Paul Panting

Most people tend to turn away, perhaps understandably, from the key existential issue of the day: climate change or, some would say more accurately, climate collapse. Nick Breeze tells the engaging, very human story of successive COP conferences over the past decade: it is a tale of imperfection, failure even, but not yet defeat. So far, the UN process has achieved almost the exact opposite of what it first set out to achieve at the Rio Earth Summit...

Come join the Odd Dog on a festive journey to find the perfect present, and perhaps save Christmas along the way... a brand-new, PAW-some story from Rob Biddulph - the genius behind the #DrawWithRob phenomenon and It's Christmas, and this Odd Dog is running out of time to find the perfect present for her pal... But when she meets a new friend who needs helps, she realizes that gifts might not be the most important thing about Christmas after all....

A hilarious story full of noises and naughtiness. A sure-fire Christmas cracker of a book! "Oh, dearie me!" said Rudey. Now I've done a windy pop! This is a bit embarrassing. I'll do my best to stop." Rudey has eaten too many sprouts and the explosive effect is smelt all around the world as he Santa delivery presents on Christmas Eve... The other reindeer have laughed so much, they're out of puff. How ever will they get the sleigh back home? A naughty,...

Every full moon, a mysterious ship is seen off the coast of Dull-on-Sea. Then, the next day, gold and jewelry are missing from homes, shops, and museums all over town. Matilda needs the Jolley-Rogers' help to investigate. Can Matilda and Jim Lad retrieve the stolen booty from the mysterious ship before the moon fades? Or will they end up stuck on board with a crew of ghostly pirates forever?

While the Jolley-Rogers are enjoying a day at the beach, Dad and Mom and little sister Nugget are mysteriously drawn into a cave. When they don't return, Jim Lad is suspicious and sends Bones the dog to Dull-on-Sea to find Matilda before he, too, ventures into the cave. Jim Lad soon discovers a magical haul of treasure inside the cave that has bewitched his family. Will the cave's sinister sea hags keep them prisoner forever, or can Matilda and Bones...

From million-copy bestselling author David Baddiel comes a laugh-out-loud story for readers of 8 and up that takes you on a roller-coaster ride of fame and friendship… Nothing extraordinary has ever happened to Billy Smith. In fact, every single thing about him is ordinary, including his name. But when a documentary crew turns up at Billy's school to film the new TV series School Daze, everything changes. Billy shouldn't stand out: all the other...

Three brilliantly funny stories from the bestselling author David Baddiel. THE PARENT AGENCY The Parent Agency is an epic wish-fulfilment adventure for every child – and for the child in everyone. ANIMALCOLM A laugh-out-loud adventure for every child who ever wondered what it might be like to be a bit of an animal… HEAD KID Head Kid tells the story of Ryan Ward, the maestro of practical jokes. The new head teacher, Mr Carter, arrives. A man...

Though it is for the sparkling epic, Aeneid, that the Roman poet Virgil is best known, it was these two poems, The Eclogues and Georgics, which first established his reputation. Cast in the tradition of pastoral poetry, The Eclogues were written between 41 BCE and 37 BCE when Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro, to give him his full name) was in his thirties. The Eclogues (the word means 'Selections' in Greek) contain 10 poems, a combination of dialogues...