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Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Key Stage 2The first book in Chris Riddell's much-loved Ottoline series. Now in paperback for the first time. A glorious adventure fantasy told in words and loads of Chris Riddell’s fabulous pictures, this tells how Ottoline, who loves solving puzzles, and her friend Mr Munro, a cat with a distinct personality and a number of foibles, set out to resolve the mystery of the lapdogs who are being stolen from all over town. A beautiful book to read or even just to hold. Shortlisted for the prestigious 2008 Kate Greenaway Medal. Winner of the 2007 Nestle Children's Book Prize Gold Award (6-8 category)
Ottoline Goes to School
Key Stage 2A wonderful quirky mystery adventure that follows the story of Miss Ottoline Brown, the inquisitive Mistress of Disguise, and her partner in crime, her hairy and helpful friend, Mr Munroe, first introduced in Ottoline and the Yellow Cat. No secret is ever too scary (eventhough the school is more than a bit scary for Munroe) for the two of them to discover together as well as puzzles to solve. Riddell’s sumptuous illustrations interspersed throughout the text make this ideal for 7-9 year olds as well as younger children whose parents want to read it with their child. It really is a beautiful production of a book – something to truly treasure and return to in years to come. A classic is born. Now available in paperback for the first time. Shortlisted for the prestigious Sheffield Children's Book Award 2009
Ottoline at Sea
Key Stage 2Chris Riddell Children's Laureate 2015-2017 Award winning author/ illustrator Chris Riddell weaves another fantastical story about Ottoline and her very special and very hairy friend, Mr. Munroe. Ottoline and Mr. Munroe love solving tricky problems and working out clever plans; they love putting on disguises and travelling across enormous spaces. When Mr. Munroe disappears leaving a clue to his whereabouts written in string wrapped around the sofa, Ottoline has to travel over and under the sea equipped with her Amateur Roving Collectors’ travel pass to find him. Brilliantly told in words and pictures this is a captivating adventure, irresistible to follow. Shortlisted for the prestigious Sheffield Children's Book Award 2011
The Sleeper and the Spindle
Key Stage 2Winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2016. Award-winning Neil Gaiman shows all his story telling skills in this gripping fusion of familiar fairy tales told in a dark-hearted version with some original characters. Especially a bold-hearted queen. Not far from where the queen lives, a princess is under the spell of an enchantress who has put a whole country to sleep. Despite it being the eve of her wedding day, the bold queen decides to take action. Slipping into her mail shirt she arms herself with her sword and sets off out of the palace accompanied by the three dwarves who will lead her through the tunnels…The dark magic, great courage and spell-binding imagination that power this story is perfectly realised in Chris Riddell’s awesome illustrations. ~ Julia Eccleshare
The Snow Merchant
Key Stage 2The Snow Merchant is a fantasy filled with family secrets, magical transformations and wild adventure. Join Lettie on her journey to uncover the true meaning of snow, family and friendship. A gripping debut.
Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death
Key Stage 2Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award 2015 Best Story - October 2014 Book of the Month Award-winning author/ illustrator Chris Riddell has created a hilarious sequel to the much-loved Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse and this time it has a topical theme. Ada lives in Ghastly-Gorm Hall, a place where magic rules and nothing is quite what it seems. The Ghastly-Gorm Garden Party is coming soon and the high spot will be the Ghastly-Gorm Bake Off. Celebrity chefs with some very remarkable magic tricks will be competing. But, when a group of vampires swoop down for some tasty action of their own, it looks as if all the plans will be scuppered. Luckily, Ada Goth is a very remarkable girl…Chris Riddell’s bake-off creations are sensationally realised in his wonderful illustrations. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Witchworld
Key Stage 2September 2014 Book of the Month Pixies, ghouls, and a granny who is stuck in the old ways are just some of the characters in this highly entertaining and action-packed story set in a witchy world that is as new fangled as our own. Cauldron’s are so yesterday, Flo would never be seen dead with one. She talks to her friends on a skychatter and, if she’s going to travel, she’d take a skycab rather than ride on a wobbly broomstick. Flo is passionate about saving pixies who are almost extinct while Grandma dreads an invasion of ghouls who she thinks are about to attack the Witchworld. Chris Riddell’s illustrations bring this ebullient world, so like our own and so different, vividly to life.
Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse
Key Stage 2Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Winner of the Costa Children's Book Award 2013 Bestselling author/illustrator Chris Riddell creates a fantastical world in which Ada Goth, daughter of the strange Lord Goth of Ghastly-Gorm Hall, is growing up. Ada’s mother is dead and her father is very, very strange! Surrounded by a motley crew of servants and many ghosts, Ada’s life is lonely until she meets Ishmael, a ghostly mouse. Soon Ada and Ishmael are off on some very special adventures! Magic and invention pour forth in this splendidly entertaining story which is also packed full of jokes. Chris Riddell’s illustrations bring everything he imagines to life. _______________________ The Costa Book Awards honour some of the most outstanding books of the year written by authors based in the UK and Ireland. The full shortlist for the Children's Book Award is... Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery. The Hanged Man Rises by Sarah Naughton Goth Girl: and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein Keep up to date with the Costa Book Awards @CostaBookAwards
Coraline
Key Stage 2Tenth anniversary edition of Neil Gaiman's modern classic, brilliantly illustrated by Chris Riddell, with a new foreword by the author. When Coraline’s family move into a new home, she steps through a door into another house which seems strangely familiar. It has many of the things she has at home but they are all strangely different. There is even a replacement set of parents. At first, Coraline likes her new home but she soon realises that the new parents are reluctant to let her go. Can Coraline escape? Will she ever get home? Not for the faint hearted, this is a fascinating and chilling story, exquisitely told.
Mr Underbed
STOP PRESS: You have probably seen the Christmas TV ad for Moz the Monster. It looks to us as though the inspiration for it may well have come from Chris Riddell's debut picture book which was published a number of years ago. Let us know what you think through Lovereading4kids Facebook or via Twitter. It's a wonderful picture book and one of the best bedtime reads you can imagine. You can also read an extract right here to see for yourself just how good it is or indeed whether you think Mr Underbed has any similarities at all to Moz. Award-winning Chris Riddell tells a witty and inventive story that is perfect for bedtime. When Mr Underbed pops up from under Jim’s bed asking for somewhere more comfortable to sleep, Jim offers him some space. But soon Jim finds he has a bed-full of new arrivals – and nowhere for himself! Chris Riddell’s original characters are a delight.
The Graveyard Book (illustrated by Chris Riddell)
Key Stage 2 Key Stage 311+. Winner of the Carnegie Medal in 2010, shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2010, winner of Best Novel at the Hugo Awards 2009 and of the prestigious Newbery Medal. | Spooks galore in this brilliant and fantastic story of life in the graveyard. When Baby Bod escapes a murderer intent on killing his whole family, he is taken in by the graveyard ghosts. In eight chapters, each of which depicts every other year of Bod’s life, a separate story of Bod’s life unfolds and always in the background there is the sinister, haunting presence of a killer. Bod’s curious tale is a masterpiece of original, absorbing and unstoppable storytelling.
Mr Underbed
Early YearsWhen Jim kindly allows Mr Underbed to sleep in his bed he is unprepared for all the other night-time visitors who want to share it too!
Emperor of Absurdia
Key Stage 1Shortlisted for the Nestle Children's Award 2006 and for the incredibly prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal 2007. Sumptuous illustrations tempt readers into the delightfully absurd world in which dinner is served before lunch and skyfish settle on umbrella trees. The young Emperor is a charming child with a hairy wardrobe monster as an advisor who sets off hunting dragons across a gloriously imagined landscape where anything fantastical can happen. A richly entertaining picture book from a uniquely talented artist at the height of his powers. (0-7) Judges' comment: Riddell makes glorious use of colour in this very interesting and engaging picture book, which despite being extraordinarily detailed is very easy to read. It cleverly gives the reader the impression of moving physically into its landscape, and works on lots of different levels as it turns reality completely on its head. The composition of each page is always well-thought out, and the technique of using small pictures at certain points makes the reader slow down and study carefully. The ambiguous ending stays with you, and allows you to take pleasure from the book over and over again. Click here for an Emperor of Absurdia related activity sheet. Perfect for Reluctant Readers as well as keen readers. To view other titles we think are suitable for reluctant readers please click here.
