In this elegiac and heartfelt memoir, Melvyn Bragg recreates his youth in the Cumbrian market town of Wigton: a working-class boy who expected to leave school at fifteen yet who gained a scholarship to Oxford University; who happily roamed the streets and raided orchards with his gang of friends until a breakdown in adolescence drove him to find refuge in books. Vividly evoking the post-war era, Bragg draws an indelible portrait of all that formed him: a community-spirited northern town, still steeped in the old ways; the Lake District landscapes that inspired him; and the many remarkable people in his close-knit world.

English is the collective work of millions of people throughout the ages. It is democratic, ever-changing and ingenious in its assimilation of other cultures. English runs through the heart of world finance, medicine and the Internet, and it is understood by around two thousand million people across the world. Yet it was very nearly wiped out in its early years. In this book Melvyn Bragg shows us the remarkable story of the English language; from its beginnings as a minor guttural Germanic dialect to its position today as a truly established global language. THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH is not only an enthralling story of power, religion and trade, but also the story of people, and how their day-to-day lives shaped and continue to change the extraordinary language that is English.

In this gripping novel, Melvyn Bragg brings an extraordinary episode in English history to fresh, urgent life. At the end of May 1381, the fourteen-year-old King of England had reason to be fearful: the plague had returned, the royal coffers were empty and a draconian poll tax was being widely evaded. Yet Richard, bolstered by his powerful, admired mother, felt secure in his God-given right to reign. But within two weeks, the unthinkable happened: a vast force of common people invaded London, led by a former soldier, Walter Tyler, and the radical preacher John Ball, demanding freedom, equality and the complete uprooting of the Church and state. And for three intense, violent days, it looked as if they would sweep all before them. Now is the Time depicts the events of the Peasants' Revolt on both a grand and intimate scale, vividly portraying its central figures and telling an archetypal tale of an epic struggle between the powerful and the apparently powerless.

Melvyn Bragg gives new life to one of the most remarkable love stories in history: the passionate, enduring romance between Heloise and Abelard. Within the Cloisters of Notre-Dame, a charismatic philosopher and a young woman renowned for her scholarship embark on an ardent, secret affair. It will send shockwaves through Paris, incur savage retribution and lead to years of separation, though nothing will break the bond between them. Bringing the true story of Heloise and Abelard to vivid life, this engrossing novel conveys the powerful emotions and beliefs that drove them. It captures a couple who defied the conventions and religious orthodoxies of their times with striking audacity, and illuminates why their extraordinary tale still resonates today.

Pandora lives alone in a world of broken things. She makes herself a handsome home from all that people had left behind, but no one ever comes to visit. Then one day something falls from the sky... a bird with a broken wing. As Pandora nurses the bird back to health it begins to fly away each day, bringing a seed or small plant back with him. Then one day, the bird doesn't come back. Pandora is heartbroken. However, day by day, things begin to grow. This is a stunning fable of hope and regeneration from critically acclaimed artist Victoria Turnbull.

The hilarious sequel to the prize-winning, international bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit, now available in this toddler-friendly board book format! Watch out – the crayons are back and they’re crosser than ever! One day Duncan receives a set of postcards from his crayons who have been lost, forgotten, broken – even melted in a clothes dryer and stuck to a sock! A hilarious text and joyful illustrations combine to show that crayons have feelings too in this laugh-out-loud sequel to bestselling picture book The Day the Crayons Quit.

The hilarious sequel to the prize-winning, international bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit! Watch out - the crayons are back and they're crosser than ever! One day Duncan receives a set of postcards from his crayons who have been lost, forgotten, broken - even melted in a clothes dryer and stuck to a sock! A hilarious text and joyful illustrations combine to show that crayons have feelings too in this laugh-out-loud sequel to bestselling picture book The Day the Crayons Quit.

Heidi lives with her grandfather in the mountains of Switzerland. One day, Heidi's aunt takes her to Clara's home in Frankfurt. Heidi likes her new friend, but can she go back home to the mountains? British English. Retold by John Escott.

In too deadly. In too deep. Samantha and Rachel used to be friends. But then Rachel betrayed Samantha . . . and Samantha decided to make her life a living nightmare. Then one day, Sam and Rachel found themselves in a fight by a lake. Samantha pushed Rachel . . . and watched as Rachel fell back. And back. Into the water. And gone. No way to save her. No way she could be alive. The next day, Rachel shows up to school as if nothing happened. And now she's the one who wants to make her former friend's life a living nightmare...

Some days you remember forever. But what if you could live them again? If Isla Pembroke could turn back time, she knows exactly which days of her life she would change. The day she started working in the local aquarium, not knowing that she'd still be stuck there seven years later. The day her sister Morgan ran away from home. And, most of all, the day that changed everything, when her mother's death cracked her family in two. So when she's given an impossible gift - a chance to go back and relive those life-changing moments - Isla realises that she might be able to save the people she loves. But sometimes the most surprising days aren't the ones that change everything, but the ones that come after... Fresh, funny, and heart-wrenching, this is a story for anyone who's ever wanted to turn back time...

Make every day a green day with ten simple things to do between breakfast and bedtime. Discover ten ways in which every child can make their day greener and help the environment. With a simple explanation to back up every activity and bold, bright pictures, this is the perfect picture book for teaching very young children the importance of looking after the world around them.

How can tomorrow ever be as good as today? Afraid of tomorrow, a little boy puts all his scientific knowledge to use in an attempt to turn back time and stay in the wonderful past. Luckily, his grandfather discovers him exploring the wormholes in the garden, trying to find a way back - and by showing him the photos of some of his wonderful past experiences, reassures the boy that there is plenty to look forward to and that every day gives the chance for a new adventure. Nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2018.

The beret-clad hero is back in another wonderfully funny tale. In this latest adventure, on a winter's day, Claude goes from throwing snowballs and making snowmen to causing an all-out avalanche! Claude was selected for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and the Richard and Judy Book Club.

Paul du Pain's bakery is a very special place. Each day, Paul bakes the bread while Marie serves customers in the shop. Everyone who walks in the door walks back out feeling happier than before. But when Marie goes away, Paul's days become sad and grey. Without her, the bakery's magic is gone. Will Paul ever be able to win her back? A charming, heartfelt and timeless tale from an award-winning author-illustrator.

Snap Decisions Can Be Dangerous... On a stifling summer's day, eleven-year-old Jack and his two sisters sit in their broken-down car, waiting for their mother to come back and rescue them. Jack's in charge, she'd said. I won't be long. But she doesn't come back. She never comes back. And life as the children know it is changed for ever. Three years later, Jack is still in charge - of his sisters, of supporting them all, of making sure nobody knows they're alone in the house, and - quite suddenly - of finding out the truth about what happened to his mother . . .

Heidi lives with her grandfather in his little wooden house, high up in the mountains of Switzerland. One day Heidi’s aunt arrives and takes her to Clara’s home in Frankfurt. Heidi likes her new friend, but she doesn’t like living in a big house in the city. Can she go back to her home in the mountains? This Pack contains a Book and MP3