A notoriously scary ghost is supposed to haunt the ruined medieval castle where Sunny and his friends are spending the day. But when a troubling visitor arrives at the antique shop, it turns out the danger is closer to home than they thought . . .

"A romp filled with language play and just plain nonsense. . . . Everyone gets his, her, or its due; goodness is rewarded; and evil punished oh-so-wickedly."– The Horn BookHigh above the mountain village of Fracture, trouble is brewing. The sorceress Lady Lamorna wants a skull-studded gown of deep black velvet, but her treasure chest is empty of gold. That doesn’t stop her, however, from kidnapping, blackmailing, and using more than a little magic to get w...

Sometimes, when you open a door or lift a lid, you find exactly what you expected to find: coats in the coat cupboard, bread in the bread bin, toys in the toy box. And sometimes you don't.When Sunny's parents buy an antique shop, they get more than they bargained for: in some of the old furniture, Sunny finds ghosts. Each of the ghosts has an unfulfilled desire, something they never did in their lifetime: Walter wants to learn to read, Violet wants to write a novel, Mary and Elsie ...

A funny fantasy-adventure series for fans of LEMONY SNICKET, NEIL GAIMAN, and CRESSIDA COWELLHave you ever picked your nose? Have you ever picked your nose and EATEN IT? Have you ever picked your nose, eaten it, and, by doing so, opened a portal to a world run by PIRATES?Mabel Jones has.Kidnapped, Mabel is forced to serve aboard The Feroshus Maggot with the strangest crew you’ll ever meet. And the captain—an odious wolf named Idryss Ebeneze...

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 Gillypo...

This book offers a defence of ethical reading in secondary school English classes at a time when reformers and policy makers are trying to reorganize English language arts around technical skills or politics. Ross Collin shows how students and teachers use literature as a venue for exploring their own and others' ethical ideas and practices and argues that moral inquiry in English class is a distinctly social endeavour. The book draws ideas from English education and moral...

Sometimes a rabbit just wants to go for a swim! But is that the best idea when the sign says "No Swimming"?Packed with Ross Collins's characteristic humour, No Swimming is a hilarious cautionary tale - a perfect read-aloud picture book for children and adults to enjoy together, again and again!When a rabbit meets a sneaky sea monkey trying to get him into the water, he has questions; lots of them! What are carrots doing in a lake? Why are ...

Sometimes a rabbit just wants to go for a swim! But is that the best idea when the sign says "No Swimming"?Packed with Ross Collins's characteristic humour, No Swimming is a hilarious cautionary tale - a perfect read-aloud picture book for children and adults to enjoy together, again and again!When a rabbit meets a sneaky sea monkey trying to get him into the water, he has questions; lots of them! What are carrots doing in a lake? Why are ...

Hold on to your head for the funny and fast-paced second Tale from the Five Kingdoms, a follow-up to THE ROBE OF SKULLS. (Age 8 and up)When the quill writes GO GO GO frantically on the wall, and the House of the Ancient Crones heaves Gracie Gillypot outside onto the path, it can mean only one thing: there’s Trouble in the Five Kingdoms. This time it’s in the form of a beady-eyed, green-tongued witch named Truda Hangnail, who with her banished Deep Magic has vowed t...

The madcap, macabre, and maddeningly funny Tales from the Five Kingdoms continue – with an oddly heart-warming adventure.It’s a fine day for dwarf watching! At least that’s what Gracie Gillypott and Prince Marcus innocently think as they set out, unaware that Princess Marigold has honed her sights on Marcus and plans to follow him to the ends of the earth -- fan, frilly petticoats, and all. As for the dwarves, it’s not a fine day at all: they’re overworked...

How long does a dragon’s egg take to hatch? Find out as this hilariously macabre series continues. (Age 8 and up)In this deadly funny fourth Tale from the Five Kingdoms, it’s Gracie Gillypot’s birthday, and Prince Marcus plans to show her a flight of dragons as a special gift. But when greedy, chocolate-hungry twins awaken the banished Old Malignant One, evil magic and Total Oblivion threaten the Five Kingdoms. Gracie must find a powerful, long-forgotten dragon’s e...

Dress to impress with There's Nothing Cuter Than a Puppy, a laugh-out-loud full-colour picture book from award-winning, bestselling Ross Collins and Tom Nicoll.Donkeys in dungarees, walruses in woolly waistcoats, hyenas in hoop skirts . . .The Cutest Creature Contest is full of tough competition!But there can only be one winner and there's nothing cuter than a puppy!Or is there . . .?Author Tom Nicoll and award-winning...