The Crowstarver

A beautiful story for older readers written almost twenty years ago in which bestselling author Dick King-Smith creates a fascinating picture of rural life at the time of the Second World War. Discovered as a foundling in a lambing pen, Spider Sparrow grows up surrounded by animals. From sheep and horses to wild otters and foxes, Spider loves them all, even the crows he must scare away from the newly sown wheat. Crowstarving was the idea job for Spider - he was on his own, yet never alone for all around him were animals of one sort or another. Amazingly, every animal who meets Spider implicitly trusts the young boy. This magical rapport is Spider's unique gift, but nothing else in his tough life is so easy.

Flightless, helpless and often, more than a little silly, chickens are no match for the cunning, merciless foxes stalking their coop. Or are they? Thanks to a careless farmer and generations of determined foxes, the chickens on Foxearth Farm have evolved into quick-witted, long-legged, high flying fox dodgers. Then, just a week after a vicious fox ambush in the water trough, three sisters are hatched. And Ransome, Sims and Jefferies are no ordinary chicks: they grow up determined to fight back. They are the legendary Fox Busters . . . From the number one author for animal magic comes this wonderful new edition of a much-loved classic.

A little girl who desperately wants a dog introduces an imaginary Great Dane called Henry into her home. But then, to her great surprise, she is allowed a real Henry! Was old Mrs Garrow, with her cackling laugh and black cat, responsible for her wish coming true? From the number one author for animal magic comes a wonderful new edition of this much loved classic.

In this collection of stories you will meet a guinea-pig that can do clever tricks, the Queen's favourite Corgi pup, a secret mouse hiding in a tree-house, a chick that wants to be a duck AND you'll learn how to look after all kinds of pets! A delightful anthology from the master of animal adventures Dick King-Smith, featuring a never-before-published story.

Harmony's uncle sends her on a treasure trail - which disappointingly ends in her finding a 50p piece. But the coin is a magic one, and when you rub the queen's nose, your wishes will come true! From the number one author for animal magic comes this wonderful new edition of a much-loved classic.

From the king of animal stories for children and one of the national's most beloved writers, a very funny and heart-warming story. Harry isn't very pleased when he inherits a parrot from Great-Uncle George, but Maddison is no ordinary parrot. Not only can he talk, but you can have conversations with him and he and Harry quickly become great friends - but then Maddison is stolen ... Will he and Harry ever be reunited?

Unlike most kittens, Martin doesn't like eating mice - let alone catching them. When he catches one by mistake he decides to keep it as a pet and soon Drusilla the mouse is established in an old bath tub in the attic. Martin is kept busy getting food, water, bedding - and then Drusilla's babies start to arrive. How can Martin cope with all his mice? From the number one author of animal magic comes this wonderful new edition of Martin's Mice.

A Guided Reader to Early Years and Primary English draws on extracts from the published work of some of the most influential education writers to provide insight, guidance and clarity about key issues affecting early years practitioners and primary English teachers. The book brings together key extracts from classic and contemporary writing and contextualises these in both theoretical and practical terms. The extracts are accompanied by a summary of the key ideas and issues raised, questions to promote discussion and reflective practice, and annotated further reading lists to extend thinking. Taking a thematic approach and including a short introduction to each theme, the chapters cover: Models of and approaches to early years and primary English; Speaking and listening in English lessons: story-telling, drama, ‘booktalk’ and debate; Reading and responding to texts in English lessons; Writing in English lessons: finding a ‘voice’; Knowledge about language: grammar, spelling, punctuation and handwriting; The rich landscape of children’s literature; Non-fiction in English lessons; Planning, assessing and recording children’s progress: the learning cycle. Aimed at trainee and newly qualified teachers, those working towards Masters level qualifications and all those involved in the teaching of early years and primary English, this accessible, but critically provocative text will be an essential resource for those that wish to deepen their understanding of early years and primary English education.