Most Popular Books by Alison Prince

Spud is a scruffy dog with a big heart - and an even bigger belly. He loves scrounging in dustbins, scaring cats and, of course, scoffing as much food as he can find. But what Spud loves more than anything in the world is his owner, Mrs Piffey, and she loves him too. But one day Spud overhears Mrs Piffey talking about a mysterious ''turkey'' and she suddenly starts wearing dark glasses and strange things called ''bikinis''. Then she disappears . . . Poor Spud does his best to find her - while being kept in check by Mrs Cats-Home. And of course Mrs Piffey is soon back with a tan - and big box of Turkish delight!

Boojer is sick of being stuck in a hutch with no company and an owner who hardly ever remembers to feed him. Encouraged by some cheerful mice, he manages to escape. Boojer is only in search of juicy carrots and a friend, but he gets far more than he bargained for...

Miriam doesn''t understand why her mum is buying more food than they need, and storing it away. Or why her parents have given her the nickname, Mandy. Her friend Pam says it''s because war is coming. And, if the Nazis invade, it will be dangerous for her to have a Jewish name. But that''s not going to happen, is it? Outbreak is a historical story set at the start of World War II.

Ernie loves music and he loves his cats, and he always counts his cats at dinner time. There''s Bert and Whistle, one and two. Then, suddenly one day, there''s three! Sly black cat Jezebel has sneaked in and somehow got a share of Bert and Whistle''s food, their home, and Ernie''s attention. The first two cats are NOT impressed by Jezebel''s lively tales of hiding in cars, stealing butter and taking the best chair, but when she wanders off again, they''re surprised to find they miss her. Ernie thinks maybe she''ll be lured back by some lovely Mozart, but Bert and Whistle have a better idea...

Bumble the hamster, so called because of his big bum, belongs to Rosie. He knows it''s his job to keep Rosie happy. He entertains her with Pocket Diving, Ear Tickling and Finger Balancing. But when he tries Hide and Seek, Rosie''s parents panic and insist Bumble has to stay in his cage. Rosie still feeds him delicious things, but Bumble''s getting bored - and fat! Then mice arrive in the house. Rosie''s parents are horrified, Rosie isn''t happy - and Bumble is frantic. if things go on like this, he''ll lose his job. He has to come up with a plan, and quickly...

The compelling story of Richard III and the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. A thrilling historical drama.

Ernie loves music and he loves his cats, and he always counts his cats at dinner time. There''s Bert and Whistle, one and two. Then, suddenly one day, there''s three! Sly black cat Jezebel has sneaked in and somehow got a share of Bert and Whistle''s food, their home, and Ernie''s attention. The first two cats are NOT impressed by Jezebel''s lively tales of hiding in cars, stealing butter and taking the best chair, but when she wanders off again, they''re surprised to find they miss her. Ernie thinks maybe she''ll be lured back by some lovely Mozart, but Bert and Whistle have a better idea...

Available for the first time as an ebook from the bestselling My Story series, CATHERINE OF ARAGON is a thrilling story-diary set among the pomp, plots and political wrangling of the Tudor court. It''s 1501, and Eva is making the greatest trip of her life - from Spain to London as lady-in-waiting to the future Queen of England...

Joey, a coster boy from the east end of London, finds himself suspected of murder.

The Wind in the Willows needs no introduction - children have enjoyed the exploits of its characters for generations. Few would guess that its author, Kenneth Grahame, was a tortured soul. Marriage to the predatory Elspeth Thomson, when both seemed destined for the single life, was a shared fantasy of invented truth. Out of that union came a catastrophically spoiled son, ''Mouse'', for whom that greatest of children''s stories was written. It was the child''s tragedy that he was sucked into the unreality of his parents'' lives and did not survive it, ending his life in suicide. Alison Prince brings her own highly acclaimed expertise as a children''s writer to this remarkably perceptive biography of Kenneth Grahame. Drawing on hitherto unpublished material she uncovers layer upon layer of Grahame''s personality to reveal the truth behind the myth of this intriguing man, ''the tortured soul of Mr Toad''. ''Alison Prince describes the grim story of Grahame''s marriage and fatherhood squarely and sensitively.'' Independent ''A meaty, well-constructed biography.'' Allan Massie Daily Telegraph

Never, perhaps, has so bizarre a figure crossed the stage of world literature...Alison Prince brings him into the light. The Times

A story set during World War II. It is the summer of 1944. There have been no air raids for quite a while, and people are beginning to think the war may be coming to an end. Katie and her family don''t sleep in the shelter any more, and it''s a relief to be back in the comfort of proper beds. One night in June, she wakes to hear a noise like a loud motorbike, coming closer. It stops abruptly, and there are a few seconds of silence - then an explosion that rocks the house. The Doodlebugs have arrived...

Available for the first time as an ebook from the bestselling My Story series, ANNE BOLEYN AND ME is set in 1525, during Henry VIII''s reign. Allegiances are divided. Henry wants to divorce his devoted wife Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn.

While spending the summer together, a boy and his uncle acquire a household robot with a mind of its own.

This is an atmospheric thriller, set in London in the first half of the 19th century. It combines an exciting murder mystery plot with strong period detail, Dickensian characters, and a real sense of everyday life among poor people in Southwark.

After discovering a body in the woods adjacent to an unused airfield, three children become suspicious that rustlers working in the area may be local people.

The events during a week in the lives of two English schoolgirls reach crisis proportions.

Pregnant and unmarried, 17-year-old Kate leaves London to live with a distant relative on her farm in Suffolk while she decides about her future.

Harrie and her brother Ian, after being awakened by the unaccustomed sound of an airplane flying at night, become convinced that smugglers are operating from the airfield near their English farm home.

A young boy, sent to the country from London during W W II, comes into conflict with some local boys who find ways to test his courage.

This book is suitable for reluctant readers of 8-13 with a reading age of below eight years. It is printed on cream paper, which is proven to be more restful on the eye. The font is specially designed to encourage a smooth and easy read. There are frequent page breaks, short, headed chapters and illustrations on almost every page. A wide range of specialists, including children themselves, have read and commented on the book prior to publication.

Thought-provoking drama. Tim is terrible at French, so when his football coach Max offers to help with his homework he''s thrilled. But when he gets entangled in a web of lies, Tim doesn''t know if he will ever escape. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers.

Deb loves to drive fast. The faster, the better. Until one day she goes too far, too fast. Suggested level: secondary.

Ben must help his Dad fix the shower - but it all goes horribly wrong! Particularly suitable for struggling and reluctant readers.

"After losing their dad en route to Glasgow to visit their Gran, Pete and Helen are left to cope on their own. How will they manage? A funny and moving story. First PageI hate this train. Im bored. Mums in hospital. shes having a baby soon, and they say shes got to rest. Dads a lorry driver, so hes away a lot. Good quality fiction for the seriously struggling reader aged from 12-16. The Bookseller Award-winning authors gripping and relevant stories Top quality, age-appropriate

Two Tudor stories by Alison Prince in a gorgeous paperback format. My Tudor Queen is the diary of Eva De Puebla who comes to England as lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon. Anne Boleyn and Me is the story of Elinor Valjean, Eva''s daughter, who serves in Henry VIII''s court. A must for every fan of historical fiction

"Dale hates school. He has no luck with girls. He fights with his mum. So how did he get to be a hero?Good quality fiction for the seriously struggling reader aged from 12-16. The Bookseller Award-winning authors gripping and relevant stories Top quality, age-appropriate illustrations Stylish packagingInterest age 12 Reading age 7

"Lying in hospital, her life hanging in the balance, Tig plays her cat Jacoby''s game. Frustrated and confused by her own life, she can now explore other places, other times. Like dreaming in history, she moves backwards through the centuries to see how they compare to the present. But Jacoby has devised a cat''s cradle of a game, and as she plays it to the end Tig makes some unexpected discoveries." --COVER.

I, Mary McGuire, am a witch.Mary has known it for many years. Coincidences happen too dependably to be mere accident. She has found that events can be manipulated. Hers is not the witchcraft of spells and potions, but one which many women will recognise as an extension of their commonsense.What Mary cannot know is that she comes of a lost line of Scottish witches persecuted and burned in the seventeenth century. She is aware only of the wise, tantalizing presence of Mari, whose terrifying story, interwoven with Mary''s own, spans the centuries. Each, in her way, is forced to defend her true nature against the bigotry and injustice of her time.Today, as always, there are people who know they are unusual. Whether this is a gift or a handicap depends a lot on fate.An absorbing and unforgettable read.

When Sasha falls in love for the first time, her life - and she herself - changes forever.