Most Popular Books by Vivian French

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.

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...

“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.

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.

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 ...?

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 ...?

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.

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.

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.

"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!"--

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.

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

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.

While visiting his grandfather, who has a wonderful garden, Oliver learns to eat vegetables other than potatoes. Suggested level: junior.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

A young girl imitates the movements of ten ballet dancers.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

The web of power looks smooth and peaceful — until a new threat looms — in the fifth tale from the Five Kingdoms. Prince Albion expects a unique occasion when he starts planning Cockenzie Rood Day to celebrate his kingdom — and himself. What he doesn’t expect is boppings on the head and kidnapping, all because a zombie wants to play his fiddle in the talent contest. With a misbehaving path, a romantic bat, and a greedy butler to set them on their way, Gracie Gillypot and Prince Marcus are off on their fifth adventure. It’s up to a Trueheart, a resourceful prince, and Gubble the troll to stop the zombie before he does some giant damage to the Five Kingdoms.

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.

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?

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. Poor lost Kitten. He doesn''t have a name or a home to call his own. All he wants is to find a warm and cosy place where someone will love him. Will anyone help this little kitten?

Book Band: Lime - Ideal for ages 7+ A quirky school comedy from Vivian French. Perfect for fans of Wigglesbottom Primary and Kes Grey''s Daisy books. When Dan gets into trouble at school for being untidy, he teams up with his best friend Billy to find out who''s throwing his lunchbox on the floor. With chalk fingerprints and missing sardine sandwiches as clues, Detective Dan is on the case! This humorous mystery from award-winning author Vivian French has appealing black-and-white illustrations by Daniel Duncan and is perfect for children who are developing as readers. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with brilliant books to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2, with book-banded stories by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence covering a wide range of genres and topics. With charming illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for reading both in the classroom and at home. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com. ''Patrice Lawrence, Tony Bradman, Margaret Mahy, Joan Aiken, Andrew Fusek Peters, Michaela Morgan, Geraldine McCaughrean and Narinder Dhami: any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed.'' - Books for Keeps on the Bloomsbury Readers series

First published: London: Evans Brothers.

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. Basma has been wondering a lot about love. What is it like? Does it have a shape or a colour or a taste? Is it like a coat or a jumper or a shawl? Or is it like a warm woolly hat? This charming new Early Reader story from the United Arab Emirates will be enjoyed by everyone, parents and children alike - and in particular fans of GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.

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.

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.