Best Selling Books by Vivian French

"One day, Anna''s friend Zane sends her an invitation to come over to play, and inside the envelope is a map. But why is Zane''s house in the middle and Anna''s on the edge? Anna decides to make her own map, and before long, Dad and even Whiskers the cat are in on the fun. From routes to scale, symbols, and points of view, join Anna and her dad as they explore the wonderful world of maps!"--

A funny, exciting series for younger readers, by the bestselling Vivian French and David Melling. Sam J. Butterbiggins'' only ambition is to be a Very Noble Knight, but he has a problem - he''s been packed off to the castle next door to stay with his aunt and uncle while his parents are away. Not only does he have to put up with his annoying cousin Prune, there are also the weird creatures his aunt looks after in her Luxury Accommodation for Dragons, Griffins and other Regal Beasts to contend with! But when Godfrey the dragon gets stuck down a well, Sam and Prune have to work together to come to the rescue. Inside the well they make an incredible discovery - a scroll giving instructions on the six quests to be completed in order to become the perfect knight! Sam''s ambition seems close at hand - if only Prune would stop getting in the way...

A new series of short fiction for newly independent readers. Each story is between 300 and 500 words long, and together the books offer a range of genres, from humor to adventure, and from mystery to fantasy.

Billy plays detective to find out who keeps knocking his best friend Dan''s lunchbox off the shelf at school and getting Dan into trouble, but it is Dan who finally solves the mystery.

What better way to spend a sunny day than a visit to Grandpa’s chickens—and a peek at some baby chicks just as they hatch? When Julie and her little brother Bob visit Grandpa on a beautiful day, they’re in for a treat: a yard full of chickens! Grandpa introduces them—a white, fluffy Puffball called Lulu, a tan-colored Orpington called Lola, a strutting rooster named Marvin, even Lottie, who’s sitting on eggs just about hatch into adorable yellow chicks. In a simple, inviting narrative, acclaimed author Vivian French ushers children into a perennially popular barnyard sight, while smaller text offers details about different types of chickens, their various features, what kind of environment they like best, what they eat, how they lay their eggs, and more. Clear, cozy illustrations by Nanette Regan add to the charm, making Grandpa’s house a place young readers will be eager to visit again.

How is Gran going to get rid of the mouse in her house that''s eating her cheese?

“Vivian French tells a gardening adventure and offers underground facts, including helpful hints on how to become a ‘wormologist.’ “ — USA Today Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated — and fascinating — creature. Back matter includes further information about worms and an index.

A funny, exciting series for younger readers, by the bestselling Vivian French and David Melling. Sam J. Butterbiggins'' only ambition is to be a Very Noble Knight, but he has a problem - he''s been packed off to the castle next door to stay with his aunt, uncle and cousin Prune while his parents are away. But Sam''s discovered a magical scroll listing the six quests to be completed to become a knight, and with his True Companion Prune''s help, he''s already managed two! Now Sam must find a goodly sword, but he keeps getting distracted by noble deeds that need doing. Helping a grumpy dwarf, a dunderheaded bear and an island of tiny elves might mean he''ll never find his sword, but isn''t that what a Very Noble Knight would do ...?

It was an age of miracles," declared F. Scott Fitzgerald of the 1920s, "it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire." No author is more closely associated with the decade than Fitzgerald, who christened it the Jazz Age and chronicled its manners and morals. His lyrical, witty fables of society life reveal the disillusionment and cynicism behind the Roaring Twenties'' glamorous facade. Six of Fitzgerald''s best-loved stories appear here, starting with the title tale, in which a hostess regrets her success at transforming a visiting cousin from wallflower to coquette. Other selections include "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," a glittering fantasy about the corrupting power of wealth; "The Ice Palace," a quasibiographical story of a restless Southern belle; "The Offshore Pirate"; "The Jelly Bean"; and "May Day." Each of these colorful portraits from a bygone era considers timeless themes -- love, money, power, the search for happiness -- that keep them enduringly popular and ever relevant.

Morris is a lovable, greedy fat ginger kitten. In this story he is afraid of the new cat flat, but how will he get his food which is inside the house, when he is outside! A Roaring Good Read for new readers

Henny Penny and her barnyard friends are on their way to tell the king that the sky is falling when they meet a hungry fox, but Henney Penny''s quick thinking saves the day.

Little Gray the whale is born, learns to swim and dive in the ocean, and accompanies his mother on the migration from Baja California to the Arctic feeding grounds. Includes a map showing the whales'' migration route.

A funny, exciting series for younger readers, by the bestselling Vivian French and David Melling. Sam J. Butterbiggins'' only ambition is to be a Very Noble Knight, but he has a problem - he''s been packed off to the castle next door to stay with his aunt, uncle and annoying cousin Prune while his parents are away. But Sam''s discovered an ancient scroll listing the six quests to be completed in order to become a knight, and he''s already completed the first one! Now he''s found his True Companion (Prune), next on the list is to track down a Snow White Steed. But when Aunt Egg orders Sam and Prune to journey to Weasel''s Hill to deliver Horace the warthog back to his owner, it looks like the young knight-in-training looks will have to put his quest on hold. Or will he ...?

Oliver, star of Oliver''s Vegetables, is back from his healthy week eating vegetables at his grandpa''s house. Suddenly, the fruit at home doesn''t seem quite good enough for Oliver. What is his mum to do? Other titles in this series: Oliver''s Fruit Salad Oliver''s Milkshake

Morris is ginger and very fat. He’s a cat who loves snoozing and eating... but that won’t catch him a mouse. Another lively story for beginner readers about this lovable puss.

Princess Katie and the other princesses at the Princess Academy must make one carefully chosen wish in order to win a chance to be in the Royal Parade.

A play for children based on the humorous story by Michael Rosen.

A funny, exciting series for younger readers, by the bestselling Vivian French and David Melling. Sam J. Butterbiggins'' only ambition is to be a Very Noble Knight, but he has a problem - he''s been packed off to the castle next door to stay with his uncle, aunt and cousin Prune. But Sam''s about to discover a magical scroll listing the six quests he must complete to become a knight ... and with Prune''s help, he''s already managed three of them! Now he has to earn his very own knightly shield. Prune knows where to go for armour: Puddlewink Castle! But before they can cross the drawbridge they''re stopped by a terrifying creature. Will Sam''s knightly dreams end here?

The third book about Morris, the lovable fat ginger kitten whose main interest in life is food! A Roaring Good Read for children who are just able to read on their own.

Princess Olivia is chosen to demonstrate the best way to cross a puddle by stepping on a prince''s cape—with a real, live prince. But the jealous Diamonde isn''t going to let Olivia outshine her. . . .

While Mom and Dad do nothing but daydream at the picnic, the young boy keeps very active noticing all kinds of things going on around them.

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing and reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. Hank can''t work out where all his customers have gone. They usually queue for miles for a taste of his rats'' tail pizza and special guts pie with blood sauce. And when he finds them all at a newly opened cake shop, sitting at tables and sipping tea, he can''t believe it! He''s got to find a way to win his customers back. But how?

Walker Story Plays are dramatic versions of popular nursery stories that children will already be familiar with. The plays are written for four voices, with the parts clearly denoted by different colour bands.

This collection of dramatic versions of favourite stories, retold by Vivian French - with illustrations from the original books, is written for four voices. Each part, denoted by different colour bands, can be read by a single or several voices and accommodate a wide range of reading abilities.

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing and reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. When naughty Wizz Bee and Buzz Bee come home without any honey, Queen Bee is very cross. Can they cheer her up with a story?

Story Plays are dramatic versions of favourite stories, retold by Vivian French and suitable for reading aloud. The plays are written for four voices, illustrated with pictures from the original book, with parts clearly denoted by different colour bands. Each part can be read by a single voice or several voices. They aim to accommodate a wide range of reading abilities, so everyone can join in.

Follow the six best friends in the "Tiara Club" as they go on to the next stage of the Royal Palace Academy for the Preparation of Perfect Princesses: Silver Towers! In each book, Princess Charlotte, Katie, Daisy, Alice, Sophia or Emily tells her story of how to be a Perfect Princess at Silver Towers. Will they win enough tiara points to go on to the wonderful Ruby Mansions? Join the six princesses in a world of wonderful balls, beautiful dresses and magical surprises.

Gracie Gillypott and Prince Marcus embark on a dwarf-watching outing, not knowing that the dwarves are working frantically making crowns for a royal wedding and that they have enlisted some unreliable trolls to help them, thus putting the humans'' expedition in peril.

The sorceress Lady Lamorna has her heart set on a very expensive new robe, and she will stop at nothing--including kidnapping and black magic--to get the money to pay for it.

Princess Lauren falls in love with a beautiful necklace at the Annual Exhibition of Dazzling Diamonds. But she gets into terrible trouble over it. Can Fairy G''s magic help?

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing and reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. Down in the Jungle it''s time for bed, but Monkey wants a story, and he sets off to find one in this charming, funny story, perfect for early readers.

When a king and a queen promise to marry their daughter Lucia to the man who can show them the most wonderful thing in the world, suitors descend on the palace bearing gifts. Roses, jewels and exotic birds; dancing girls, wind machines and mythical beasts - but nothing feels quite right. As the last suitor leaves, his weapons of mass destruction rejected, the king and queen are exhausted. But when a shy, young man, who isn''t a suitor at all, steps forward, they finally understand what the most wonderful thing in the world really is.

On Gracie Gillypot''s birthday, greedy, chocolate-hungry twins awaken the banished Old Malignant One, and unless Gracie can find a powerful, long-forgotten dragon''s egg, the Five Kingdoms may succumb to evil magic and Total Oblivion.

After putting a spell on the good witches of Wadington, Truda Hangnail is determined to return with her evil Deep Magic to seize Queen Bluebell''s throne for herself in order to have total rule over the whole of the Five Kingdoms.

A new edition of the Christmas favourite, abridged to render it suitable for reading aloud to younger children. Illustrated by Patrick Benson in full colour.

When Cat asks Goat to ride in his boat, Goat does not realise Cat has something sneaky planned. Suggested level: junior.

On her first day at the Princess Academy, Princess Charlotte inadvertently causes an accident that ruins the dresses of her new roommates and unless something can be done none of them will be able to attend the much anticipated Birthday Ball.

A young girl imitates the movements of ten ballet dancers.

Rhyming text describes a boy who would like to be an extraterrestrial being, as well as an extraterrestrial being who would like to be a boy on earth. Suggested level: junior, primary.