Discussion guide for book clubs and classroom resources. When her dad is kidnapped, Bitsy and best friend Kosh are swept into a secret world of ancient meteorites and strange beasts called magicores, each conjured using a different emotion. Using a powerful beastiary called Magicalia, the friends must quickly become conjurors themselves, before following a trail of clues that will take them from London to India to Paris, in a race to rescue Bitsy’s dad from a mysterious villain…

Discussion guide for book clubs or classroom discussions. “One of our finest children’s writers.” Phil Earle “I’m Tom’s dog, and he’s my human. We belong to each other.” Rebel is a good dog, and he loves his simple, perfect life on the farm with his owner Tom – until one day the war comes too close… Now Tom is determined to join the rebellion to defeat the king’s men. But Rebel knows war is dangerous, and he will stop at nothing to save the human he loves. Rebel must bring Tom home before it’s too late.

The Twitchers have one last mystery to solve – and this time it’s a heist! The final unputdownable adventure in wildlife queen M.G. Leonard’s bestselling birdwatching detective series. Engaging book club and classroom discussion guide!

Engaging book club/classroom discussion guide for a thrilling YA fantasy debut with strong feminist themes. Kalothia has grown up in the shadows of her kingdom, hidden away in the East after her parents were outed as enemies of the king. When assassins attack her home on her sixteenth birthday, she must flee to the king’s court – a beautiful but lethal nest of poison, plots and danger, overseen by an entrenched patriarchy. Can Kalothia navigate this most worldly of places to find her own role? What if she must choose between her country and her heart?

An engaging discussion guide for class reads or book clubs! Many people go their whole lives without noticing anything that is afoot, amiss, or even untoward; without ever experiencing that toe-tingling, stomach-twisting sensation that a mystery is about to unfold. Not Bonnie Montgomery – the world’s best detective. Not that anyone (other than Grampa Banks) has heard of her… But they might have heard of the great Montgomery Bonbon, the well-dressed gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. Their newest case: solving the mystery surrounding a highly suspicious death at the Hornville Museum. Together they’ll interview some dodgy witnesses, scour the scene for clues and – above all – hope no one notices that Bonnie and Montgomery are never in the same room at the same time…

A fun and engaging activity pack for home and classroom learning! Adventurous, magical and brilliantly funny third book in the House at the Edge of Magic series. “Magically mischievous and sparkling with wit and charm, The Bookshop at the Back of the Beyond is an enchanting and delightful read. I absolutely adored it!” - Jo Clarke

Packed with doodles and cartoons, this is the wry, witty and very funny diary of Norse god Loki and the trials of being trapped on Earth as a weedy eleven-year-old boy. In-depth teachers’ notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, perfect for KS2 and KS3 classrooms!

An engaging an in depth discussion guide for The Gifts That Bind Us the second in an exciting Young Adult series! Perfect for book club and classroom discussions. Maeve and her friends have uncovered their powers and banded together as a coven: Roe can pick locks, Lily sends sparks flying, Maeve can read minds and Fiona can heal any injury. And even better than their newfound talents? Roe and Maeve are officially an item. But with strange things happening at school, and old enemies appearing in new places, it soon becomes clear their powers are attracting all the wrong attention. It’s not long before Maeve’s gift start to wane, drained by someone – or something – that’s hiding even from her second sight… With witty, authentic and engaging prose, and flawed but fiercely likeable characters, this is a superb second instalment in the Hidden Gifts series.

In-depth teachers’ notes written by the CLPE to accompany A sparky non-fiction guide to the Viking world, told by the hero of Tony Bradman’s bestselling novel Viking Boy! Take a real-life tour of the everyday world of Gunnar, a teenage Viking boy: find out how the Vikings lived, what they believed, how they travelled and fought, and gained their legendary reputation as warriors. Gunnar tells us the real story of growing up as a Viking in an exciting first-hand account, introducing us to family and friends, famous warriors, sea-raiders and even a Norse god! Packed with historical facts, figures and anecdotes, with illustrated information panels on topics from Viking poetry to battle and bloodlust, this is a brilliant new read for Viking fanatics, both at home and in the classroom.

An in depth classroom resource written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education to accompany Tony Bradman’s ‘Anglo-Saxon Boy’. The story of one Anglo-Saxon boy’s journey to the Battle of Hastings in 1066: Key Stage 2 History brought to life as battle-packed adventure.

In depth teachers’ notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education to accompany Tony Bradman’s ‘Viking Boy’. An action-packed blend of historical adventure and fantasy for junior readers; a blast of uncensored Viking adventure. Perfect for a Vikings history unit!

Teachers’ notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) for a beautiful new poetry book, stunningly illustrated by Emily Sutton! This exquisite gift-book contains over a hundred poems, chosen by creator of the bestselling The Poetry Pharmacy, William Sieghart, and illustrated in sensational style by picture-book star Emily Sutton. Divided into four thoughtfully-curated sections, including Poems to Make You Smile, Poems to Move You, Poems to Give You Hope and Poems to Calm and Connect You, the poems originate from an extraordinary and diverse range of sources, from Maya Angelou to Roger McGough, Lemn Sissay, Jackie Kay, Carol Ann Duffy, Joseph Coelho, Kae Tempest, W.B. Yeats, Christina Rossetti and Emily Dickinson, among many others. Combining traditional favourites with recent gems, here are poems to delight, inspire, entertain, intrigue, console and uplift readers of all ages.

Teachers’ notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) for Joseph Coelho’s deliciously dark new book,Frankenstiltskin! Joining the family business, animal-lover Bryony proves to be an extraordinary taxidermist, whose tender fingers create displays which comfort, educate and astound. But when Byrony’s proud father boasts of her skill, who should come calling but the secretive King of all Mythica. Locking her away, he gives her three horrible tasks … three impossible tasks! It’s only then that a strange, sinister creature emerges from the shadows of the castle, offering Bryony a helping hand… But at what cost? Frankenstein meets Rumpelstiltkin in this expertly-stitched story about a powerful king, a girl unafraid to stand up for her beliefs, and a monstrous little creature with magic – and greed – in his bones.

Engaging discussion guide for the third installment in the brilliant Eerie-on-Sea mysteries by Thomas Taylor! On the eve of Ghastly Night, a hypnotic stage magician, Caliastra, checks in to Eerie-on-Sea’s Grand Nautilus Hotel. She’s arrived with her entourage to put on a show – and she claims to be related to Herbert Lemon. Caliastra’s act is so shadowy and strange that Herbie’s friend Violet wonders if dark forces are at work, but Herbie won’t hear a word said against his new relation. Meanwhile, folk are disappearing from the town, and no one knows why. There is an Eerie legend that goes back to the dawn of time, about a creature made of darkness that devours the shadows of the living. Could the Shadowghast have really returned? ‘Taylor’s magical tough makes you believe the impossible.’ - Catherine Doyle

Teachers’ Notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) for the third installment in the brilliant Eerie-on-Sea series by Thomas Taylor! On the eve of Ghastly Night, a hypnotic stage magician, Caliastra, checks in to Eerie-on-Sea’s Grand Nautilus Hotel. She’s arrived with her entourage to put on a show – and she claims to be related to Herbert Lemon. Caliastra’s act is so shadowy and strange that Herbie’s friend Violet wonders if dark forces are at work, but Herbie won’t hear a word said against his new relation. Meanwhile, folk are disappearing from the town, and no one knows why. There is an Eerie legend that goes back to the dawn of time, about a creature made of darkness that devours the shadows of the living. Could the Shadowghast have really returned? ‘Taylor’s magical touch makes you believe the impossible.’ - Catherine Doyle

An engaging discussion guide for a gripping new novel by bestselling YA author, Lauren James! Gabrielle is a climate-change activist who shoots to fame when she becomes the first teenager to display a supernatural ability to grow plants from her skin. Hester is the millionaire daughter of an oil tycoon and the face of the family business. Theo comes from a long line of fishermen, but his parents are struggling to make ends meet. On the face of it, the three have very little in common. Yet when Hester and Theo join Gabrielle and legions of other teenagers around the world in developing the strange new “Greenfingers” power, it becomes clear that to use their ability for good, they’ll need to learn to work together. But in a time of widespread corruption and greed, there are plenty of profit-hungry organizations who want to use the Greenfingers for their own ends. And not everyone would like to see the Earth saved… As they navigate first love and family expectations, can the three teenagers pull off the ultimate heist and bring about a green rising?

Angie Thomas’ debut novelThe Hate U Give launched straight onto the New York Times bestseller list and has sold over a million copies worldwide. In the UK, it was awarded the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and the Amnesty CILIP Honour for the Carnegie Medal. The book was adapted into a movie, starring Amandla Stenberg and released by 20th Century Fox. Her third novel Concrete Rose looks back in time to the lives of characters fromThe Hate U Give in the 90s, namely Starr’s father Maverick as he becomes a dad for the first time as a teenager. This is a brand new discussion guide for The Hate U Give with thoughtful and engaging new questions, plus joint discussion points forThe Hate U Give andConcrete Rose together! The perfect book club and classroom guide to help you discuss all the brilliant aspects of these fantastic books.

A brilliantly engaging and vibrant discussion guide for an incredibly important book by award-winning activist, Frederick Joseph. Speaking directly to the reader, Frederick Joseph offers powerful reflections on his own experiences with racism. As a former “token Black kid”, he now presents himself as the friend many readers need, touching on topics including cultural appropriation, “reverse racism” and white privilege. Featuring interviews with figures such as writer Angie Thomas, content creator Toni Tone, and April Reign, founder of the #OscarsSoWhite movement, this book serves as conversation starter and tool kit, creating a timely and essential read for committed anti-racists and newcomers to the cause of racial justice alike. "The Black Friend is THE book everyone needs to read right now… Read it, absorb it, and be changed because of it.” —Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give

A classroom resource to accompany a vital non-fiction book for young adults by the award-winning activist, Frederick Joseph. Speaking directly to the reader, Frederick Joseph offers powerful reflections on his own experiences with racism. As a former “token Black kid”, he now presents himself as the friend many readers need, touching on topics including cultural appropriation, “reverse racism” and white privilege. Featuring interviews with figures such as writer Angie Thomas, content creator Toni Tone, and April Reign, founder of the #OscarsSoWhite movement, this book serves as conversation starter and tool kit, creating a timely and essential read for committed anti-racists and newcomers to the cause of racial justice alike. "The Black Friend is THE book everyone needs to read right now… Read it, absorb it, and be changed because of it.” —Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give

An engaging and thought-provoking discussion guide for an exciting new novel novel by Jonathan Stroud! England has been radically changed by a series of catastrophes – large cities have disappeared and London has been replaced by a lagoon. The surviving population exists in fortified towns where they cling to traditional ways, while strangely evolved beasts prowl the wilderness beyond. Conformity is rigidly enforced and those who fall foul of the rules are persecuted: some are killed, others are driven out into the wilds. Only a few fight back – and two of these outlaws, Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne, display an audacity and talent that makes them legends. Set in a broken, future England, where gunfights and monsters collide, this is the exciting first title in a phenomenal fantasy teen series by the bestselling children’s novelist. “Stroud is a genius.” - Rick Riordan