When a bunch of mean and rotten pirates, led by a captain who is afraid of blood, raid an abandoned ship, they find far more than they bargained for on board. They find a baby girl whom they happily adopt and call Violet:"Vile" for short. Soon the pirates are busy caring for the little girl and teaching her lots of piratical ways. Great times are had as the pirates and Violet happily sail the seven seas in their trusty ship, the Sleek Sally. The wonderful adventures that they share make for hilarious reading. Ideal for first readers, this fast-paced, action-packed, and belly-laugh-aloud book will warm the cockles of landlubbers' hearts everywhere.

When a bunch of mean and rotten pirates, led by a captain who is afraid of blood, raid an abandoned ship, they find far more than they bargained for on board. They find a baby girl whom they happily adopt and call Violet: Vile for short. Soon the pirates are busy caring for the little girl and teaching her lots of piratical ways. Great times are had as the pirates and Violet happily sail the seven seas in their trusty ship, the Sleek Sally. The wonderful adventures that they share make for hilarious reading. Ideal for first readers, this fast-paced, action-packed, and belly-laugh-aloud book will warm the cockles of landlubbers' hearts everywhere.

Enthralling readers with books like The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson is an enduring force in the world of fiction. This book presents two-week study plans with activities that will encourage children to: analyse features of text, focusing on selected extracts; consider the reasons that some books have lasting appeal; clarify their ideas by drawing comparisons with the writing of other authors; plan their own adaptation of a scene from a novel after looking at existing film and graphic novel versions; and to identify the similarities and differences between historical fiction and non-fictional representation For primary school teachers and teaching assistants. All activities are suitable for use at Key Stage 2/3 or Scottish P6-7 /S1-2. This innovative series is designed to help primary teachers plan focused sessions on the work of popular, well­loved and valued authors, both classic and contemporary. Each book contains a range of activities for use directly in the classroom. Inside each book is a full-colour pull-out poster illustrating the work of the author, which also has a set of challenges for children on the back.

With his talking dog, Frankie, as a constant companion, ten-year-old Cal Barraclough investigates his wacky neighbor's unusual experiments.

When a gang of 18th century highwaymen break into Jack Bolt's bedroom, they are in for quite a surprise-they've landed in the 21st century! Luckily for them, Jack agrees to keep their time-traveling secret to himself, if they agree to show him what it's like in the 18th Century. Jack soon realizes that the past is far from safe, and he finds himself caught up in a breathtaking and dangerous adventure. This galloping and swashbuckling tale will delight all would-be time travelers from beginning to end.

In a clear and humorous style this book explains how you can open the world through a love of books. The author has cut through the jargon and the controversies to reveal the simple truths which will enable every parent to infect their child with the reading bug. Originally published: Australia: Penguin, 2003.