Gareth Hopkins – författare

TED LASSO meets TOM GATES with just a shade of WIMPY KID in this hilarious new series all about friends, family, and - of course - football!My name's Keith - also known as Kid_Baller. And trust, me being called Keith is the least of my problems... When Keith's dad moves him and his family away from his mates, his beloved football team, and actually, EVERYTHING THEY KNOW - including a JD Sports, sob - Keith is pretty sure his life can't get any worse. Puffin Island is literally an island full of puffins - and the local team, the Puffin Panthers, hasn't scored a goal in SEVEN YEARS. And that's not even taking into account the fact that his sister, Meg, is probably (definitely) a better footballer than him.Things go from bad to worse for Keith when what should have been a moment of goal glory turns into internet infamy - and soon he's questioning whether the beautiful game really is worth it anymore.Can Keith pull himself - and his team - together in time to save the day, and maybe - maybe - even win a game?

Be prepared to laugh and tear up at this hilarious, heart-warming friendship tale featuring a bird we all love to hate . . . the seagull!  Lonely fisherman Cliff spends his time at the old lighthouse, until one day a bird lands on his head and refuses to leave.  Cliff wasn’t sure at first. Then after a while, having a seagull on his head just felt right. Wherever Cliff's head went . . . the seagull went too.  Cliff shares his home and food with the bird, much to the shock of the locals who believe it’s no more than a pest. But, during a storm, when Cliff needs its help the most, can his new friend come to the rescue?  Told with gentle humour and emotional warmth, Cliff is a picture book about animal‑human friendship, empathy and finding connection in unexpected places.   This seagull may steal chips – but it will steal hearts too, including yours.

Who will blink first . . . Owl or Gecko?Blink if you think you are the bestBlink if you would like me to blink firstJoin Owl and Gecko as they hold a stare-off competition, with their humongous eyes, to decide once and for all who is the very best at staring. Owl doesn't know how to blink, so it must be an easy win – but Gecko has no eyelids! With neither giving in easily, they'll have to resort to other tricks . . . Can Owl outwit Gecko with a surprise phone call from Gecko’s mum? Or can Gecko distract Owl with a monkey on a motorbike? Watch as both creatures cleverly try to make each other blink – but neither are prepared for the unexpected arrival of a spider!With witty text from new, bold author Gareth Hopkins and Alex Latimer's quirky, expressive illustrations, Owl Versus Gecko is packed with hilarious details for young readers to spot and laugh at, time and time again.Also available, from the same duo: Cliff: The Man With a Seagull on his Head.