Beetle gives Stick Insect an attention-grabbing coat for his birthday – but is that what Stick Insect really wants? A delightful story about friends learning to understand each other. It’s almost Stick Insect’s birthday, & his fashionable friend Beetle can’t wait to give him his present – a violet puffy coat! The coat draws a lot of attention & makes Stick Insect really stick out in the crowd. Beetle thinks that’s terrific! He takes Stick Insect all over town, happily boasting & bragging (while Stick Insect waits behind a tree, in a pile of leaves, or under a bench). Oh, dear – maybe Stick Insect isn’t as happy about the violet puffy coat as Beetle is! What can Beetle do to make Stick Insect feel more comfortable? Charming illustrations bring to life both characters’ endearing struggles in this warm & humorous story about friendship & understanding each other. Product Information:  •†ISBN: 9781406394702 •†Author: Maribeth Boelts •†Publisher: Walker Books •†Format:†  Paperbac... ...

Once, Theodora was little more than a slave, the daughter of a bear-keeper, running barefoot through the streets of Constantinople. Now she is Theou doron, 'the Gift of God', Empress of Byzantine Rome & the most powerful woman in the world. In Stella Duffy's compelling new novel, the beguiling & extraordinary Empress Theodora emerges from the shadow of history into brilliant light. Clever, courageous & ruthless when betrayed, Theodora rules alongside her husb&, the Emperor Justinian
- a true love match in a world of political marriages. While wars rage on the borders of the Empire, Theodora discovers that the greatest danger to her reign
- & her life
- lies much closer to home. From the catastrophic & terrifying riots that burn through the city; to vengeful enemies at the palace who will never accept ' Theodora-from-the-brothel'; to plagues & plots & murder, Theodora learns what it truly means to be Empress. Spanning over twenty dramatic years of Theodora's reign, The violet Shroud is a vivid portrait of a charismatic, exceptional woman & a fascinating exploration of both the pleasures & the burdens of power.


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New York, 1945
- Sara Smythe, a young, beautiful & intelligent woman, ready to make her own way in the big city, attends her
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One of the funniest, sharpest novels about love & growing up ever written, Nancy Mitford's classic is now a major BBC & Prime

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Books Brain Teaser Books Can you take on the role of hard-bitten detective & track down a brutal killer in The Puzzle Murders? There's a killer on the loose in Graven End, & it's up to you to help Detective Kate Mc Crawley catch them! There have been six brutal murders, each one completely different, except for the puzzles the killer leaves behind at each crime scene. Only your ability to crack crosswords, solve sudoku & untangle fiendish puzzles stands between the killer & their seventh victim. Perfect for true crime fans!   Product Information:  •†ISBN:† 9781837954100 •†Author:   Igloo Books •†Publisher:   Igloo Books •†Format:   Paperback •†Pages:† 288 •†Dimensions:† 12.9 x 19.8 x 0.9 cm ...

Toys & Games Jigsaw Puzzles Have hours of fun piecing together this gorgeous Puzzle Shop image with 1000 high-quality pieces. This puzzle features an idyllic scene of Professor Piecepicker’s Puzzle Shop. A picturesque jigsaw that will keep your mind endlessly intrigued. Great for a spot of mental stimulation whilst providing hours of entertainment. Product Information: • The Puzzle Shop • Jigsaw Puzzle • Brand: Corner Piece • Pieces: 1000 • Measures: 68cm x 48cm when complete   ...

This book unravels the mystery behind the pyramids of Egypt & discover the civilization that created these magnificent structures. Full colour photographs of original artefacts, sculptures, reliefs & frescos bring the pyramids to life. You can learn about the significance of the pyramids, how they were constructed & the beautiful objects found within. You can discover more about the kings & queens of Egypt, how they lived & their beliefs about life & death. You can unearth the story of the discovery of the pyramids & find out what can be seen at the historical site today. ...

In 1969, six Englishmen (well, one was Welsh & another was an Interloping American) came together to create a television programme about an unscrupulous, untrustworthy & frankly slimy theatrical agent named Monty Python. Monty Pythonï ½s Flying Circus changed the face of television comedy & now, more than four hundred years later (well, thirty years & a bit, really) people are still talking about it. Here in their own words & personal diary extracts, is the full story on Monty Python. ...

After her daughter Arabella passes away, leaving a poor, motherless child in her wake, Nell Almond doesnt think her life can get any worse.

But then tragedy strikes a second time & she finds herself widowed, with her husbands quarry to manage.

But its baby Frederick, her grandson, who troubles her most. Being cared for by one of the local families, he lives in h&-me-down clothes in a cramped & unrefined home.

Nell desperately wants him to return to his rightful place, as heir to the quarry, but should she put all her hopes in one child?

Product Information:
• ISBN: 9781787476653
• Author: Elizabeth Gill
• Publisher: Quercus
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 422
• Dimensions: 20 x 13 x 2.5cm













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An updated edition of Ben Pimlott's classic biography of the Queen: ' There is no better biography of Elizabeth II.' PETER HENNESSY, Independent on Sunday The royal family have been through a tumultuous decade, but with the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, Prince Philip's 90th birthday & the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee celebrations, there is renewed interest & appreciation of our monarchy. The Queen is an in-depth look at the woman at the centre of it all & is the only biography to take Elizabeth II seriously as the subject of historical biography, or to examine the influences that formed her & the ideas she represents. Ben Pimlott (described by Andrew Marr in the Independent as 'the best writer of political biography now writing') treats the Head of State to the rigorous & objective scrutiny he applied to major political personalities, using a wide range of sources, including interviews, diaries & letters, & papers in the Royal Archives. The Queen looks at the social, political & psychological aspects of his subject in detail, as well as at the changing role of Monarchy in the British Constitution. In the process, the book displays all the author's formidable analytic & narrative skills, & provides a gripping yet sensitive account of one of the most publicised
- yet least known
- figures of our time. It is vital reading for all those who care about public life in Britain
- past, present & to come.


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