Having a pet is a big responsibility, and that idea is pushed to extremes in this delightfully funny picture book series exploring what it might entail to take care of a really peculiar pet! Each story features a child who is delighted with their new wild pet . . . but is about to learn what it’s really like to have one about the house.

How to Feed an Elephant is a hilarious story about what might happen if an elephant came to stay.

Perfect for any child who has dreamed of an extraordinary pet, and wants to learn more about their favourite animals.

The post How to Feed an Elephant appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

Mirabelle’s mum is a witch, her dad is a fairy, and she is a bit of both!

When Mirabelle’s pet dragon Violet goes missing in the woods, the sensible thing to do would be for Mirabelle and her brother, Wilbur, to stick together to look for her in the creepy abandoned cottage she disappears into. But the two just can’t get along, and Mirabelle gets so cross that she says she wishes Wilbur would just disappear. She doesn’t mean for it to actually happen though!

Can she sort things out and get Wilbur to come back? Thankfully help is on hand, as the cottage isn’t quite as abandoned as it first appears. . .

A perfect gift for Halloween and beyond!

The post Mirabelle and the Haunted House appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

It’s Leo’s job as the Guardian’s apprentice to protect the village from the monsters that lurk in the surrounding forest. Whenever a monster gets too close to the village walls Leo must venture out, using his magical map to first find the monster and then do battle with it.

In this book, Leo must track down the ghostly Frightmare-a powerful monster that haunts the abandoned ruins, breathing deadly blue fire at any intruder.

Series features:

• A series on an epic scale, Leo’s Map of Monsters will lead to a new fantasy adventure in every book where he learns that not all monsters are evil.
• A fantastic array of amazing beasts; this exciting fantasy adventure series is perfect for Beast Quest,ÌýPokemonÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýStar Wars fans, and it contains a gentle ecological message – can Leo find the balance between the world of monsters and humans?
• Stunning black and white illustrations throughout, including a double page map and illustrated endpapers that feature fact files on the monsters.
• Perfect for emerging readers. A great balance of easy-to-read text and detailed illustrations come together in a stand-out package.
• First person narration takes young readers right into the heart of the story.

The post Leo’s Map of Monsters: The Frightmare appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

Children will love using their imagination to take the driver’s seat and pretend to use the digger’s controls to dig, move, and scoop!

This book puts the reader in charge, to build self-confidence and encourage following instructions, problem solving, and teamwork. The narrative is embedded with early learning skills such as recognition of colours, shapes, and numbers. This makes it perfect to share with children as a fun way to practise these key skills, while spotting their favourite vehicles and making the sound effects. The story ends with a sense of achievement as the finished house is revealed.

The post I’m The Digger Driver appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

Children will love using their imagination to take the driver’s seat and pretend to use the fire engine’s controls to switch on the siren, turn on the flashing lights, and start the engine!

This book puts the reader in charge, to build self-confidence and encourage following instructions, problem solving, and teamwork. The narrative is embedded with early learning skills such as recognition of colours, shapes, and numbers. This makes it perfect to share with children as a fun way to practise these key skills, while spotting their favourite vehicles and making the sound effects. The story ends with a sense of achievement as the reader puts the fire out, then drives the crew back to the fire station.

The post I’m The Fire Engine Driver appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

Empowering words that help children to express their emotions.

This little book on Love is part of an exciting series exploring big topics with young children in a way that feels good.

Using carefully chosen words, such as ‘family’, ‘forever’ and ‘closeness’, it creates a special moment for grown-ups and young children to focus on what it means to love others, lose people or animals we love, and be loved.

Children can discover and understand new words to help them to talk about the ups and downs of first experiences and new emotions with confidence.

The engaging art style, fun characters and hardback picture book feel make this series accessible and perfect to share.

Each book includes reassuring tips on how to enjoy these books, encourage conversation and build language confidence. This series is special not only because it focuses on feelings in a child-friendly way, but also because it’s from Oxford, it’s packed with educational goodness that helps children develop and grow.

Build language confidence
Engaging picture books with handpicked words to help young children talk about the ups and downs of first experiences and new emotions with confidence.

Packed with educational goodness
Using 51ºÚÁÏÍø’s language expertise, these deliver big and small words to help children develop and grow.

Perfect for sharing and reading together
Picture book rhythm with fun illustrations and engaging narrative flow, helping grown-ups and young children talk together in a gently supportive way.

Get more from the books
Includes ideas at the back of the book to help grown-ups talk about feelings with children and an age-appropriate glossary to help children understand more challenging words.

‘I love these books (and so do my sons!). Not only are they beautifully illustrated but the content is pitched just right for having rich conversations with young children about values like kindness and bravery. These books will be a great resource for teachers and parents alike, helping them equip their children with the vocabulary they’ll need to understand and express their emotions better.’ – Adrian Bethune, Teachappy

More from Oxford Owl

• Vocabulary: tips for building vocabulary at home
• Series page: Big Words for Little People

The post Big Words for Little People: Love appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

Every outsider has strength.

Matthew is 14 and is struggling to fit in – something that’s extra hard when you’re taking care of your mum, being bullied at school, and have earned the nickname Stinky Mog because of your poor personal hygiene.

On top of all that, he wants to catch the attention of one of the coolest girls in school, Ari. Ari doesn’t walk: she floats, like mist on the water. And she’s as sporty as she is cool.

When Ari’s brand new bike is stolen, Matthew spots his chance to make a good impression by getting it back for her… But will he just end up in even more trouble or is Matthew is about to learn that friendship and heroes can be found in unlikely places?

This is a gritty yet touching story of one teenager’s struggles with bullying and isolation, written by Carnegie Medal Winning author Anthony McGowan, and is perfect for less-confident readers.

‘The Carnegie medal winner McGowan is superb at stories about children who do not have all the advantages. In this succinct and poignant rite-of-passage story he gets inside the head of Matthew, a school outcast whose mother is not always up to the job of mothering. It carries you irresistibly with him from first to last.’ – The Sunday Times

Super-readable Rollercoasters is a new series of books developed by 51ºÚÁÏÍø in partnership with Barrington Stoke, to provide accessible fiction to less confident readers.

Series features:

• Fiction specifically written for students with a low-reading age by award-winning contemporary authors
• Exciting stories combine with relevant issues to engage and motivate readers, and inspire a life-long love of reading
• Includes reading notes at the back of the book and free downloadable online resource pack

The post I Am The Minotaur (Super-readable Rollercoasters) appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

A little polar bear, Miki, wanders away while his mother is diving for fish. He sees a dot in the snow and rushes towards it. Readers discover that the dot is a little girl. But Miki has never seen a human before and the little girl has never seen a polar bear. They discover more about each other as they play in the snow but then the perils of the polar landscape impel Miki to take the little girl home before undertaking the long journey to find his own mother.

Although one is a polar bear and one is a little girl, Miki and Dot share a common experience: they are both separated from their mothers when they meet. Their bond of friendship gives them the strength to support each other during the course of a day that will last with them both forever.

This is a moving and poignant story set in a changing and challenging polar landscape, perfect for the Christmas season. It wraps up important themes about empathy, kindness, and courage.

The story is both simply told and affecting. The gorgeous snowscapes, full of real atmosphere, are created with printmaking techniques by debut illustrator Fiona Woodcock.

‘Breathtakingly lovely. I adored this book.’ Cerrie Burnell.

The post A Dot in the Snow appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

This beautiful graphic-novel adaptation of The Breadwinner animated film tells the story of eleven-year-old Parvana who must disguise herself as a boy to support her family during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.

Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city. Parvana’s father ― a history teacher until his school was bombed and his health destroyed ― works from a blanket on the ground in the marketplace, reading letters for people who cannot read or write.

One day, he is arrested for having forbidden books, and the family is left without someone who can earn money or even shop for food. As conditions for the family grow desperate, only one solution emerges. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy, and become the breadwinner.

Deborah Ellis’s beloved novel has been adapted for film by Aircraft Pictures, Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions in association with Angelina Jolie’s production company, jolie pas productions. The animated feature film, directed by Nora Twomey, launched in the UK in 2018.

The post The Breadwinner Graphic Novel (The Breadwinner Collection) appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

Empowering words that help children to express their emotions.

This little book on Bravery is one in an exciting new series exploring big topics with young children in a way that feels good. Using carefully chosen words and phrases, such as ‘try’ or ‘owning up’, it creates a special moment for grown-ups and young children to focus on what it means to be brave in everyday life.

Children can discover and understand new words to help them to talk about the ups and downs of first experiences and new emotions with confidence. The engaging art style, fun characters and hardback picture book feel make this series accessible and perfect to share.

Each book includes reassuring tips on how to enjoy these books, encourage conversation and build language confidence. This series is special not only because it focuses on feelings in a child-friendly way, but also because it’s from Oxford, it’s packed with educational goodness that helps children develop and grow.

Build language confidence
Engaging picture books with handpicked words to help young children talk about the ups and downs of first experiences and new emotions with confidence.

Packed with educational goodness

Using 51ºÚÁÏÍø’s language expertise, these deliver big and small words to help children develop and grow.

Perfect for sharing and reading together

Picture book rhythm with fun illustrations and engaging narrative flow, helping grown-ups and young children talk together in a gently supportive way.

Get more from the books
Includes ideas at the back of the book to help grown-ups talk about feelings with children and an age-appropriate glossary to help children understand more challenging words.

More from Oxford Owl

• Vocabulary: tips for building vocabulary at home

The post Big Words for Little People: Bravery appeared first on Oxford Owl for 51ºÚÁÏÍø.