Gillian Cross

TreeTops Greatest Stories offers children some of the worlds best-loved tales in a collection of timeless classics. Top children's authors and talented illustrators work together to bring to life our literary heritage for a new generation, engaging and delighting children. The books are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book. Each book contains inside cover notes to help children explore the content, supporting their reading development. Teaching notes on Oxford Owl offer cross-curricular links and activities to support guided reading, writing, speaking and listening. This pack contains six books, one of each of the following titles:Mischief Makers, A Christmas Carol, Who Needs Stories?, Decisions, Decisions, Changing Shape and Peter and the Wolf.

This pack contains 18 books. There are six copies of each of the Readerful Rise titles at Oxford Reading Level 13. These books are for readers aged 11 to 13 years old. They are for students who are working below expected standard in their reading. The Readerful Rise series ensures that older struggling readers have high-low books with age-appropriate content and topics, that look like the books their peers are enjoying, but are written at a level they can read successfully.

What might happen if you meet the gods? These shape-shifting stories are taken from the work of the Roman poet Ovid. They are tales of transformation. Gods and Mortals is at Oxford Reading Level 13. It is for readers aged 11 to 13 years old who are working below expected standard in their reading. The Readerful Rise series ensures that older struggling readers have books with age-appropriate content and topics, that looks like the books their peers are enjoying, but are a written at a level they can read successfully.

The creepy Ghost Tower on the hill has loomed over the town for as long as anyone can remember. Now boarded up and dangerous, it's due to be knocked down. But when Ryan and his friend Dot make a sneaky last visit to the tower on Halloween, they discover that it's been hiding a fascinating secret. Can they find a way to save the tower before it's too late? Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books are expertly written, thoughtfully designed with dyslexia-friendly fonts and paper tones, and carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

"Every image seems to have been created with unhurried care; it's a quiet but monumental piece of work." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Odysseus faces storm and shipwreck, a terrifying man-eating Cyclops, the alluring but deadly Sirens, and the fury of the sea-god Poseidon as he makes his ten-year journey home from the Trojan War. And while Odysseus struggles to return to Ithaca, his wife, Penelope, fights a different kind of battle as her palace is invaded by forceful, greedy men who tell her that Odysseus is dead and she must choose a new husband. Will Odysseus reach her in time? Homer's epic, age-old story is powerfully told by Carnegie Medalist Gillian Cross and stunningly illustrated by Neil Packer.

A brand-new collaboration, from the creator of The Demon Headmaster and creator of The Boxtrolls!

'A brilliant, galloping historical adventure story by one of my favourite writers.' Emma Carroll A giant Indian elephant. A wild journey across America. An enemy who will never stop. Tad and Cissie are on the run with Khush the elephant. Clammy fingered, steely-eyed Hannibal Jackson will do anything to capture the animal. Maybe even kill . . . Staying ahead means being faster and smarter-but how do you hide an elephant? Especially one with a mind of its own.

A touching tale of friendship, understanding and finding the confidence to be yourself, from one of the UK’s most beloved authors. It's Ella's first day at her new school and that can only mean one thing: making new friends. But the challenge is even tougher than Ella thought, as the girls in her class just don't seem interested in her. When she stumbles across the book 'Five Ways to Make a Friend' in the library, it's like all her prayers have been answered. With five excellent ideas up her sleeve, Ella will be friends with the girls in no time … Right? But what if things don't quite work out as planned? And what if the friend Ella really needs has been there all along? Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 8.

When Ashley climbs up and graffiti tags a wall, she has no idea how serious the consequences will be. Now Ashley is being watched ⦠and followed. Then the notes start arriving, becoming progressively sinister. Ashley has to decide how far she's willing to go - and what she's prepared to risk - to unmask her stalker.

Curiosity saves the bat in this fun and quirky adventure story from beloved author Gillian Cross. The night Dot and Ryan take a sneaky Halloween visit to a condemned tower, they discover more than they bargained for when they catch a glimpse of an endangered species of bat. It's clear that the bat colony and the tower need to be saved, but Dot and Ryan were never meant to be there and it's not going to be easy to get the grown-ups on side … Can they find a way to stop the demolition and save the bats before it's too late? Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 8.

A charming and witty tale of bullies, pumpkins and unlikely friendships from award-winning author Gillian Cross. Jason Banks is a bully. No one likes him and even the teachers are scared of him! It's time that someone taught Jason a lesson and he might just have met his match in the strange pumpkin that keeps appearing on his doorstep. Will Jason ever learn the error of his ways? And can he crack the case of the dreaded Pumpkin of Doom? Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 8.

Gillian Cross's brilliant retellings and Neil Packer's clever illustrations bring to life Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, two of the greatest stories ever told. When first published Walker’s versions of the Iliad and the Odyssey attracted attention both for the quality of the writing and for their amazingly stylish artwork. Multi-award-winning author Gillian Cross makes two of the greatest stories in the world come alive for children in her strong, clear, deceptively simple retellings, which are faithful to the spirit and structure of Homer’s epic poems, and this new bind-up in a friendly format comes complete with an introduction and a generous selection of Neil Packer’s fabulous illustrations in black and white.

When Holly's sister announces her engagement, wedding planning begins in earnest. But a tight budget means missing out on some wedding essentials - like the cake! Holly decides to put her baking skills to the test and surprise the happy couple with 1000 cupcakes! What could possibly go wrong? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 9+

This handsome boxed set of Homer's epics -- powerfully retold by Gillian Cross and strikingly illustrated by Neil Packer -- belongs on every reader's bookshelf. Epic and thrilling, Homer's two age-old classics have been revisited countless times. Gillian Cross and Neil Packer's exquisite versions of The Iliad and The Odyssey make up an essential set for both Homer collectors and readers who have not yet made the acquaintance of Odysseus, Achilles, or Hector. Depicting their actions, and those of the gods they invoke, are vivid, stylistic illustrations reminiscent of Greek pottery, giving these large-format volumes an extra measure of authenticity and appeal. From the raging battles outside the walls of Troy to the strangely surreal ten years it takes Odysseus to journey home, these bold re-envisionings of Homer's stories are told with simplicity and style -- perfect for fans of graphic retellings and mythology enthusiasts alike.

The Hunter family have moved house and can finally forget all about their encounters with the Demon Headmaster . . . or can they? Just as they start to relax, Dinah, Lloyd, and Harvey notice that the villagers are all speaking the same robotic phrases. This can only mean one thing . . . the Demon Headmaster is back and this time he's planning a terrifying experiment. Great fun and a little bit frightening, Gillian Cross's Demon Headmaster books still hold readers under their hypnotic spell. Fast-paced and full of adventure, they're impossible to resist!

There's a new computer game at school and the chance to enter the Junior Computer Brain of the Year competition is sending ripples of excitement through the pupils. Dinah is a whizz at the game and soon finds herself in the competition final. But it takes a while to realize that it's all just part of the Demon Headmaster's latest plan . . . Dinah is being used to access the computer of the Prime Minster. Great fun and just a little bit frightening, Gillian Cross's Demon Headmaster books still hold readers under their hypnotic spell. Fast-paced and full of adventure, they're impossible to resist!

When Dinah is fostered by the Hunters she thinks her biggest problem will be fitting in with her foster-brothers, Lloyd and Harvey. However, once she starts at her new school it's clear that there's more to worry about. All the children, apart from a handful including Lloyd and Harvey, are too well-behaved - robotic almost - and oddly keen to please the creepy headmaster. The three children set out to discover the nature of his influence over everyone . . . but then Dinah finds herself saying and doing things she has no power over. Soon they uncover the headmaster's wicked plan. Controlling the school is just a practice run. He has set his sights on dominating the entire nation! The children must foil him before he succeeds . . . but with Dinah under his spell they've got a challenge on their hands. Great fun and just a little bit frightening, Gillian Cross's beloved classic still holds readers under its hypnotic spell, even after thirty years of being in print. An accessible page-turner, The Demon Headmaster is impossible to resist.