A new 20th anniversary edition of the utterly classic Clarice Bean, Utterly Me, the very first novel by bestselling Children's Laureate, Lauren Child. Clarice Bean loves reading the adventures of Ruby Redfort, ace girl detective and secret undercover agent. Ruby is always going on exciting missions, but the most Clarice gets to do is go to the local shop on her own . . . But when Clarice and her best friend, Betty Moody, decide to do their school project on the Ruby Redfort books, they suddenly start finding mysteries everywhere. Like why are all the coats on the wrong hooks at school? Where has Granddad disappeared to? And just what is going on in the garden shed? 'An utterly fantastic book.' The Sunday Times

When someone steals the winner's trophy for the school book project, Clarice emulates her favorite book heroine, Ruby Redfort the detective.

A new 20th anniversary edition of the utterly classic Clarice Bean Spells Trouble by bestselling Children's Laureate, Lauren Child. There are so many things in life you can't explain. Like why isn't YOU spelt U? Why isn't WHY spelt Y? And why can just opening your mouth get you into some very BIG trouble? Clarice Bean is in non-stop trouble these days - almost as much as Karl Wrenbury, and he is the naughtiest boy in school. Clarice just wants to star in the school play and impress Mrs Wilberton in the spelling bee, but things aren't quite going to plan . . . 'Witty and charming. We can't get enough of Clarice Bean.' The Sunday Times

A new 20th anniversary edition of the utterly classic Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now by bestselling Children's Laureate, Lauren Child. It's the worry you hadn't even thought to worry about that should worry you the most. At least that's how it looks to Clarice Bean, who has been writing her worries in a notebook - things like Worry no. 1: infinity, or Worry no. 3: change. And now that her worst never-imagined worry has happened - her utterly best friend is moving away forever - Clarice doesn't even care about her tickets to the Ruby Redfort, girl detective, film premiere. That is, unless something happens to change things again . . . Lauren Child's trademark wit combines with spot-on insight in this hugely engaging story about childhood worries, unwanted changes and finding friendships in the most surprising places. 'Funny, contemporary and perceptive' - Mail on Sunday 'A comic and poignant journey' - The Sunday Times 'Clarice Bean fans will be delighted by her new adventures . . . Anxieties such as "change" and "having to go back to school after the holidays" will be recognised by everyone, while her ways of approaching them are delightful' - Guardian

Meet the fabulously feisty Clarice Bean! In this hilarious picture book from Children's Laureate, Lauren Child. All Clarice Bean wants is a bit of peace and quiet. But that can be hard to find in a house where your little brother is being utterly annoying, your big brother is in the dark tunnel of adolescence and your grandad's pouring soup on his cornflakes . . . A true picture book classic, this is the book that launched the award-winning, bestselling Clarice Bean series! Packed with quirky details and humour, this is perfect for children who are ready to start making the transition from younger picture books to independent reading, "A fresh, playful, wonderfully chaotic look at family life that will make you laugh out loud" Independent Winner of the Smarties Book Prize

"Sardonic narration will grab readers from the get-go, and puzzles laced throughout will intrigue those who share Ruby’s passion for solving mysteries." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Everyone knows that Clarice Bean is exceptionordinarily keen on the Ruby Redfort books. Now in her own starring role, Ruby, a genius code-cracker and daring detective, along with her sidekick butler, Hitch, work for a secret crime-busting organization called Spectrum. Ruby gets into lots of scrapes with evil villains, but she’s always ice-cool in a crisis. Just take a classic screwball comedy, add heaps of breathtaking action, and multiply it by Lauren Child’s writing genius, and what have you got? Only the most exciting new middle-grade series since, like, ever.

Got a sixth sense for trouble? Read on, buster. Our favorite girl detective calls on her gut instincts in an exciting grand finale of the Ruby Redfort series. Ruby Redfort: you can count on her when the ice starts to crack. Falling through the air at 120 miles per hour? Just relax and think fast. But now even Ruby Redfort is running scared. A bunch of people want her dead, and worst of all, one of them is on her team. When your name is first on a mastermind’s hit list, do you lock the doors, switch off the lights, and wait for someone else to do something? Or do you get out there and save yourself? If you’re Ruby Redfort, genius code breaker and undercover agent, the choice is clear: death or glory. In a satisfying series finale, surprises are in store and Spectrum’s backstory comes to light as fans bid good-bye to Ruby Redfort, every smart kid’s smart kid.

The last thirty years have witnessed one of the most fertile periods in the history of children's books: the flowering of imaginative illustration and writing, the Harry Potter phenomenon, the rise of young adult and crossover fiction, and books that tackle extraordinarily difficult subjects. The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature provides an indispensable and fascinating reference guide to the world of children's literature. Its 3,500 entries cover every genre from fairy tales to chapbooks; school stories to science fiction; comics to children's hymns. Originally published in 1983, the Companion has been comprehensively revised and updated by Daniel Hahn. Over 900 new entries bring the book right up to date. A whole generation of new authors and illustrators are showcased, with books like Dogger, The Hunger Games, and Twilight making their first appearance. There are articles on developments such as manga, fan fiction, and non-print publishing, and there is additional information on prizes and prizewinners. This accessible A to Z is the first place to look for information about the authors, illustrators, printers, publishers, educationalists, and others who have influenced the development of children's literature, as well as the stories and characters at their centre. Written both to entertain and to instruct, the highly acclaimed Oxford Companion to Children's Literature is a reference work that no one interested in the world of children's books should be without.

Quirky Clarice Bean is in for a spell of trouble - and shares a poignant lesson about kindness - in this hilarious follow-up novel to Utterly Me Clarice Bean.

The endearing, utterly entertaining Clarice Bean is the star of three full-length adventures featuring Child's wacky wit and eccentric visual energy. This boxed set contains "Uttlery Me, Clarice Bean, Clarice Bean Spells Trouble," and "Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now."