Throughout her childhood she was making up stories. Before she could write she drew them. By the time she was seven she knew she wanted to write books. Margaret Mahy was a wizard of words and a spinner of magical stories. She was New Zealand's best known author for children, wrote more than 200 books and often appeared in a purple wig or a penguin suit while she delighted audiences with vivacious readings of her stories. But who was Margaret Mahy? What was she like as a child? How did she become a writer? Where did her weird and wonderful ideas come from? Turn these pages and step into a world of the magical Margaret Mahy.

A legend is born. Heriot has always known that he was different with his terrifying dreams and psychic powers. Ripped from his family farm, he is forced to serve as the King's magician in the capital city of Diamond. Isolated and lonely, his only friends are the 'mad prince' Dysart and Cayley, a mysterious wild city child. But their friendship is about to be tested to the limit when chilling violence and ambition threatens to crush Diamond and its King. Heriot's psychic abilities hide a deeper power that has the strength to bring Diamond's enemies to their knees. But will he be able to control this power without becoming a monster himself? 'Margaret Mahy is outstanding in the richness of her ideas and in her great story-telling ability. She has a fresh and vivid imagination, which speaks directly to the imagination of the child and an ability to use language to increase the force of her imagery to great effect.' Twentieth Century Children's Writers 'The queen of children's fiction...her plots are complex, her language is both rich and precise.' Independent on Sunday 'A prolific and versatile writer.' The Times 'Few writers can match Mahy in her ability to exploit the exuberant possibilities of the playfulness of words.' Irish Times 'Mahy displays a deep understanding of the emotions and conflicts of growing up.' Independent on Sunday 'Sympathetic, unsentimental, effortlessly funny.' Jan Mark, TES

Michael desperately wants a dog but all he attracts is a big orange leaf that follows him everywhere

Do you know about the Word Witch? Has she cast her spell over you? This bestselling book now comes with a CD of poems performed by Margaret Mahy. She can lasso with a limerick, haunt with a haiku and wrap you tight in a rhyme, quick as lightning. Her cauldron is a dictionary, her wand a mighty pen, and she stirs her words at midnight, making tempting treats for children, to please and tease and tantalise them with imaginary treasures and delectable dreams. She weaves words into adventures, sets verses wildly dancing, makes similes sing and stamp their feet and poems purr like pussycats who've eaten all the cream. Her name is Margaret Mahy. These are her spells.

A brand-new edition of the Carnegie Medal-winning THE HAUNTING - written by internationally bestselling author, Margaret Mahy. 'Strong and terrifying . . . The novel winds up like a spring. A psychological thriller' - Times Literary Supplement Eight-year-old Barney has been haunted before. He thought it was something he'd just grow out of, like the imaginary friends his step-mother believes he has. But this time it's different. Footsteps follow him, there's a demanding voice barking orders and Barney begins to feel that sometimes his body is not his own at all . . . With the help of his sisters, Tabitha and Troy, Barney sets out to uncover the truth about their family secrets and to find out once and for all who it is who's haunting him. A thrilling ghost story about a 'mostly ordinary' family and a secret legacy.

"It's a damp and dull day, but in the kitchen it's warm and cosy. David and his mother are baking, and the delicious smells bring a greedy witch to their garden. Witches love to steal freshly baked cakes! She is going to use every magic trick she knows to steal their scrumptious treats, but can David outsmart her?"--Publisher information.

Strange and exciting things are in store when Tom and his mum move to Prodigy Street one ordinary Thursday. There's a man with a magical name, a friendly dog with a powerful, waggy tail, and some remarkable surprises when anyone makes a wish. Includes more than 50 hilarious black and white illustrations by Tony Ross, who also illustrates Francesca Simon's Horrid Henry books and David Walliams' children's books, as well as his own picture books.