Doyle Malachy

The Miracle of Hanukkah is the perfect picture book to introduce children to the story and traditions of Hanukkah, with text by award-winning author Malachy Doyle and stunning, colourful illustrations from Christopher Corr, the talented team behind Rama and Sita: The Story of Diwali. King Antiochus has destroyed the temple and city because the Jews won't worship him instead of God. With no oil left, how will Judah Maccabee and the Jewish people keep the temple's flame alight? Whether you're looking for a gift for Hanukkah or a simple introduction to the story to share with children, this beautiful picture book is ideal.

A fun and quirky story against anything but your average team, perfect for children learning to read. When Seamus and his scaredy-ba Granda go for a night-time walk, they don't expect to find a group of ghosts in an old barn. Greg the Ghoul, Phantom Pete and friends are too scared to go up into heaven, in case they are sent back down to hell, so they are just waiting around in the barn, getting bored. Seamus has an idea to relieve their boredom – they should form a football team and play other ghosts! The ghosts are nervous, but Seamus and his Granda help them get fit and improve their game. Soon they are champion players, powering their way through teams on earth, heaven and even hell! The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 3 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for fluent readers who are beginning to read exciting, challenging stories independently. • Varied sentences • Detailed illustrations to enjoy • Chapters • Interesting characters and themes • A rich range of vocabulary • More complex storylines to stretch confident readers All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading. Book band: White.

A boy-friendly, funny football story by Malachy Doyle and Garry Parsons for Egmont’s Red Banana series. Seamus loves two things - United and ghosts! So when he hears that the spooky old castle on the hill has ghosts playing football in it, he’s up there in a flash! Well, as quickly as he can go with his scaredy-ba Granda in tow. Once they get into the castle, Seamus discovers that there are two teams kicking a ball around there - the 1948 United and Rovers cup final teams, doomed to play on until they hear the final whistle. And guess what Seamus has in his pocket? But first, there’s the chance to beat the Rovers, with Seamus the star striker in place! Red bananas are chapter books for newly fluent readers, suitable for NC Level 3 readers. They are carefully designed with education in mind, supporting children’s understanding of how to read longer books. Red bananas introduce similes and wordplay to encourage an understanding of more literary concepts. It’s the best of both worlds with football books for kids like The Football Ghosts.