Simon Barnes is one of Britain's leading bird writers and humorists. His weekly column in 'The Times', his essays for the RSPB magazine and his two books on bad bird-watching have made him one of the characters of the bird world. Here he reads his own illuminating introductions to the fifty main birds of Britain, supported by the distinguishing bir...

Laos, 1976. The monarchy has been deposed, the Communist Pathet Lao have taken over. Most of the educated class has fled, but Dr Siri Paiboun, a Paris-trained doctor remains. And so this seventy-two-year-old physician is appointed state coroner, despite having no training, equipment, experience or even inclination for the job. But the job's not tha...

Juggling the demands of her yarn shop and single-handedly raising a teenage daughter has made Georgia Walker grateful for her Friday night knitting club. Her friends are happy to escape their lives too, even for just a few hours. But when Georgia's ex suddenly reappears, demanding a role in their daughter's life, her whole world is shattered. Lucki...

Billy Bunter makes a surprising appearance in the Remove soccer team when Smithy the Bounder is sacked for the remainder of the term by the captain, Harry Wharton. Cripes! Following the usual order of chaos, this leads to the resignation of many members of the team in protest. Meanwhile, the Fat Owl of the Remove plots to booby trap Smithy in his s...

With his dad out of the picture and his mum working full time, six-year-old John's grandad ends up looking after him most of the time. But John doesn't mind - he loves his grandad, even if they don't always see eye to eye. In fact, much of the time they get on each others nerves! When it comes to the important things though, Grandad and John know j...

Despite his Mum's insistence, Sam doesn't want to be friends with Davey; he thinks Davey's a first class, grade A, top of the dung-heap moron. But one day Davey saves Sam's life and a bond is formed between them. Sam is still embarrassed to be seen with Davey, but little by little he has to admit, when it's just the two of them, Davey is a lot of f...

Blade is hiding. Playing dead. He knows people are looking for him but he doesn't want to be found because he knows these people aren't messing about. But Blade can look after himself. He has to.

The life of Lady Jane Grey, the 'nine day Queen', is all too often remembered as just a line in a history book, but this debut novel reveals the full fascinating and tragic story - a tale of treachery, power struggles, and religious turmoil in the Tudor court. Winner of the Highland Children's Book Award.

Alice is growing up in the grey world of post-war London. Her escape is her imagination, which always brightens her day. But when a new boy starts school, her mind begins to play tricks on her, and whenever they are together the world becomes a more exciting place.

Ian Rude's life is never simple - hardly surprising with a name like his. It's not his fault that his gorgeous girlfriend's cello was run over. But now he needs repair money, fast, before she dumps him and starts seeing someone slightly less accident-prone. Unfortunately, that means working at the psychotic Pocky family's Australian Wildlife Safari...

The Doctor walked slowly forward into the cul-de-sac. The giant dinosaur turned its head to focus on the midget now approaching... The Doctor aimed his gun to fire... suddenly from behind came a great roar of anger. He spun round - blocking the exit from the narrow street towered a Tyrannosaurus Rex, its savage jaws dripping with blood... The Docto...

When Sarah Jane disturbs a burglar in the night, she is surprised to find a middle-aged woman, her pockets stuffed with jewellery, demanding gold. And then Maria reports that a woman has been stealing rings and necklaces from the girls' changing room at school. The women had recently attended the Auriga Clinic. Is there a link between the clinic an...

Whenever the young Prince Brat misbehaves, Jemmy is punished in his place, for it is illegal to spank the heir to the throne. But when the prince decided to run away, he demands that Jemmy come with him. Once in the forest they are captured by two criminals. Can they escape and find their way out of danger and back to the city?

Can't wait to change schools, or worried about fitting in? Listen to this audiobook to have fun from day one. Including: having the right stuff, finding your way around, making new friends, staying on top of classwork and homework and getting on with the older kids.

This text guide is designed to help GCSE students write better essays about 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck. It is packed with useful explanations about the themes, characters, context and interpretations of the book, all backed up with quotes. There are four sections, all written in CGP's clear, chatty style. It would also make a handy referen...

This audiobook is for 11-14 year olds studying history at Key Stage 3. As well as learning skills and ideas, there are lots of facts in history and you've just got to learn them. Happily this CGP title gives you all that important information as clearly and concisely as possible - along with a few daft bits. The main topics covered are medieval tim...

This audiobook is packed with thousands of years of bloody battles, glorious empires, revolting revolutions, monstrous monarchies, and more. Want to meet the movers, shakers and gods of Ancient Greece? Go on a shopping spree in a medieval town? Log onto Captain Cook's blog about his voyages of discovery? Or chart the progress of World War II from i...

Published to great acclaim in 1929, this classic and bestselling tale did away with sentimental Victorian visions of childhood and paved the way for later works such as Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'. Set in the last century against a tropical landscape and the ever-present sea, this audiobook tells the story of a family of English children who, on...

Part of the 'Family Doctor' series and published in association with The British Medical Association, this is a valuable resource for anyone who suffers from anxiety. It is also helpful for those studying or for people who may be in contact with someone who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. Chapters include: causes, symptoms, theories and typ...

Young historians and chefs get a real taste of the stories behind the food we eat as we examine the amazing peculiarities of international cuisine past and present. Listeners will learn about the often disgusting yet utterly fascinating foods that our ancestors ate such as maggot cake or rotten fish, as well as those that are still eaten around the...

Leaving the valley that has become her home with Jondalar, the handsome man she has nursed back to health and come to love, Ayla embarks on a journey that will lead her to the Mamutoi - the Mammoth Hunters. CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND/OR ADULT THEMES.