David Macphail

Velda is a tiny warrior with a big axe and an even bigger attitude. Some people don't think girls can be proper Vikings. Velda doesn't agree! When Velda's beloved axe is taken hostage by a troublesome (and extremely stinky) troll, Velda and her misfit crew discover there's only one way to defeat him: a special potion made of unicorn horn. Except, unicorns are extinct, aren't they...?Legend says that a herd of the mindreading, magical and frankly fabulous-smelling creatures may still exist in remote Pictland. But Velda's not the only one looking for them, and this enemy wants more than just their horns. Can Velda and her chaotic crew save both her axe and the unicorns, before it's too lat? oin Velda as she sets sail on a wild voyage of daring, discovery and er, unicorn doo-doo, all while proving she's the awesomest Viking around.

In 1704 a Scottish sailor called Alexander Selkirk was marooned on a remote and uninhabited island in the South Pacific. He spent the next four and a half years there, completely alone, struggling to survive using little other than his wits. How did he come to be there, how did he manage to survive for so long, and what was life as a castaway like? Castaway is a story of survival and resourcefulness, packed with fascinating historical details and a good dose of adventure.TreeTops inFact is a non-fiction series that aims to engage children in reading for pleasure as powerfully as fiction does. The variety of topics means there are books to interest every child in this compelling series. The series is written by top children''s authors and subject experts. The books are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.

Cross the moat, pass through the gatehouse and dodge flying arrows as you journey back in time on a search-and-find history adventure!Blaze the Dragon guides you through the fascinating world of medieval times - where lords, ladies and even wizards roam. Discover how castles were built, how knights fought and the secrets of magic and medicine. From the grand fortress of Dragon Castle to the bustling castle kitchens, the dark dungeon and beyond the castle walls to noble hunting grounds, there are 12 illustrated scenes to search, and ten medieval characters to spot in every location. Written by a real castle steward and told by a real dragon, this book will spark curiosity in the youngest squires.

'Two galactic rulers, Cassiopeia and Perseus, have battled across the stars. Now their feud lands in Bilgeley, a nowhere town, on nowhere planet Earth. Princess Cassiopeia's in a fix. She shrank her entire space armada while making a smoothie (don't ask!). She came to rally Earth's leaders. She got Hillman. Age eleven. And his crusty old Grandad. Perseus isn't far behind, and when his armada shows up, Earth's toast. Perseus, Lord of the Seven Spirals, Admiral of the First attack Fleet , Commander of the Order of Zarg, Winner of the Alpha Centauri Award for Best Dressed Galactic despot is not amused by the situation. And he's landed in Bingeley dump. Roz, age eleven, is here to help but she's got her eyes set on a bank heist. What does such a small girl want with so much money and how has she got the nerve to turn down his offer of the order of the Medusa and a far flung galaxi? Perseus is about to fin out! Can Hillman save the Earth? Maybe...

STEP INTO A WORLD WHERE VIDEO GAMES ARE REAL!Power Up is a thrilling new series of illustrated chapter books packed with action and humour.When ten-year-old Max Power finds a pixelated, glowing key in his grandad''s garage, he can''t help but reach out and touch it. And just like that, he''s catapulted into the adventure of a lifetime!Max finds himself in Arcadia-a strange world inhabited by video game characters. What''s the connection between this fantastic realm and the video games Max has played in the real world? And what big secret has his grandad been keeping all these years? Max won''t be able to linger over mysteries too long - because Arcadia is under threat.A monster called the Glitch is trying to capture glowing power-ups like the one that Max found. If the Glitch can collect them all, it will soon have ULTIMATE POWER.An epic adventure for readers aged 7+.

Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available. Big Moments in Space launches you into an out of this world adventure filled with thrilling stories of space exploration. Discover incredible achievements and near disasters, along with cool facts about lesser-known missions. White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language. Pages 30 and 31 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall. Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.