Iain McLaughlin – författare

The Beano is Britain's longest-running and best-loved comic. Since 1938 it has brought thrills and laughter to generation after generation of children, seeing the young and young-at-heart through World War 2, the social changes of the 1950s and 60s and on into a new millennium. How has the comic evolved since its early days? How many of the classic characters and their stories do you remember? What are the important changes that have happened through the years, why have they happened and why has The Beano survived when all the other comics have folded? Every child in the UK since the 1950s has known Dennis the Menace, the Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx and Roger the Dodger, but how many know the writers and artists who created these iconic comic characters? How do they write the scripts week after week? Where did the inspiration come from? How did the artists come to work for this Great British institution? This is the story of the Beano Comic, told in the words of the people who made it, going back to the dark, harsh days of the 1930s and continuing through to the present day. A unique insight into the country's most beloved comic.

Lucas is an alien. He was the first human to be born on Mars. He has been brought home to Earth, but school feels more alien to him than Mars did. Lucas stands out. He has to wear a special suit in order to get around under Earth's gravity. His two best friends are the only people who don't treat him like an outsider. Until one day...Teen Reads are visually appealing and age-appropriate for struggling teenage readers, helping to develop confidence and foster an interest in reading, whilst bridging the gap between more specialised books and full-length novels. The complete collection of 46 books has characters diverse in gender, sexuality, ethnicity and background to ensure they are relatable to a wide range of readers. Themes vary from horror and the supernatural to sci-fi, crime, adventure, family breakdown, relationships and moral conflicts. These books are accessible and appealing in equal measure, and have content to suit many different tastes.This hi-lo series for struggling and reluctant readers has been written for children aged between 12 and 15 years, whose current reading age is between 8 and 9 years. These age-appropriate short reads range from 46 to 120 pages and are written by accomplished authors writing stories with relatable characters. They incorporate a large font size and text separated into bite-sized chunks, along with carefully considered letter and paragraph spacing that can reduce visual stress. The series has plenty of practice at one level, allowing consolidation of learning before moving on to more challenging reads.

Claire Mason got a diary for Christmas. It should be filled with entries about her life at college as she prepares to sit exams. Instead, Claire's diary tells of a family illness, and the difficult decisions it forces her to make. Last Year is the story of Claire's hardest year.YA Reads I and II have been written by experienced authors to fulfil the need for mature yet accessible fiction aimed at young adults. These 16 engrossing and thought-provoking titles have themes spanning sexuality, identity, family breakdown, bereavement, relationships, prejudice and dystopia. With a realistic word count of 5000-6000, YA Reads provide struggling readers with captivating, age-appropriate fiction to both inspire a love of reading and broaden horizons.This hi-lo series for struggling and reluctant readers has been written for teens aged between 14 and 16 years, whose current reading age is 8-9. These age-appropriate short reads range from 40 to 64 pages and are written by brilliant authors writing stories with relatable characters. They incorporate a large font size and text separated into bite-sized chunks, along with carefully considered letter and paragraph spacing that can reduce visual stress. The series has plenty of practice at one level, allowing consolidation of learning before moving on to more challenging reads.

This diary belongs to Jacqueline Harrison Jax (nobody calls me Jacqueline and lives). P.S. If you are reading this and you are not me, you're in trouble. I know who you are and I know where you live...YA Reads I and II have been written by experienced authors to fulfil the need for mature yet accessible fiction aimed at young adults. These 16 engrossing and thought-provoking titles have themes spanning sexuality, identity, family breakdown, bereavement, relationships, prejudice and dystopia. With a realistic word count of 5000-6000, YA Reads provide struggling readers with captivating, age-appropriate fiction to both inspire a love of reading and broaden horizons.This hi-lo series for struggling and reluctant readers has been written for teens aged between 14 and 16 years, whose current reading age is 8-9. These age-appropriate short reads range from 40 to 64 pages and are written by brilliant authors writing stories with relatable characters. They incorporate a large font size and text separated into bite-sized chunks, along with carefully considered letter and paragraph spacing that can reduce visual stress. The series has plenty of practice at one level, allowing consolidation of learning before moving on to more challenging reads.

Everybody knows you should avoid The Lane after dark. Strange things have happened there. But nobody believes those old stories now, do they? Joe discovers that sometimes you really should listen to warnings...Papercuts is an eerie and haunting series written to appeal to students aged 13+ who find full-length novels overwhelming. All titles have an accessible word count of 5000-6000. Written by respected and accomplished authors, they are packed with horror and elements of the supernatural. But be warned, they're not for the faint-hearted!This hi-lo series for struggling and reluctant readers has been written for children aged 13+, whose current reading age is between 8 and 9 years. These age-appropriate short reads range from 51 to 57 pages and are written by accomplished authors. They incorporate a large font size and text separated into bite-sized chunks, along with carefully considered letter and paragraph spacing that can reduce visual stress. The series has plenty of practice at one level, allowing consolidation of learning before moving on to more challenging reads.

Fifteen-year-old Cal Deane has a chance to make it as a professional footballer. To get there, he’ll have to cope with the loss of his mum and a group of racists. For Cal, the battles off the pitch are far more challenging than any game of football.Between the Lines perfectly combines visual appeal with carefully chosen content that is both compelling and relevant for teenagers and young adults. The stories feature mature and serious themes, touching on abandonment, addiction, grief, love, war and dystopian futures. With a realistic word count of 5000-6000, imaginative storylines and line spacing to create bite-sized chunks of text, these books are ideal for struggling readers or more able readers who enjoy a quick read.This hi-lo series for struggling and reluctant readers has been written for children aged between 12 and 15 years, whose current reading age is between 8 and 9 years. These age-appropriate short reads range from 44 to 54 pages and are written by talented authors writing stories with relatable characters.  They incorporate a large font size and text separated into bite-sized chunks, along with carefully considered letter and paragraph spacing that can reduce visual stress. The series has plenty of practice at one level, allowing consolidation of learning before moving on to more challenging reads.

In 1974, British comics publisher DC Thomson launched WARLORD, bringing a weekly anthology of action and adventure to comic readers across the UK and further afield. Amongst the most popular strips was Lord Peter Flint — Codename: WARLORD. The eponymous character continued to thrill readers every week until the comic ceased publication in 1986, after an incredible 627-issue run.Then, in 2019, Britain’s top-secret agent returned in the pages of the legendary long-running Commando comic. These most recent adventures are collected in the brand new graphic novel alongside the first six issues of the classic WARLORD comic as DC Thomson’s Heritage Comics and Commando present... Codename: WARLORD Volume 1.The wartime Scarlet Pimpernel is back. Nazis beware! A defecting German professor in need of rescue. A plan to build the biggest ‘Fuhrer’ class warship of all time uncovered. Though branded a coward, there can only be one man for the job — Flint, Lord Peter Flint... Codename: WARLORD!Collecting over 170 pages of action-packed comic artwork and a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic colour covers and spreads that featured in the legendary WARLORD, this graphic novel is not to be missed!