Hope for the Flowers  by Trina Paulus

Stripe, an ambitious young caterpillar, abandons his struggle to reach the top of the pillar when he meets a lovely yellow butterfly. A book that is as popular with adults as with children, with a myriad of meanings for individuals can take away from the story, about achieving success in life  without stepping on other people.

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Catch Minitales - Short Science Fiction Stories with a Sting!  by Stephen Bowkett
 

This book is part of StoryMaker Catch Pack, which uses fiction as a resource for learning. These stories are hugely popular with children.. What does Peeta do when aliens invade his planet? Why does Kane watch the skies every night of his life? How does Hector F. Payne save the world? Where can you find robots, giant rats, alien invaders, supercomputers...?

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The Allotment Ghost and Other Adventures - The Double Dare Gang  by Stephen Bowkett

The Double Dare Gang books are an integral part of ALPS StoryMaker. Extracts and examples from these books are used in the StoryMaker manual to exemplify many of the accelerated learning techniques. Live to Dare - Dare to live! Nige, Brian, Steve, Anna, Anthony, Kevin and Neil are the Double Dare Gang - a group of ordinary kids from an ordinary town who have the most wonderful adventures. What is the test that Steve must pass to join the DDG?  How does Anna prove herself to be braver and cleverer than the rest of the kids in the group? Do you love excitement and fun? Will you follow the DDG's Code of Honour? Then come on in... If you dare!

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The Story of Tracy Beaker  by Jacqueline Wilson

Tracy Beaker's story, which is told in the first person by the infuriating and loveable 10-year-old Tracy, is a wonderfully funny and thought- provoking slice of life in a children's home. Tracy has had a hard time. She's been fostered a number of times but it's never worked out. Now she dreams of her glamorous mother coming to fetch her and spends her time, when she's not quarrelling with the other children, writing her life story. And then one day, Cam, a real writer, visits the home and after a rocky start, she and Tracy really hit it off. This highly accomplished, prolific, prizewinning author is outstandingly successful in dealing with painful social and personal problems in a realistic, funny, touching and highly memorable way. The story is delightfully illustrated by Nick Sharratt and laid out in a genuinely user-friendly way.

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The Dare Game  by Jacqueline Wilson

The Dare Game picks up where The Story of Tracy Beaker left off, with Tracy firmly ensconced in the home of foster mother Cam, a creative sort who was instantly drawn to the troubled child and who fought to win the right to take care of her.

The trouble is, Tracy thought things would be perfect with Cam but reality is tough. After all, it's hardly fair that Cam refuses to buy her foster daughter designer clothes and give her loads of money, now is it? So the petulant Tracy bunks off school and hides out in her secret place to avoid being teased by the other pupils and to stop herself from strangling Vomity Bagley, the English teacher. But one day her haven is disturbed by two very different boys, each dealing with their own problematic family lives, and the three form a friendship based on playing The Dare Game ... a game that gets more dangerous as Tracy's life becomes even more unsettled.

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"The Fib" and Other Stories  by George Layton

A collection of ten funny, poignant stories about growing up in a northern town in the 1950s. "The Fib" features an array of characters, some extremely awkward situations, and a host of memorable falsehoods. Lots to use as a basis for discussion and circle time.

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Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story  by Beverley Naidoo

Frightened that their baby sister will die, 13-year-old Naledi and her younger brother Tiro run away from their grandmother to Johannesburg to find their mother. On their journey they encounter the realities of aparteid - the pass laws, Bantusans, racism and the breakdown of family life. A moving, inspiring story to spark discussion about issues such as equality, loyalty and justice.

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Refugee Boy  by Benjamin Zephaniah

Alem is on holiday with his father for a few days in London. He has never been out of Ethiopia before and is very excited. They have a great few days together until one morning when Alem wakes up in the bed and breakfast they are staying at to find the unthinkable. His father has left him. It is only when the owner of the bed and breakfast hands him a letter that Alem is given an explanation. Alem's father admits that because of the political problems in Ethiopia both he and Alem's mother felt Alem would be safer in London - even though it is breaking their hearts to do this. A powerful, gripping new novel from the popular Benjamin Zephaniah.

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