from Sally Gardner, winner of the Costa Book Award 2013, and acclaimed artist, David Roberts is even more mashed up than usual. It sounds like a case for Wings & Co, the famous fairy detective agency when a giant bunny, out of control broomstick and magically shrinking cars are causing chaos! So can the Wings and Co. detectives of Emily, Budget and Fidget put a stop to this magical mischief before it's too late? Perfect for all young readers looking for a thoroughly engaging read. If you loved David Walliams's Gangsta Granny, you'll love these hilarious tales of mischief, mayhem, magic and mystery.
A brand new Early Reader edition of Sally Gardner's picture book based on the favourite nursery rhyme. Wonderful Illustrations and easy to follow words bring this well-known nursery rhyme to life. Great for sharing with young children and you can also enjoy the delightful nursery rhyme together at the end. Blue Early Reader books are the first stepping stone to independent reading, perfect for sharing and reading together.
A beautiful limited edition of Sally Gardner's Costa Prize winning novel A starkly original and heartbreaking tale of friendship and rebellion Winner of the Carnegie Medal and a 2012 Costa Award winner. Narrated against the backdrop of a ruthless regime determined to beat its enemies in the race to the moon, MAGGOT MOON is the stunning new novel from award-winning author Sally Gardner. When his best friend Hector is suddenly taken away, Standish Treadwell realises that it is up to him, his grandfather and a small band of rebels to confront and defeat the ever-present oppressive forces of the Motherland. Utterly original and stunning, it is impossible not to be moved by MAGGOT MOON's powerful story and the unforgettable heroism of Standish.
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal - Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Award-winning Sally Gardner tells a gripping, bloody and bold story drawing on the traditions of fairy stories of all kinds and especially Hans Christian Andersen’s The Tinder Box. Tinder tells how a young and romantic soldier finds true love by overcoming every kind of magic and trickery in the world through a mixture of bravery and cunning while also trying to hold fast to goodness and truth. Behind him and almost all he meets lie the horrors and the excitement of serving as a soldier; all of them long for a peaceful life they cannot resist the heady excitement of living with danger an urge that leads them all into violence with all the terrible attendant consequences.
A complete collection of all 6 books in the Magical Children series, from bestselling, award-winning author Sally Gardner.The collection includes:The Boy Who Could FlyThe Boy With The Lightning FeetThe Boy With The Magic NumbersThe Invisible BoyThe Smallest Girl EverThe Strongest Girl In The World
When his parents are lost in space, Sam is left, heartbroken, in the care of the horrible Hilda Hardbottom. Then he finds a tiny spaceship in the cabbage patch and meets a little alien called Splodge. How Splodge makes him invisible, and how Sam uses his new talent in his darkest hour, makes a touching and extremely funny story with lovely memorable characters.
Ruby Genie is an orphan. Everyone expects her to have the same fantastic magical powers as her famous parents did, but Ruby can't do any magic at all - or so she thinks. and feels a complete failure. Then she begins to get smaller ...and smaller ...and smaller. With a cast of unforgettable characters such as the self-important magician the Great Alfonso, and Aunt Hat the kindly lady conjuror who is hopeless at doing tricks, this wonderful story is full of adventure and shows how a little girl who is so tiny that she fits into a handbag can still be clever and brave and find people to love and value her. An utterly charming story, full of feeling, and very funny. Sally's own delightful line drawings all the way through make it a very attractive package.
Josie Jenkins, aged eight and three quarters, can do a few tricks, but she astonishes herself and everyone else when she finds she can lift a table, a car and even a bus with no effort at all. Josie becomes famous, and Mr Two Suit sweeps in with a contract and swoops the whole family off to New York. How Josie copes with fame and fortune, and with the loss of it when she wakes up one day to find she can't do her trick any more, makes a story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine you have to cheer for. Entrancing drawings on every page make this a really special book.
One day the Fat Fairy turns up at Thomas Top's house to grant him a birthday wish. Thomas can't think what to ask for, so he wishes he could fly. That's how Thomas goes from being just an ordinary boy whom no one notices to being the most popular boy in the school. But it makes him sad that grown-ups can't see the wonderful things he can do. His flying gets him suspended from school, and that makes life at home much worse, because his dad gets so cross and it makes his mum miserable. But then the Fat Fairy turns up again, and with help from her and Thomas's new friend Mr Vinnie, a retired painter and decorator who has been flying since he was Thomas's age, everything changes. This is an enchanting story in which an unconfident child discovers a special gift that brings him joy and heartache. The magic of the words, the humour and poignancy of the story and the wonderful characters, are all enhanced by the author's own delightful drawings.
One of our Books of the Year 2013. Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. And Longlisted for the 2013 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize | Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. Sally Gardner tells a story that is rich in drama and ideas as Standish Treadwell, an unlikely hero, takes on the vicious forces of the repressive motherland in a novel set in a bleak world that is redeemed only by the very human qualities of some of the survivors. Standish and his remarkable grandfather keep going, eking out a living after the disappearance of Standish’s parents. Standish struggles at school and is the victim of relentless bullying. But then he finds a friend in the newly arrived Hector. When Hector is taken, the only hope lies in Standish…Luckily, Standish has just the qualities that are needed. September 2012 Book of the Month. Author Sally Gardner said, “Maggot Moon is the book I always wanted to write and Hot Key Books is the perfect home for it.” Sarah Odedina of publisher Hot Key Books added: “Sally is a writer of great and unique originality. In Maggot Moon she has created a brilliant, nerve-wracking and utterly gripping fable that will hold readers spellbound. Standish is a fabulous character and his purpose and adventure will resonate with readers of all ages. It is a novel that will be read, talked about and admired well into the future.” In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Maggot Moon a small number of teenagers were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'This totally original story is brilliant from beginning to end and each gripping chapter urges you to keep reading.'.... Scroll down to read more reviews... .............................................................. The full CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 shortlist: • The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan • A Greyhound Of A Girl by Roddy Doyle • Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner • In Darkness by Nick Lake • Wonder by RJ Palacio • Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick • A Boy And A Bear In A Boat by Dave Shelton • Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are the UK's oldest and most prestigious children's book awards. Often described by authors and illustrators as 'the one they want to win' - they are the gold standard in children's literature.The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by children's librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people.
A brand new quirky detective series called WINGS & Co. brimming with humour, mystery and magic by million-copy selling author Sally Gardner and illustrated by David Roberts. Operation Bunny is the first case for the Fairy Detective Agency and with the help of a talking cat called Fidget and a grumpy fairy detective called Buster, it's up to Emily Vole to get to the bottom of Operation Bunny. It's a series that 7+ year olds shouldn't be missing.
Winner of the two most prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 and the Children's Costa Award 2012. And Longlisted for the 2013 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize Sally Gardner tells a story that is rich in drama and ideas as Standish Treadwell, an unlikely hero, takes on the vicious forces of the repressive motherland in a novel set in a bleak world that is redeemed only by the very human qualities of some of the survivors. Standish and his remarkable grandfather keep going, eking out a living after the disappearance of Standish’s parents. Standish struggles at school and is the victim of relentless bullying. But then he finds a friend in the newly arrived Hector. When Hector is taken, the only hope lies in Standish…Luckily, Standish has just the qualities that are needed. September 2012 Book of the Month. CHECK OUT SOME REVIEWS FROM TEENAGERS IN THE REVIEW SECTION FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE Author Sally Gardner said, “Maggot Moon is the book I always wanted to write and Hot Key Books is the perfect home for it.” Sarah Odedina of publisher Hot Key Books added: “Sally is a writer of great and unique originality. In Maggot Moon she has created a brilliant, nerve-wracking and utterly gripping fable that will hold readers spellbound. Standish is a fabulous character and his purpose and adventure will resonate with readers of all ages. It is a novel that will be read, talked about and admired well into the future.”
A girl tries to free herself from the terrifying double shadow of her childhood and forge her own future, but she is trapped in a memory machine created by her father. Against the tense backdrop of the Second World War Sally Gardner explores families and what binds them, fathers and daughters, past histories, passions and cruelty, love and devastation in a novel rich in character and beautifully crafted. The Double Shadow is one of the launch titles of new Young Adult imprint, Indigo, which will include authors Marcus Sedgwick, Mia James, Cliff McNish, Annabel Pitcher and Alan Gibbons to name just five.
A classic story stylishly updated and perfect for first time readers. Sally Gardner retells this favourite tale of how a real princess can only be found by testing how delicate and sensitive she really is. Lively illustrations create a suitably snobbish royal world with a modern look to it.
The Frog Prince, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story is perfect for early readers aged 5+ particularly if they're beginning to read with confidence. It's great to see an author of the calibre of Sally devoting time to writing for younger children as well.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story, perfect for early readers.
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. Sleeping Beauty, cursed to sleep for a hundred years, retold by bestselling author Sally Gardner in a magical princess story, perfect for early readers. Look out for more magical princess stories retold by Sally Gardner - Cinderella, Snow White, The frog Prince and The Princess and the Pea. There are lots of Early Reader titles to choose from that are great for sharing with your youngsters and for kids just starting out on the reading journey to read alone. Check out the extracts on the site as some of the titles are slightly more advanced than others - for example the Francesca Simon animal story titles set at Potters Barn are great to get started on whereas the Sally Gardner, Georgie Adams and Vivian French titles have a bit more text to each page. Each and every one of them though has full colour illustrations on every page.
Shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2009 and for the Independent Booksellers' Book Prize 2010. The dramatic, horrific and sometimes romantic events of the FrenchRevolution, which Sally Gardner so brilliantly portrayed in The Red Necklaceare moved on a stage in this equally vivid and richly imagined sequel, yet stand-alone novel, which allows those already hooked to the exploits of the fascinating and compelling characters to really engage in a turbulent time in world history. Yet those who have not read The Red Necklace will be equally drawn into the quality and richness of the story and the superb characterisation. As well as providing a terrific insight into a brutal and sometimes horrific period of European history the reader will find many threads - secrets, magic, heroism and murder as well as a touching love story - to keep them turning the pages to the very end. Meg Rosoff on The Silver Blade: "The Silver Blade is a tale of swashbuckling heroics, a tragedy dripping with blood and loss, a delicious loves story set in the whirling heart of the French Revolution." Meg Rosoff on the author, Sally Gardner: "I bow to her storytelling brilliance." The shortlisted titles for the 2010 Independent Booksellers' Award were: Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates Auslander by Paul Dowswell Dogs by Emily Gravett The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech Henderson’s Boys: The Escape by Robert Muchamore Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray What’s for Dinner Mr Gum? by Andy Stanton Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce The Last Leopard by Lauren St John Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner
Set against the turbulent and drastically violent time of the French Revolution, this story is about a boy who is destined to become a hero. The plot takes you from Paris to London and back to Paris again to confront the full horrors of the guillotine. The Red Necklace is a tremendous adventure story told a breathtaking pace. Brilliantly rich and intricate in design and characters, this story is guaranteed to excite and compel its reader. Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The winner will be announced on 18th November.
The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead. Yann is spirited away to London but three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out Kalliovski's darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror. THE RED NECKLACE is not only a tremendous adventure story but a vibrant and passionate picture of Paris in turmoil and of a large cast of memorable characters.
A truly magical and funny story that is guaranteed to inspire girls from 6-10 to become green-fingered. Lucy’s knack in growing things better than anyone is a sight to behold but she must show her true talent when someone becomes more than a little disgruntled with her success. Can Lucy save the day? The author, Sally Gardner is an inspiration to any child with the challenge of dyslexia for she herself is severely dyslexic but has turned her hand to writing with huge success and is the winner of one of the most sought-after book awards.
I looked back into the room. The floor had become a sea and my parents' bed a ship, seen from a great distance. I could hear their voices calling me from far away. It lasted a minute or less. Maybe I dreamed it. Maybe I didn't. It was an image that came to haunt me, and I have often wondered what would have happened if I had done as I was told and left the silver shoes alone. Would everything then have been all right?It is the night, and I have lit the first of seven candles to write my story by. My name is Coriander Hobie, and I have a great many things to tellof silver shoes that tempted me and an alligator most rare; of London, the home of my childhood, and another, stranger land, one that I thought only existed in dreams; and of an ebony box whose treasure only now am I beginning to understand. The box was once my mother's, but its secrets were meant for me.This being my story and a fairy tale besides, I will start once upon a time. . .
Sally Gardner is a formidable talent as she manages so successfully to entrance, engage and grip the reader in a historical setting and in the originality of the storyline. The richness of the prose will delight adult and child alike leaving you gasping for breath and clamoring for more.
The story is told by Coriander, daughter of a silk merchant in 1650s London. Her idyllic childhood ends when her mother dies and her father goes away, leaving Coriander with her stepmother, a widow who is in cahoots with a fundamentalist Puritan preacher. She is shut away in a chest and left to die, but emerges into the fairy world from which her mother came, and where time has no meaning. When she returns, charged with a task that will transform her life, she is seventeen. This is a book filled with enchantments -- a pair of silver shoes, a fairy shadow, a prince transformed into a fox - that contrast with the heartbreaking loss and cruelty of Coriander's life in the real world. With its brilliantly realized setting of old London Bridge, and underpinned by the conflict between Royalists and Puritans, it is a terrific page turner, involving kidnapping, murder and romance, and an abundance of vivid characters. Coriander is a heroine to love. Her story will establish Sally Gardner as a children's writer of boundless imagination and originality.
37 familiar rhymes, songs and games, ranging from the traditional Ring-a-Ring o' Roses to Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear. The CD contains ALL the songs, rhymes and games from the book PLAYTIME RHYMES performed by Angela Dijksman and Heather Chivers..
Each of the Magical Children stories is about a child with a special gift. In THE INVISIBLE BOY, Sam is left in the care of the horrible Hilda Hardbottom when his parents go missing on a trip to the moon, and makes friends with a little alien calls Splodge who shows him how to become invisible. THE STRONGEST GIRL IN THE WORLD is about Josie Jenkins, aged 8, who suddenly finds that she can lift up a double decker bus with no effort at all, and learns to live with the vicissitudes of fame and fortune. And THE BOY WHO COULD FLY is Thomas Top, who is granted a birthday wish by the Fat Fairy and finds that his new talent has a wonderful effect on his whole life. Funny, poignant, and charmingly packaged with the author's own drawings, these stories by the uniquely talented Sally Gardner have already proved immensely popular, and this collection is a lovely way to introduce them to a whole new readership.
The CD version of the story of a small girl who one day finds she can lift something as big as a bus. The first of an enchanting series about children empowered by magical gifts. A story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine.
CD Audio. Five favourite fairy stories retold for today's children with a delightful light touch, for which Sally Gardner is well known. Includes Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Sleeping Beauty, The Princess and the Pea and Snow White. Click here to view all Sally Gardner’s titles including further audio compilations.
A little girl is worried that her mother is going out for the evening and her worries soon take on an epic scale. Maybe her mother will be kidnapped, or eaten by giants, or even worse, maybe her mother will run away and not come back...But her mother is going to go out and have fun and soon the little girl is finding distraction in the form of a very playful babysitter. When the girl's mother returns at the end of the evening both parent and child have had a lovely time.
A great travel story filled with adventure. Billy Pickles dad has left home and has given Billy a money box, unbeknownst to Billy the money box is magic but it’s only when Billy travels to New York to find his father and his Italian grandmother that he truly discovers the secret. An engaging, magical and often touching story that comes highly recommended.
Boolar has his big chance of fame when he lands himself the plum role of Tom Thumb in the Puppet Theatre playing in the park. But Boolar's performance nerves get the better of him and an ill-fated romance mean that things don't turn out quite as Boolar would like. Despite this Boolar's sense of his own importance cause a rift between him and the mis-matched family of dolls. Can Boolar survive the pit-falls of stardom as well as negotiate the troubled area of romance and still stay true to himelf and his friends? Fortunately for him his family of dolls and the wonderful Mr and Mrs Mouse love him dearly and are on hand to offer help and advice just when Boolar needs it the most. In this fantastic book, and the series as a whole, Sally Gardner has brought all of life's mysterious and myriad adventures to play. Her characters are brilliant little microcosms of the human race and their stories are as touching as any can be.
When Sam discovers his parents have become lost in space he must go with an alien named Splodge to find them. With his new talent of invisibility and a brand new spacecraft; he just might stand a chance. Funny imaginative and touching, the Invisible boy sees Sally Gardner writing at the height of her powers.
One day the Fat Fairy turns up at Thomas Top's house to grant him a birthday wish. Thomas can't think what to ask for, so he wishes he could fly. That's how Thomas goes from being just an ordinary boy whom no one notices to being the most popular boy in the school. But it makes him sad that grown-ups can't see the wonderful things he can do. His flying gets him suspended from school, and that makes life at home much worse, because his dad gets so cross and it makes his mum miserable. But then the Fat Fairy turns up again, and with help from her and Thomas's new friend Mr Vinnie, a retired painter and decorator who has been flying since he was Thomas's age, everything changes. This is an enchanting story in which an unconfident child discovers a special gift that brings him joy and heartache. The magic of the words, the humour and poignancy of the story and the wonderful characters, are all enhanced by the author's own delightful drawings.
Another fantastic book in the Sally Gardner’s Magical Children Series, about children empowered by special gifts. Once again it’s utterly charming full of feeling and very funny. This is the story of a little girl who is so tiny she fits into a handbag. Whilst minute sized she grows to be brave, strong and finds love. Very touching.
What happens when a small girl finds she can lift something as big as a bus? A whole lot of adventure is the answer. The first of an enchanting series about children empowered by magical gifts. A story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine.
