Fiction to support the Curriculum

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Select a topic to view an annotated list of fiction to support that topic.
Canals

My Feelings

Caring New Experiences
Caring for the environment New Siblings
Day and Night Rainforests
Disability Romans
Egyptians Scottish Wars of Independence
Highland Clearances Space
Jacobites Toys
Knights and Castles Transport
Mary Queen of Scots Victorians
My Body Vikings
My Family and Friends World War Two
CANALS
BLAKE, Jon The canal diggers  (Sparks) Watts, 2000  0749635452 £3.99 
Story about the making of the Manchester Ship Canal.  C D

NEWBERRY, Linda Whistling Jack  (Red Storybooks) Collins, 1997 (out of print)  0006752950 £3.99 
Roger, the dog, loves travelling on Whistling Jack, cruising canals and rivers with his master. However, there is one thing he hates about canal life - tunnels! How does he overcome his fear when faced with having to go through the longest, darkest tunnel?  B C

SYKES, Julie Carnival  (Oxford Reading Tree -Treetops) Oxford University Press, 2000  019919274X £4.00 
Old Max teaches Clare to sail Carnival, a canal boat. When Max becomes very ill, Clare is devastated. She knows Max has left a present for her on the boat, but how will she find it? His nephews are now in charge. Will they let her make one last trip on Carnival?  C

CARING

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BROWN, Alan Windhover  Collins, 1998  0006646131 £5.99 
High above a playground a kestrel chick is born. It is snatched by a lonely boy who keeps it in a cage. The chick refuses to eat and becomes thinner and thinner. Will anyone help the chick to escape to freedom? A moving story, beautifully illustrated, told through the eyes of the young bird.  Pre 5 A

BROWN, Ruth The world that Jack built  Red Fox, 1991  0099789604 £4.99 
In the vein of 'This is the house that Jack built', this rhyme considers the destruction of the environment. Good for promoting discussion.  Pre 5 A

BUTLER, John Pi-shu the little panda  Orchard, 2001  1841217476 £10.99 
An endearing story about a small panda whose mountainside habitat is threatened as more and more land is being cleared.  Pre 5 A

FOREMAN, Michael Dinosaurs and all that rubbish  Puffin, 1993  014055260X £5.99 
One day when Man had set out for a distant star, the dinosaurs came back to life and tidied up the waste he had left behind. Man was only allowed back when he agreed that the Earth be shared and enjoyed by everyone.  Pre 5 A

GARDINER, Lindsey Not fair, won't share!  Orchard, 2001  1841211060 £4.99 
Pinky and Blue are friends who share most things. However, there is one thing that Blue will not share - her toy rabbit. A story of friendship and sharing. Pre 5 A

HAVILL, Juanita Jamaica's find  Little Mammoth, 1990  0749701900 £4.99 
Jamaica finds a hat and a toy dog in the park. She takes the hat to the lost property office, but decides to keep the toy dog. When her mother reminds her that someone else might be missing it, Jamaica returns it to the park and is rewarded for doing the right thing by making friends with the girl who had lost it. Also useful for other issues. Pre 5 A

JAMES, Simon The wild woods  Walker, 1995  0744536618 £4.99 
Jess would like to keep a squirrel - Grandad's not so sure. Perhaps the answer lies amongst the wonders of the Wild Woods. Pre 5 A

RODDIE, Shen Please don't chat to the bus driver  Bloomsbury, 2001  074755028X £4.99 
Although the animal passengers are told not to chat to the driver, they do ......... with silly results. Pre 5 A

ROSS, Tony I want my dinner  Picture Lions, 1996  0006643566 £4.99 
Princess has to be reminded not to demand things and the benefits of saying please and thank you. Useful for respecting the needs and feelings of others and following rules. Pre 5 A

SNELL, Gordon Lottie's letter  Orion Children's Press, 1997  1858814340 £4.50 
The animals write a special letter to the Queen. Pre 5 A

CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

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Beyond the rainbow warrior Pavilion, 1997  186205035X £9.99 
A collection of stories to celebrate 25 years of Greenpeace. Commissioned stories which try to open eyes to what is going wrong in the environment and encourage discussion on how best to conserve our natural world.  B C

BURNINGHAM, John Oi! Get off our train  Red Fox, 1991  009985340X £4.99 
A little boy sets off on a round-the-world train ride to dreamland with only his toy dog for company. Soon all sorts of endangered animals are asking if they can jump aboard and join in the journey. Works on many levels.  B

D'LACEY, Chris A break in the chain  (Yellow Bananas) Mammoth, 1998  074973132X £3.99 
A terrible oil spill in the Arctic, a lesson about food chains and a new CD-ROM game featuring a polar bear, turn into a magical adventure for Billy. With the help of the polar bear and the new school computer, Billy's class decide to do their bit to save the animals of the Arctic.  B

D'LACEY, Chris A hole at the pole  Heinemann, 1994 (out of print)  0434968013 £4.99 
Environmental issues such as the ozone layer and the importance of conservation are all portrayed in this novel.  B C

DALTON, Annie Tilly Bearney saves the world  Mammoth, 1997 (out of print)  0749729171 £3.99 
Tilly Bearney learns all about the ozone layer, the plight of the dolphins and decides with her friends that the world must be saved. A book that touches on many issues including disability.  B C

HOWARTH, Lesley Weather eye  Walker, 2001  0744577985 £3.99 
A young girl is a weather eye, part of a club that shares information by computer about climate conditions around the world. In 1999 weird things are happening - floods, earthquakes and severe gales. She has a near death experience that leaves her with psychic powers. This now makes her the 'weather eye' with a clear purpose.  E

JEFFERS, Susan Brother Eagle, Sister Sky  Puffin, 1993  014054514X £5.99 
Nearly 150 years ago, Chief Seattle, a respected and peaceful leader of the North West Indian Nations, delivered a compelling message to the government in Washington who wanted to buy his people's land. He believed that all life on Earth, and the Earth itself, is sacred and that man's heedless abuse of nature will lead to his own destruction.  B C

JUNGMAN, Ann Frank N Steir and the monster in trouble  (Super Crunchies) Orchard, 1997  1860393608 £3.99 
Everyone is pleased with Frank N Stein's rubbish-eating monster - everyone except the rubbish collectors, who fear for their jobs.  B

JUNGMAN, Ann Lucy keeps the wolf from the door  Collins, 1989  0006730507 £3.99 
Now that Lucy's fairtale friend the wolf is the proud father of cubs, he won't eat meat. When he finds out that acid rain is destroying his trees, he becomes determined to make the forest a safe place for his family. He also wants to save the world. Humorous.  B C

LAWRENCE, Louis Dreamweaver  Collins, 1997  0066750885 £3.99 
Science-fiction story with a strong eco-message. When Earth becomes overpopulated, polluted and war-ridden, the wealthy and powerful start to leave and plan to colonize other planets. Troy is a crew-member on one such mission. When Eth dreamweaves her way onto the spaceship, she becomes a pawn in an attempt to protect the 'Guild' from alien craft heading towards them.  D E

PATTEN, Brian Impossible parents go green  (Sprinters) Walker, 2001  0744578817 £4.99 
Ben and Mary Norm's parents have decided to become ecologists and getting it impossibly wrong. They get rid of the TV and then start eating Yak cheese. When the children at school find out, Ben and Mary become a laughing stock. How can they get their parents to act 'normal' again?  B C

POW, Tom Who is the world for?  Walker, 2001  0744582458 £4.99 
Across the world, both baby animals and a child ask their parents who is the world for? They are told that it is for each and every one of us. Lyrical text and stunning illustrations make this a fantastic celebration of the world with its diverse creatures and habitats.  A B

SHELDON, Dyan The whale's song  Red Fox, 1993  0099737604 £4.99 
Poetical and mysterious picture book that captures a child's wonder at the richness of our natural world.  A B

TESTA, Fulvio Too much rubbish  North-South, 2001  0735814538 £9.99 
Simple text but with a strong message warning against wastefulness and encouraging a respectful attitude to our environment. Two boys walk through their city and despair at the rubbish piling up around them. Then they see something that renews their hope and inspires them to action.  A B

THOMPSON, Colin The paperbag prince T Red Fox, 1994  0099933209 £4.99 
The paperbag prince is an old man living in a railway carrriage on a rubbish dump. He knows that even rubbish can contain treasure and that if he stay long enough, nature will heal the countryside. B

DAY AND NIGHT

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BUTLER. John While you were sleeping  Orchard, 2001  1841215899 £4.99 
Beautifully illustrated book with lyrical text looks at animals at night in their natural environments.  Pre 5 A

HENDRA, Sue Oliver's wood  Walker, 1997  0744547970 £4.99 
Oliver, the owl loves to play in the wood at night with his friends - hedgehogs, badgers and bats. One night he plays too long and sees the big, round, orange sun rise into the sky. He goes to tell his friends but they are asleep. In daylight the wood is inhabited by rabbits, squirrels and butterfies. He feels lonely but eventually falls asleep and wakes up at night and all's well again.  A B

TOMLINSON, Jill The owl who was afraid of the dark Mammoth, 1992  074970795X £3.99 
Plop the barn owl is afraid of the dark. His parents keep telling him that dark is best but Plop just wants to be a day bird. His mother pushes him out of the nest to ask others what they think of the dark. Plop is amazed at their replies.  A B

DISABILITY
EDWARDS, Becky My brother Sammy  Bloomsbury, 2000  0747546541 £4.99 
A sensitive book which deals with a brother, Sammy, who is autistic. Pre 5 A

VAN GENECHTEN, Guido Flop-ear  Franklin Watts, 2001  1903012023 £4.99 
All rabbits have two long ears, but Flop-Ear's ears don't look quite the same as all the others. This amusing story deals with the issue of being different. Pre 5 A

VAN GENECHTEN, Guido  Flop-ear and Annie  Cat's Whiskers, 2001  1903012171 £4.99 
Flop-ear falls in love with Annie, but he tries to change his image to impress her. However, he finds that Annie likes him just the way he is. Pre 5 A

HEROLD, Ann Bixby Hold my hand, grandpa  Oxford University Press, 2000  0192723340 £4.99 
Holly does not need her grandfather's help so much now that She is older. However, perhaps, he now needs her help. Pre 5 A

HEST, Amy Baby duck and the new eyeglasses  Walker, 1996  07445522206 £4.99 
Baby duck hates his new glasses until Grandpa arrives and they are exactly the same. Pre 5 A

INKPEN, Mick Nothing  Hodder, 1996  0340656743 £5.99 
This book deals with the importance of a name and self esteem. Pre 5 A

ROGERS, Paul Tiny  Bodley Head, 2001  0370326326 £9.99 
A flea called Tiny lives on a dog called Cleopatra and is placed in an ever increasing grand scheme of things. Tiny realises that although he is small, he is important . A good book for developing self esteem. Pre 5 A

EGYPTIANS

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BRESLIN, Theresa Dream Master  Corgi Yearling, 2000  0440863821 £4.99 
Fantasy, where Cy, about to wake up from a dream about Ancient Egypt, discovers that he can get back into his dream world. However there has to be a dream master, but dream life and real life become intertwined. C

DICKS, Terrance The pyramid incident  Piccadilly, 1999  185340599X £4.99 
A gold scarab placed in a professor's pocket launches father and son into a dangerous investigation. B C

MASTERS, Anthony In search of the boy King  (Historical Storybooks) HodderWayland, 2000  0750029587 £4.50 
A young boy joins Howard Carter in his search for the tomb of Tutankhamun. Carter and Ahmed become involved in one of the greatest treasure hunts of all time. Historical facts are presented in this story format. B

McCAUGHREAN, Geraldine Casting the Gods adrift  (Flashbacks) A & C Black, 1998  0713646551 £4.99 
The pharaoh commands the animal dealer to bring him lots of animals for his new capital city. The dealer is delighted but wonders what the pharaoh's new religion will mean for the people. C D

WALLACE, Karen Tutankhamun's arrow (Red Storybook) Collins, 1998  0006753612 £3.99 
Two children find themselves in Ancient Egypt at the time of Tutankhamun's funeral. How did they get there and why are they there? The high priestess is convinced their arrival is a good omen and has the children 'prepared' for the funeral. They must escape and get back to their own time. Good adventure story. B

WALSH, Jill Paton Pepi and the secret names  Frances Lincoln, 1996  0711210896 £6.99 
Story, beautifully illustrated, set in ancient Egypt. The story includes mystery names in hieroglyphics for readers to solve themselves. B C

WOODERSON, Philip The fearful pharaoh  (Nile Files) Watt, 2001  0749636556 £3.99 
Nile Files are a series of zany stories. Other titles in the series: The helpful Hieroglyph, The Jinxed Sphinx, The missing mummy, The pointless pyramid, The scrunchy scarab, The wobbly obelisk. C

HIGHLAND CLEARANCES

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FIDLER, Kathleen The desperate journey  (Kelpies) Floris, 2002  0863154018 £4.99 
This book tells the story of the Highland Clearances as it affected one small family. The Murrays are forced to load their possessions onto a cart and travel across Scotland to Glasgow. Here the children have to work in a mill and live in overcrowded and dirty lodgings. Then the family are offered the chance to join an emigrant ship bound for Hudson Bay in Canada. D

O'NEILL, Judith So far from Skye  Puffin, 1993  0140349804 £4.99 
The MacDonald family are being forced to leave their home on Skye, along with hundreds of other Gaelic speaking families and emigrate to Australia. A sensitive book which portrays the feelings and fears of families during the Highland Clearances.  D

JACOBITES
MORPURGO, Michael The last wolf  Doubleday, 2002  0385602227 £10.99 
Robbie McLeod befriends a wolf cub. Together they venture far from their birthplace, a land of rebellious fighters and vicious redcoats. Evan when at last Robbie finds a place where he can peacefully make his home, he knows in his heart that the wolf must find his own natural home. C D

WHITE, Kirsty Over the sea to Skye  (Sparks) Watt, 1998  0749631260 £3.99 
Maggie doesn't like fighting, but with the rest of her clan she supports Prince Charlie. When his army is forced to flee from the English, can she really play a part in the Prince's escape to freedom? C D

WHITE, Kirsty A dream of danger  (Sparks) Watt, 1998  0749631244 £3.99 
As the Redcoats march into Glencoe, Morag is haunted by disturbing dreams, but what does it all mean? After years of peace there is surely nothing to worry about - or is there? C D

KNIGHTS AND CASTLES

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BEARDSLEY, Martyn Sir Gadabout  Dolphin, 1994  1858810558 £3.99 
Humorous story. Sir Gadabout is the worst knight ever known at Camelot. When Guinevere goes missing, Sir Gadabout sets about rescuing her. Other titles in the same series: Sir Gadabout and the ghost; Sir Gadabout gets worse.  B C

COOPER, Susan The boggart  Puffin, 1994  0140364889 £4.99 
When a cantankerous sprite is disturbed from his home in an old Scottish castle, he gets a taste for mischief and adventure.  B C

COOPER, Susan The boggart and the monster  Puffin, 2000  0141302070 £4.99 
A further tale of the boggart who is up to his usual mischief . He finds under the waters of the deep, dark loch someone or something, who needs his help urgently.  B C

KING-SMITH, Dick Tumbleweed  Puffin, 1999  0141302380 £3.99 
Sir Tumbleweed is a nervous and accident-prone knight. After meeting a witch who is kind to him, he finds he has a lion and a unicorn as friends and beats an opponent in a jousting match. With his new found confidence, all he has to do is find a damsel to rescue from a smallish, not too fierce dragon...  B C

MORPURGO, Michael Arthur - high king of Britain  Mammoth, 2002  0749748516 £4.99 
The legend of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. A modern, well written version.  B C

WELCH, Ronald The gauntlet  (Oxford Children's Modern Classics) Oxford University Press, 1999  0192717626 £6.99 
Action packed time-travel story. Finding an old gauntlet starts an amazing adventure back to the 14th century for Peter. He quickly learns to hawk, shoot a longbow before facing his real challenge. Can he escape from the besieged castle and back to his own time? A mature read.  D

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
WHITE, Kirsty A Queen's promise  (Sparks) Watts, 1998  07496631252 £3.99 
Meg is excited by Queen Mary's visit to Dumfries. James is more concerned that his father needs a new horse, but hasn't the money to buy one. Can the Queen help solve their problems?  B C
MY BODY

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DEACON, Alexis Slow Loris  Hutchinson, 2002  0091767997 £10.99 
Slow Loris is always asleep in his enclosure at the zoo. However, he is not naturally slothful. After dark he indulges in his passion for loud music, waking the rest of the animals who join in the party. The next day the whole zoo is sleeping it off. Young children will be able to understand the importance of having a family bedtime routine and of consideration of others.  Pre 5 A

FRENCH, Vivian Oliver's milkshake  Hodder, 2000  0340754540 £4.99 
Oliver will not drink milk - he is too fussy. How can Auntie Jen persuade him. Other Oliver titles: Oliver's fruit salad, Oliver's vegetables.  Pre 5 A

HOBAN, Russell Jim's lion  Walker, 2002  0744584065 £5.99 
An unsentimental picture book with sensitive illustrations, which deals with the difficult subject of sick children. Jim is in hospital facing various procedures. A nurse lends him her special pebble which helps him to face his treatments positively. A lovely story which has on this occasion a positive outcome.  Pre 5 A

MCKEE, David Isabel's noisy tummy  Red Fox, 1996  0099604019 £4.50 
Isabel's rumbling tummy is embarrassing. However, it comes in handy during a visit to the zoo. A humorous introduction to the body.  Pre 5 A

MORTON, Christine Picnic farm  Macmillan, 1998  0333683617 £3.99 
A good book for children to understand where some of our food comes from.  Pre 5 A

UMANSKY, Kaye Need a trim Jim  Red Fox, 2000  009926546X £4.99 
Jim needs his hair trimmed as he keeps bumping into things. However, there is no short cut to having a haircut. Good rhythm for reading aloud.  Pre 5 A

WELLS, Rosemary Felix feels better  Walker, 2002  0744589266 £3.99 
Felix has a tummy ache and his mother takes him to see Doc Duck - the only problem is that he is frightened of the doctor.  Pre 5 A

MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

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ALBOROUGH, Jez My friend bear  Walker, 2000  0744569184 £4.99 
Eddy and the bear wish they had a friend to talk to, all they have is their teddies, and teddies can't talk. For reading aloud.  Pre 5 A

ANHOLT, Catherine Big book of families  Walker, 2000  0744577292 £5.99 
Rhymes and colourful illustrations about all aspects of family life.  Pre 5 A

APPERLEY, Dawn Blossom and Boo: a story about best friends  Hodder, 2001  0340817658 £4.99 
Blossom and Boo are best friends, a friendship which survives separation through Boo's hibernation.  Pre 5 A

DALE, Penny All about Alice  Walker, 1999 (out of print)  0744569370 £4.99 
This is all about a girl, Alice and how she lives.  Pre 5 A

GLIORI, Debi Flora's blanket  Orchard, 2002  184121096X £4.99 
Flora has lost her comfort blanket and cannot sleep without it. All the family are involved in the search.  Pre 5 A

GRAY, Kes Really, really  Bodley Head, 2001  0370327330 £9.99 
Daisy's baby-sitter is not quite sure if Daisy is telling the truth or not. A humorous story that will amuse young children and strike a chord with the adult reader.  Pre 5 A

JAMES, Simon Leon and Bob  Walker, 1998  074454918 £4.99 
A boy is lonely and invents a friend, who eventually is replaced by a real one when a family moves next door.  Pre 5 A

PFISTER, Marcus The rainbow fish  North-South, 2000  0735812993 £4.99 
An appealing sparkly picture book about friendship and sharing.  Pre 5 A

SAGE, James Fat cat  Collins, 2002  0001983652 £9.99 
The heroine pet in this book is quite weird looking, so much so that she is much sought after to keep the mice down. Two farmers are intent on kidnapping this remarkable cat but have to make do with some of her offspring. A morality tale about the benefits of co-operation and not quarrelling.  Pre 5 A

SHARRON, Howard and SHARRATT, Nick My mum and dad make me laugh  Walker, 1995  074454307X £4.99 
A humorous look at family life and being yourself.  Pre 5 A

MY FEELINGS

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ALLAN, Nicholas Demon teddy  Hutchinson, 2000  0099407612 £4.99 
Dominic has been making Katie unhappy at school. She decides to comfort herself by taking her talking teddy to school.  Pre 5 A

HAVILL, Juanita Jamaica and Brianna  Mammoth, 1995  0749725044 £4.99 
Jamaica and Brianna realise that it is jealousy that makes them be unkind to each other. Useful for respecting the feelings of others.  Pre 5 A

HAWKINS, Colin and HAWKINS, Jacqui The dance of the dinosaurs  Picture Lions, 2002  0007114443 £4.99 
A funny, affectionate story about overcoming fear. Illustrations are bold, eye-catching, energetic drawings in coloured pencil.  Pre 5 A

MONKS, Lydia I wish I were a dog  Mammoth, 1999  0749738030 £4.99 
Kitty is envious of dogs as they have much more fun than cats. However, Kitty's owner convinces her that her life is just as good, only different.  Pre 5 A

VROMBAUT, An Tiger!  Hodder, 1999  0340724137 £4.99 
A kitten wants to be a tiger when he grows up and thinks that life will be so much better when he is a big cat. Things are not always what they seem.  Pre 5 A

NEW EXPERIENCES

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ANHOLT, Catherine Going to playgroup  Orchard, 1999  184121051X £4.99 
Too little to go to school, too big to stay at home. Playgroup is fun.  Pre 5 A

ANHOLT, Laurence and ANHOLT, Catherine Billy and the big new school  Orchard, 1999  1841210595 £4.99 
Billy is due to start school and is apprehensive. A few days before term starts, he rescues a baby bird and nurses it back to health. In so doing, Billy realises that he too can face difficult challenges.  Pre 5 A

BRUS, Deborah and BEEKE, Tiphamie Book! Book! Book!  Hippo, 2002  0439979358 £4.99 
Farmyard animals are at a loose end and they want some fun so they go to the local library. A good introduction for the youngest reader to the joys of the written word.  Pre 5 A

COOPER, Susan Frog  Bodley Head, 2002  0370326350 £10.99 
Jo is learning to swim and failing miserably. When he rescues a frog and watches it swimming in its own pond he is then inspired to try again. Jo eventually overcomes his fear of water and then can participate fully in this activity with his family. Useful for a variety of cross curricular issues.  Pre 5 A

GRINDLEY, Sally I don't want to  Mammoth, 1994 (out of print)  0749716738 £4.99 
James is nervous of going to school. However, when he sees the other children playing, he realises that school is okay.  Pre 5 A

LEWIS, Kim My friend Harry  Walker, 1997  0744552958 £4.99 
James attends his fist day at school and has to leave his soft toy behind.  Pre 5 A

MITCHELL, Rita P The gotcha smile  Orchard, 1998  1860399517 £4.99 
It is Clarine's first day at school. She expected to make many new friends quickly, but finds out it takes time to make proper friends.  Pre 5 A

Smith, Jos A  Circus train  Abrams, 2001  0810941481 £11.95 
Timothy worries that he will have no friends when he moves to a new area. However, the arrival of a circus near to his new house helps him to settle to his new way of life.  Pre 5 A

STONES, Rosemary Rosie's first day at school  Happy Cat, 2002  190328533X £4.99 
Familiar pictures of home helps Rosie to settle down to her first day at school.  Pre 5 A

NEW SIBLINGS

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COTTRINGER, Anne Ella and the naughty lion  Mammoth, 1997  0749730196 £4.99 
Ella is jealous of her new baby brother and a fictitious naughty lion creeps in. When Ella finds that she cares for baby Jasper the naughty lion goes away. Useful for introducing sibling rivalry.  Pre 5 A

COWELL, Cressida What shall we do with the Boo hoo baby?  Mamillan, 2001  0333735935 £4.99 
A crying baby is worrying car, duck, dog and cow. Nothing seems to work - then they have a brilliant idea.  Pre 5 A

DALE, Penny Big brother, little brother  Walker, 1999  0744569532 £4.99 
A portrayal of the ups and downs of a relationship between two brothers.  Pre 5 A

GLIORI, Debi My little brother Orchard, 1994  074453612X £4.99 
Baby is always crying, that is, until big sister has an idea.  Pre 5 A

GRAHAM, Bob Brand new baby  Walker, 1999  0744569702 £4.99 
The arrival of a new baby is always unsettling for a child. This book explores the arrival through the eyes of his elder brother and sister.  Pre 5 A

HARRIS, Robie H. Hi new baby  Walker, 2001  0744582261 £5.99 
The new baby causes the big sister to no longer be the centre of attention. However, eventually she accepts that being a sister is very special. New Siblings Pre 5 A

MURPHY, Mary Please be quiet!  Mammoth, 1999  0749732415 £4.99 
With a baby in the house, Penguin must play outside or play indoors quietly but he just wants to play and make a noise. A familiar situation that young children find themselves in. Good for discussion regarding feelings.  Pre 5 A

ORAM, Hiawyn Little brother and the cough  Frances Lincoln, 2000  071120845X £5.99 
A tale of sibling jealousy that manifests itself in the form of a noisy, disruptive cough. However, people notice the cough and with a bit of love and attention, it disappears and the little girl finds she can talk to her baby brother after all.  Pre 5 A

WHYBROW, Ian A baby for Grace  Kingfisher, 1999  0753403765 £6.99 
Grace's father notices that when she tries to help out for the arrival of the new baby, her offer of help is declined and he realises how she is feeling. He ensures that she feels special again. Deals with this issue in a touching and realistic way.  Pre 5 A

RAINFORESTS

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BAKER, Jeannie Where the forest meets the sea  Walker, 1989  0744513057 £4.99 
Innovative picture book which chronicles the reflections of a boy exploring a prehistoric rainforest in North Queensland, Australia. The illustrations use relief collage of a wide range of natural materials which creates an unusual 3-D effect. B C

DANIELS, Lucy Gorilla in the glade  (Animal Ark) Hodder, 1999  0340735945 £3.99 
A baby gorilla, Jojo, has been abandoned by its mother in the Kahuzi National Park in Central Africa. Another female gorilla with a new born baby of her own is selected to be a potential surrogate mother. Will she take on Jojo? B C

DANIELS, Lucy Monkeys on the mountain  (Animal Ark) Hodder, 1997  0340687207 £3.99 
Two children on holiday in Africa find a sick baby monkey. After nursing her back to health, they fear she is destined for a life in captivity. Can they find the baby monkey's parents? C

DILLON, Jack Fire storm  (Survive!) Puffin, 1999  014038818184 £3.99 
A fire rips through dense rainforest, cutting off two brothers from the rest of their group. Are they trapped in the inferno or can they find the way to the river - and fast? A good thriller with boys interest. D E

FOREMAN, Michael The great green forest  Red Fox, 1994 (out of print)  0099236419 £4.99 
All the treemouse wanted was a nice quiet sleep in the forest, but each animal in turn makes noises - tree frogs, toucans, macaws. Then there is a different noise, but what is it? Time for action decides the treemouse. Also useful for Caring topic. B

KNIGHT, Tim Journey into the rainforest  Oxford University Press, 2001  0199107319 £6.99 
The exploration of the rainforest takes the reader by air, by boat and by foot. B C

ROMANS

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BRESLIN, Theresa Across the Roman Wall  (Flashbacks) A & C Black, 1997  0713646640 £4.99 
Marinetta, a Briton meets Lucius, a Roman officer's son and hates him immediately. She thinks he is pompous, while he thinks that she is an uncivilized savage. However, they are forced to act together. A good action-packed story. C D

BRUMPTON, Keith Chariots on Fire!  Orchard, 2001  1860399924X £3.99 
A humorous look at life in Roman Britain. Lots of interesting historical facts whilst a good introduction to the topic. B C

CAMERON, Ian The Roman letters  (Ally Fraser Stories) Scottish Children's Press, 1997  1899827056 £3.99 
Ally is transported back to Roman times and has many adventures with a young boy of his own age. He sees how the Romans lived and fought! C D

CLARKE, Norma Patrick and the rotten Roman rubbish  Faber, 1995  0571173543 £3.99 
Humorous and readable story. Patrick and his family spend the summer in Yorkshire hoping to find real Roman treasure. C D

CROSS, Gillian Roman beanfeast  Puffin, 1997  0140377662 £3.99 
Davey's class is doing a project on Romans. The best piece of work will get a prize at the Roman feast at the end of term. Davey wants to win, but so does Molly. Davey will have to produce something really special if he wants to win. B C

JARMAN, Julia The time-travelling cat and the Roman Eagle  Collins, 2001  0007105983 £3.99 
A young boy follows his time-travelling cat back in time to Roman Britain and gets involved in the search for the missing Roman Standard. Ka, the cat, is happy among the cat-adoring conquerors and their central heating, but Topher, now apprenticed to a mosaic maker is not so happy. C D

McCAUGHREAN, Geraldine Burning the books/ The guardian geese  (Roman Myths) Orchard, 2001  1841215244 £3.99 
Retelling of stories from Roman mythology. The all-seeing Sibyl of Gumae has written down the future of Rome in her 9 books. She is prepared to sell them for a sum of gold - will proud king Tarquin pay the price? Also find out how a gaggle of geese protect the people of Rome. B C

McCAUGHREAN, Geraldine City of dreams/ Adventure in the underworld  (Roman Myths) Orchard, 2001  1841215201 £3.99 
Retelling of stories from Roman mythology. An account of Aeneus's epic journey to the land of Italy, where he is to become the founder of the Roman Empire. B C

McCAUGHREAN, Geraldine Shot in the dark/ Taming of Venus  (Roman Myths) Orchard, 2001  1841215260 £3.99 
Retelling of stories from Roman Mythology. Find out how the constellation of Orion was made when Venus fell in love and also discover who broke the heart of Venus, goddess of love. B C

ROSS, Stewart Down with the Romans!  (Come Alive) Evans, 1996  0237516357 £4.50 
A tale of the Celtic rebel Queen Boudicca. B C

TOLHURST, Marilyn The stone street  (Flashbacks) A & C Black, 1998  0713647272 £4.99 
Living in Roman Britain, now under threat from the Saxons, Luciana is left along when the household flees the invaders. Her father is already marching along the stone street with his legion to leave Britain forever. Can she catch him up in time? Contains a further reading section at the back of the book. C D

UPHAM, Linda The bronze dagger  Lutterworth, 1989  0718827759 £7.99 
Two Saxon children search for their father taken by the Romans. C D

SCOTTISH WARS OF INDEPENDENCE
CAMERON, Ian The Borestone  (Ally Fraser Stories) Scottish Children's Press, 1999  1899827080 £3.99 
With King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, Ally helps play a decisive part in the victory.  C D

CAMERON, Ian Stirling Bridge  (Ally Fraser Stories) Scottish Children's Press, 1997  1899827072 £3.99 
An action-packed adventure where Ally helps William Wallace defeat Warenne and Cressingham at Stirling.  C D

SPACE

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CAVE, Kathryn Henry Hobbs and the lost planet  Hodder, 2002  0340805803 £3.99 
There's an emergency on Henry's home planet and Henry is in the thick of it. It can't be his fault if he's done nothing wrong, but he keeps getting messages from Lord of Micho. What is this 'tercon' they keep mentioning? Before he can find the answers, he finds himself on a lost planet. C

CAVE, Kathryn Henry Hobbs, space voyager  Hodder, 2001  034080579X £3.99 
Henry Hobbs home planet, Omicron, is so boring that no-one has contacted it for years. The visit of a foreign spaceship is, therefore, a very big event. Henry stows away on this spaceship and discovers the crew's mission - to look for intelligent life forms. Henry needs to escape - but how? C

HILL, Douglas Moon monsters  Mammoth, 1993 (out of print)  0749716363 £3.99 
Paul goes on holiday to a planet in outer space with his father. The moon monsters take over their space ship but they soon realise that the monsters only want to protect their planet from invaders. B C

HILL, Douglas Star dragon  Barrington Stoke, 2002  1842990462 £4.50 
Perrin and Mirry work as planet-finders. Their job is to find planets that have lots of interesting alien life. Elashel seems to be the planet that is appropriate and the two heroes of the story are involved in helping the inhabitants. B C

JOHNS, Eric Capture by aliens  Walker, 2000  0744577187 £3.99 
The inhabitants of the planet Harmony are waiting on the arrival of the Alien Federation so that the peace treaty can be signed, or will it ......? B C

URE, Jean Unknown planet  (Sprinters) Walker, 1994  0744531020 £3.50 
Spaceship Sea Queen is part of a fleet searching for a new world. On board are 50 children. Their own planet Aqua is dying. The Sea Queen develops a fault and crashes on an unknown planet. B

TOYS

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BUTTERWORTH, Nick Just like Jasper  Hodder, 1990  0340525827 £4.99 
Just like Jasper! He plays with just about everything in the toyshop. What will he buy with is birthday money? Pre 5 A

CECIL, Laura, comp. The Kingfisher book of toy stories  Kingfisher, 2001  0753405962 £8.99 
Stories of toys that come to life, including classic toy characters like Raggedy Ann and the Steadfast Tin Soldier. A

CLARK, Emma Chichester I love you blue kangaroo  Picture Lions, 2000  0006646840 £4.99 
Blue Kangaroo is used to being Lily's favourite toy. Then, along comes Wild Brown Bear, Yellow Cotton Rabbit and more and more toys until Blue Kangaroo feels there isn't room for him any longer. Good for reading aloud. A

CLARKE, Gus Too many teddies  Red Fox, 1999  009926255X £4.99 
"You can never have too many teddies", says Frank's mum. Over the years, Frank's collection of them just keeps on growing. Inevitably, there are too many and something has to be done. Pre 5 A

EDWARDS, Richard You're safe now waterdog  Dolphin, 1997  1858814324 £4.50 
Matt takes Watt, the stuffed dog, with him everywhere. He grows up and doesn't even notice when Watt falls into the river and is swept away. Eventually Watt is found by a girl who takes him home to love. A

HAVILL, Juanita Jamaica's find  Little Mammoth, 1990  0749701900 £4.99 
Jamaica finds a hat and a toy dog in the park. She takes the hat to the lost property office, but decides to keep the toy dog. When her mother reminds her that someone else might be missing it, Jamaica returns it to the park and is rewarded for doing the right thing by making friends with the girl who had lost it. Also useful for other issues. Pre 5 A

HUTCHINS, Pat Tidy Titch Red Fox, 1993  0099207419 £4.99 
Titch is setting a good example by keeping his room tidy - that is until Peter and Mary decide to tidy their rooms too. Pre 5 A

INKPEN, Mick Kipper's toybox  Hodder, 1993  0340580496 £4.99 
A real Kipper classic. Someone or something has been nibbling a hole in Kipper's toybox! Pre 5 A

LASKY, Kathryn Sophie and Rose  Walker, 1999  0744569613 £4.99 
Rose is Sophie's doll. Her clothes are worn and her cheeks faded, but Sophie loves her.  A

McBRATNEY, Sam Francis Fry and the OTG  (Colour Jets) Collins, 1996  0006750281 £4.99 
Francis Fry, private eye, is on the case of some missing antique toys, in particular the one and only Brown Bear. Everything points to the Old Toy Gang - but how will he prove it? Very funny. A B

SCAMELL, Ragnhild Toby's doll's house  David & Charles, 1999  1862330670 £4.99 
Toby wants a doll's house for his birthday but receives other toys instead. This book sensitively questions gender stereotypes. A

THIEL, Elizabeth The polka dot horse  Methuen, 1995  0749724064 £4.99 
A discarded polka dot horse embarkes on a long journey that takes him across the countryside, until he finds another family who will renovate him and restore him to his former glory. Pre 5 A

WADDELL, Martin The toymaker  Walker, 1993  0744530180 £4.99 
Told in two parts, this is the story of a toymaker and the dolls he makes for Mary, his daughter, who is not strong enough to play in the street with other children. Many years later, Mary returns to the toyshop with her granddaughter and makes some surprising discoveries. A wonderfully told story but the old style illustrations may not appeal to all. A

WILLIAMS, Margery The velveteen rabbit  Puffin, 1995  0140373357 £3.99 
On Christmas morning, the Velveteen Rabbit is put in the toy cupboard forgotten. Eventually, he is retrieved and becomes the boy's favourite toy. As time goes by, he becomes worn and shabby, but he is happy because he is loved so much. The magic of this love transforms him into a real live rabbit. An ageless classic. A B

TRANSPORT

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ALBOROUGH, Jez Duck in the truck  HarperCollins, 2000  0006647170 £4.99 
A funny tale about a duck who is driving home and his truck gets stuck in the mud. Pre 5 A

DOHERTY, Berlie Magical bicycle  Picture Lions, 1996  000664614X £5.99 
Fear and determination are emotions that are experienced when learning to ride a bike. In addition to bruises, it also takes self esteem or a touch of magic. A B

HENDERSON, Kathy Cars, cars, cars  Frances Lincoln, 2000  0711213828 £5.99 
Rhyming text. Zoom through the world of the car factory and showroom, past roads and road building, the garage, the scrap yard. Also shows traffic jams and pollution. A

HENDERSON, Kathy The little boat  Walker, 1997 0744552532 £4.99 
A tiny boat is the unlikely hero of this picture book. The boat sails past a variety of boats and creatures, through calm and stormy waters. Pre 5 A

HOUGHTON, Eric Rosie and the robbers  (Blue Bananas) Mammoth, 1998  0749728671 £3.99 
Princess Rosie loves steamrollers. When the king orders her to stop driving them, Rosie runs away to the Wild Wood, where dangerous bears and robbers live. Rosie enlists the help of the robbers to steal her steamrollers back, but ends up rescuing the king from the bears. A B

NASH, Margaret Brunel  (Historical Storybooks) MacDonald Young Books, 1998  0750023848 £4.50 
Isaac's father works as a ganger for Mr Brunel helping to dig the tunnel. They use gunpowder to blast the tunnel. Isaac fears his father may get hurt. B C

TOMLINSON, Jill The cat who wanted to go home  Mammoth, 1991 (out of print)  0749708689 £3.99 
Suzy arrived in Britain from France via a hot-air balloon. Just how will she arrive home? Eventually a car ferry takes her back to France. A B

VOAKE, Charlotte Here comes the train  Walker, 2000  0744572967 £5.99 
Chloie and William train spot on the bridge with their father. Expressive watercolours. Pre 5

WOOD, Jakki Bumper to bumper: a traffic jam  Frances Lincoln, 1997  0711210314 £5.99 
Where do you find a sports car, a horsebox, a caravan, a cement mixer - more than thirty vehicles all together? Where else but in a traffic jam, but what is holding up the traffic? A

VICTORIANS

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APPS, Roy Chimney Charlie  (Sparks) Watts, 2001  0749635517 £3.99 
A story of Victorian chinmey sweeps. C D

BEDFORD, William Esme's owl  Mammoth, 1999  0749737360 £3.99 
Fran moves to a house that is haunted. The ghost teaches her all about what it was like to be a 11 year old girl in the Victorian age. C D

BUCHANAN, George Kidnap on the canal  (Sparks) Watts, 2000  0749635401 £3.99 
Tom helps Captain Monk on his barge one afternoon. Unfortunately Capt. Monk 'forgets' to let Tom back to his family's barge at night. They travel further North and Tom begins to wonder if he will ever see his family again. B C

BUCHANAN, George A fire in the village  (History Alive) Watts, 2002  0749640006 £3.99 
Sparks from a bonfire set fire to a thatched cottage in the village. Mrs Armitage and two servants from the Big House are trapped in the smoke-filled house. What can be done to try and save them..? Simple story with information notes at the end about lacemaking, steam engines and workhouses. Useful for less confident readers. B C

BURNAP, Jennifer The mansion and the mill  Anglia, 1998  1871173396 £4.25 
A story of two Victorian families. C D

BURNETT, Frances Hodgson The little princess  (Puffin Classics) Puffin, 2002  0142437018 £5.99 
Rich Sara Drewe is sent from India to school in England but when poverty strikes she is forced to become a servant to her classmates. C D

DOHERTY, Berlie Street child  Lions, 1995  0006740200 £3.99 
The story of a boy on the streets of Victorian London - based on the work of Dr. Barnardo. D

LIVELY, Penelope A stitch in time  Mammoth, 1994  0749707895 £4.99 
Maria finds a Victorian sampler and becomes embroiled into events that occurred in the Victorian Age. Detailed historical evidence.  C D

NASH, Margaret Out of the shadow  (Victorian Flashbacks) A & C Black, 2002  0713661011 £4.99 
The books in the Victorian Flashbacks series take readers back in time and vividly depict a young person's world - the experiences they had and the emotions they felt. C D

PEARSON, Maggie A slip in time  (Victorian Flashbacks) A & C Black, 2002  0713659262 £4.99 
The books in the Victorian Flashbacks series take readers back in time and vividly depict a young person's world - the experiences they had and the emotions they felt. C D

PULLMAN, Philip The ruby in the smoke  Scholastic, 1999  0439010772 £5.99 
A Victorian detective story that will delight 'who dun it' fans everywhere. C D

TOMLINSON, Theresa The voyage of the silver bream  (Victorian Flashbacks) A & C Black, 2002  0713658525 £4.99 
The books in the Victorian Flashbacks series take readers back in time and vividly depict a young person's world - the experiences they had and the emotions they felt. C D

WILSON, Jacqueline The Lottie project  Transworld, 1998  044086366X £4.99 
Charlie thought history was really boring until she started her project on the Victorians. C D

VIKINGS

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BRESLIN, Teresa Dream Master Nightmare!  Corgi, 2001  0440863953 £4.99 
Against the wishes of the dream master, Cy, who is visiting York with his class, tries to take control of his own dreams. Mayhem ensues and he finds himself in the middle of a Viking raid. B C

CAMERON, Ian The thistle  (Ally Fraser Stories) Scottish Children's Press, 1997  1899827064 £3.99 
Ally arrives in the camp of the Scottish army, the night before the Battle of Largs. C D

CAMPBELL, Marion The wide blue road  Scottish children's Press, 1998 1899827946 £4.99 
Rejected by his father, Richard is glad to become a page to a Scottish knight. They arrive at the castle of Dubhsgeir where they discover Rolf, a Norse boy. The two boys share adventures during the great 1263 Norse attack on Scotland. D E

PRICE, Susan The saga of Aslak  (Flashbacks) A & C Black, 1995  0713640766 £4.50 
The story of the adventures of Aslak and Astrid, two young slaves. Aslak returns home to discover that his sister has been sold. He begins a long quest to find her. C D

STRONG, Jeremy Viking in trouble  Puffin, 1995  0140374817 £3.25 
A hilarious look at a Viking living in Twentieth Century Britain. B C

SWINDELLS, Robert The Orchard book of Vikings Orchard, 1999  1860391621 £12.99 
These lively and engaging stories draw the reader into the Viking world. Good for introducing the topic and exploring this distant culture. B C

WALLACE, Karen Viking raiders  (Sparks) Watts, 1997  074963457X £4.99 
An account of a Viking raid on Britain in which two children are captured and taken as slaves. C

WORLD WAR TWO

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BAWDEN, Nina Carrie's war Puffin, 1993  0140306897 £4.99 
Carrie and Nick are evacuated from London to Wales to stay with Mr Evans, an old ogre and his timid sister. Their friend was luckier, being billeted with Hepzibah Green. Carrie and Nick enjoy visiting their friend until Carrie does something terrible...  D E

BAWDEN, Nina Keeping Henry  Puffin, 1989  014032805X £4.99 
Charlie has been evacuated to a farm in Wales. As he adapts to life as an evacuee, he knocks a red squirrel out a tree with his catapult. As he sees the squirrel adapt to his new life, so Charlie realizes that he too must adapt to his new life.  C D

BELBIN, David The right moment  (World War II Flashbacks) A & C Black, 2001  0713654163 £4.99 
Set in France in 1943, Jean leaves occupied Paris for the safety of his uncle's farm in the South. However, he finds that he enters a world of divided loyalties and must live under enemy occupation. C D

BRESLIN, Teresa A Homecoming for Kezzie  Mammoth, 1998  0749725923 
Kezzie comes home to war torn Scotland and has many trials to overcome.  C D

CROSS, Vince Blitz - the diary of Edie Benson, London 1940-1941  (My Story) Scholastic, 2001  0439997410 £4.99 
An account of life in London in the First two years of World War Two.  C D

FORDE, Elizabeth Think me back  House of Lochar, 2001  1899863788 £5.99 
A supernatural mystery based around the Clydebank Blitz. When Pete and his family move to Clydebank they hear unexplained voices through the wall despite there being no house there. He also meets a young girl in the abandoned Anderson shelter and gradually realizes that she lived at the time of the Blitz. Well written and absorbing novel which really gives an insight into what it was like to be in a shelter during a bombing raid. D

GERAS, Adele A candle in the dark  (Flashbacks) A & C Black, 1998  0713650761 £4.99 
The story of a Jewish brother and sister who flee Nazi Germany and start a new life in England.  C D

LEESON, Robert Tom's war patrol  Puffin, 2001  014130944X £3.99 
Tom misses his evacuee friend when he goes back to Liverpool. He is soon caught up in the Home Guard-like patrol organized by the Orchard Road Gang. The evacuees return but his friend is not one of them as his family have been killed a bombing raid. After a series of harrowing events, Tom and his dad talk about the confusions of the war.  C

LOWRY, Loise Number the stars  Collins, 1991  0006736777 £3.99 
Annemarie lives in Copenhagen. Her best friend is a Jew. As the Germans begin their campaign to eradicate all the Jews in Denmark, she has to be courageous and brave in order to help her friend.  D E

MORPURGO, Michael Friend or foe  Mammoth, 2001  0749746904 £4.99 
A German pilot saves David from drowning and he is faced with the dilemma: should he help him or not.  C D

MORPURGO, Michael Waiting for Anya  Mammoth, 2001  0749706341 £4.99 
The French resistance are smuggling Jewish refugees through the Pyrenees to Spain. It is a dangerous risky thing to do and children and adults are put in danger. Based on true stories collected by the author.  C D

STREATFEILD, Noel When the siren wailed  Collins, 2000  0006755372 £3.99 
Laura, Andy and Tim Clark are evacuated at the start of the war. They have their names and addresses on labels pinned to their coats. Operation Pied Piper is underway.  D

SWINDELLS, Robert Blitzed  Doubleday, 2002  0385410425 £10.99 
A school trip to a World War Two museum leads to a time-slip and George finds himself in London at the time of the Blitz. He joins up with a group of other homeless children, struggling to survive. Then they suspect someone they know of being a German spy.  D

WESTALL, Robert Blitzcat  MacMillan, 2002  033039861X £3.99 
A brave cat leads the way to safety out of blazing Coventry. People touched her for luck but also feared her as an omen of disaster. Wherever she went she changed lives. Well written, but a mature read.  D E

WESTALL, Robert Blitz  Collins, 1995  0006750869 £3.50 
Four short stories on World War Two and its effects on the lives of ordinary people, especially children. The stories focus on the drama and danger of living in a country at war as well as capturing the excitement and humour.  C D

© East Dunbartonshire Council     Last updated 21/10/02