Steve Skidmore – författare

Viking Scandal - Gorblime tells all. Newly discovered diaries and logbook entries reveal that famous Viking king, Erik Bloodaxe, couldn't write. However, his court poet Gorblime could! You read it here first - astonishing details of life in Viking times. This work talks about battles and butchery; longships and love; births, marriages and plenty of deaths; poems and prisoners; Erik's victories and his wife's vengeance; Viking gods and Viking myths; travel and adventure; and much, much more! You've never read anything like it before!

The eighth Lost Diary – factually accurate, fictionally funny! William Shakespeare himself needs no introduction, but not everyone knows the secrets of his success!How could a man so busy with life in Elizabethan England have had time to write all those plays and poems? Enter stage right, Egbert Noah Bacon – one of his writing group who, quill in hand, gives us a new perspective on the Bard himself and of a fascinating period of English history:Includes Spanish Armada, Gunpowder Plot, Queen Elizabeth First’s life… and death… and successor. The Plague, the invention of the lavatory and, of course, the building and burning of the Globe Theatre.

The tenth Lost Diary – a real milestone! Robin Hood has always been an enormously popular figure, but was he real? The mad middle-ages will feature in this real account of his life.It’s Sherwood Forest and one man is looking after the nation’s money. No, not Robin Hood, but his money man – Leonard du Somoney [Len d for short] While Robin robs the rich, someone has to control it before it’s doled out to the poor. Friar Tuck, Maid Marian and that evil Sheriff of Nottingham will naturally make guest appearance as well as Richard the Lionheart and the Crusades, knights, castles, dungeons . Plenty of information about the measly middle ages as well as the odd joke or two about robin’ banks!The Sherwood Forest Visitors’ Centre is the second most visited tourist attraction outside London, after Alton Towers. There is an enormous amount of interest in Robin Hood worldwide, but particularly amongst children in England.

Chucklers is a series of funny novels, short stories, anthologies and comics that make reading a pleasure for 7-11 year olds. There is something for everyone in this varied collection which is packed with fantastic illustrations.Each book contains inside cover notes to support children in their reading. FREE online teaching notes are available at www.oxfordowl.co.ukThe series is written by top children's authors and edited by award-winning author Jeremy Strong. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.This pack contains six books, one each of: Gizmo, Tyrannosaurus Max, The Ghost in the Washing Machine, Fur from Home Animal Adventures, King Arthur Needs You!, Transylvania United..

Chucklers is a series of funny novels, short stories, anthologies and comics that make reading a pleasure for 7-11 year olds. There is something for everyone in this varied collection which is packed with fantastic illustrations.Each book contains inside cover notes to support children in their reading. FREE online teaching notes are available at www.oxfordowl.co.ukThe series is written by top children's authors and edited by award-winning author Jeremy Strong. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.This pack contains thirty-six books, six of each of: Gizmo, Tyrannosaurus Max, The Ghost in the Washing Machine, Fur from Home Animal Adventures, King Arthur Needs You!, and Transylvania United.

Chucklers is a series of funny novels, short stories, anthologies and comics that make reading a pleasure for 7-11 year olds. There is something for everyone in this varied collection which is packed with fantastic illustrations.Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.The series is written by top children's authors and edited by award-winning author Jeremy Strong. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.This pack contains six books, one each of: The After-School Alien Club, Stodgepodge!, When Dad Scored a Goal in the Garden, Smelly Socks and Terrible Tangles, Parrots of the Caribbean, The Quest.

Chucklers is a series of funny novels, short stories, anthologies and comics that make reading a pleasure for 7-11 year olds. There is something for everyone in this varied collection which is packed with fantastic illustrations.Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.The series is written by top children's authors and edited by award-winning author Jeremy Strong. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.This pack contains thirty-six books, six of each of: The After-School Alien Club, Stodgepodge!, When Dad Scored a Goal in the Garden, Smelly Socks and Terrible Tangles, Parrots of the Caribbean, The Quest.

In Parrots of the Caribbean, Doghouse Dave is thrown off his ship and left stranded on a desert island, where he meets the wickedest pirates that eversailed the Caribbean Sea but they are not what they seem. Cast off on this thrilling pirate adventure!Chucklers is a series of funny novels, short stories, anthologies and comics that make reading a pleasure for 7-11 year olds. There is something for everyone in this varied collection which is packed with fantastic illustrations.Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.The series is written by top children's authors and edited by award-winning author Jeremy Strong. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.

In the comic Transylvania United, Abi is gutted when she is sacked from her job as a football manager. But then she gets a call from a strange team of monsters who need her help. Can Abi tackle the petrifying players and lead them to a spooktacular victory in the cup final?Chucklers is a series of funny novels, short stories, anthologies and comics that make reading a pleasure for 7-11 year olds. There is something for everyone in this varied collection which is packed with fantastic illustrations.Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.The series is written by top children's authors and edited by award-winning author Jeremy Strong. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.

Project X Origins is a ground-breaking guided reading programme for the whole school. Action-packed stories, fascinating non-fiction and comprehensive guided reading support meet the needs of children at every stage of their reading development. This pack contains 1 set of guided reading notes and 5 reading books, 1 of each of: Under Siege, Dungeon Danger, The Story of Sir Dave, Find Me a Castle! and The Knight's Handbook.

Introducing Systems Development offers a concise introduction to systems analysis and design, suitable for undergraduates on Computer Science or Business Studies programs. Based on Steve Skidmore's previous two books, Introducing Systems Analysis and Introducing Systems Design, this comprehensive text retains the strong practical emphasis that characterised these texts. Key features include: extensive coverage of object-oriented methods and UML, coverage of more traditional structured techniques, end-of-chapter exercises and a developing case study. Extra resources are available online.

In Ancient Greece, Hercules has been a naughty boy and has got himself into BIG trouble! As a penance he has to perform twelve labours, three of which are here turned into plays for younger readers.

Part of the Bug Club reading series used in over 3500 schools Helps your child develop reading fluency and confidence Suitable for children age 6-7 (Year 2) Book band: Lime B Phonics phase: 6

 

Steve Skidmore and Steve Barlow bring us a trio of plays for younger readers focusing on Mona, the world's greatest MOANER!

Part of the Bug Club reading series used in over 3500 schools Helps your child develop reading fluency and confidence Suitable for children age 6-7 (Year 2) Book band: White B Phonics phase: 6

 

Perfect for enjoying in school or at home, Bug Club is proud to present a series of plays to get kids reading, sharing and interacting at KS1.

 

Presented by celebrated children’s author Julia Donaldson, each play features engaging stories, beautiful artwork and memorable characters that help kids really catch the reading bug by truly involving them in the story!

Part of the Bug Club reading series used in over 3500 schools Helps your child develop reading fluency and confidence Suitable for children age 8-9 (Year 4) Book band: Grey Ideal for home learning

Play 1: A group of children are on a school trip to the Tower of London. A Beefeater shows them around but they are not interested. Then he tells them about ghosts and vanishes! Play 2: The children visit Buckingham Palace where they meet the ghost of Queen Victoria. They try to make her laugh but they fail until Raj falls and knocks into a suit of armour.

Perfect for enjoying in school or at home, Bug Club is proud to present a series of plays to get kids reading, sharing and interacting at KS1.

 

Presented by celebrated children’s author Julia Donaldson, each play features engaging stories, beautiful artwork and memorable characters that help kids really catch the reading bug by truly involving them in the story!

Part of the Bug Club reading series used in over 3500 schools Helps your child develop reading fluency and confidence Suitable for children age 7-8 (Year 3) Book band: Brown Phonics phase: 5 Ideal for home learning

Play 1: Robbie is a Viking boy. It’s his first day at West Street School and nothing goes quite to plan, until he discovers rugby! Play 2: It’s Robbie’s birthday. His friends visit for tea and are shocked by a Viking party. In the end they go for pizza instead.

Age range 9 to 12Play the book! You are the hero of this book. You decide which way the story goes. But make sure you choose wisely, or else...This book contains 3 adventure stories to test your skill and courage. In Tomb Runner, you are a treasure hunter. Can you find the legendary Lost Tomb of Genghis Khan and return alive? In Strike Force, you are a Special Operations agent. The president's daughter has been kidnapped. You must save her-but is there a traitor in your team? In Space Rescue, you are a top astronaut. Earth has lost contact with the moon base. Systems failure, or alien attack? It's your job to find out.

YOU are a highly trained ninja. When your village is attacked by a warlord called Raiden, only you can stop him. This is a title in the interactive I HERO Immortals series - where the reader is the hero! In each adventure the reader makes a choice that affects how the story progresses - it really is 'decide-your-own-destiny!Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (more commonly known as the 2Steves), and illustrated by comics legend, Jack Lawrence.

YOU are Robin Hood, outlaw of Sherwood Forest. The Sheriff of Nottingham has captured Maid Marian. You'll need all your skills to rescue her, and stay out of prison ... This is a choose-your-own-destiny adventure where YOU are the hero.This is a title in the interactive I HERO Legends series - where the reader plays the part of a legendary hero! In each adventure the reader makes a choice that affects how the story progresses - it really is 'decide-your-own-destiny!Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (more commonly known as the 2Steves), and illustrated by Andrew "2Hands" Tunney. Age appropriate for 6 to 8 year olds and more sensitive readers. Also suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association.

YOU are Arthur, bold and brave King of the Britons. With your knights of the Round Table, you rule fairly. But thereis evil magic lurking in the shadows, plotting your downfall ... This is a choose-your-own-destiny adventure whereYOU are the hero.This is a title in the interactive I HERO Legends series - where the reader plays the part of a legendary hero! In each adventure the reader makes a choice that affects how the story progresses - it really is 'decide-your-own-destiny!Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (more commonly known as the 2Steves), and illustrated by Andrew "2Hands" Tunney. Age appropriate for 6 to 8 year olds and more sensitive readers. Also suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association.

Take on the role of the Monster Hunter in this fully interactive, flick-through-the pages, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.YOU are the Monster Hunter, protector of the living, and nightmare of the paranormal. Aliens have landed and your specialist services are urgently required...Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve SkidmoreAge appropriate for 8+. Also suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association.

Take on the role of a cartoon hero in this fully interactive, wacky, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.YOU are a ninja penguin, and your recent travels take you to a seal village. But all is not well in town. A group of bandit bears are causing big trouble - and they might be even more than you can handle. YOU must team up with a gang of buddies - Foxy, Jagger, Snowy and Bigfoot - to battle Big Daddy Bear...Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore, and illustrated by the amazing Lee Robinson.Age appropriate for 6 to 8 year olds. Also suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association.

Take on the role of a cartoon hero in this fully interactive, wacky, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.The school cook serves up smooth custard! And if that wasn't weird enough, the yellow stuff comes alive and starts to eat everyone... YOU must stop the revenge of the killer custard, before it's dessert time for everyone.Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore, and illustrated by the amazing Lee Robinson.Age appropriate for 6 to 8 year olds. Also suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association.

Take on the role of the Monster Hunter in this fully interactive, flick-through-the pages, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.YOU are an agent of G.H.O.S.T. - protecting the world from creatures in the shadows. Dr Omega is creating mutanthumans - turning them into monsters. Your mission is to stop her experiments.Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve SkidmoreAge appropriate for 8+. Also suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association.

Exciting, monster-based, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story in which YOU are the heroTake on the role of the Monster Hunter in this fully interactive, flick-through-the pages, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.YOU are the Monster Hunter, fighter of yetis and protector of the people! When your services are needed, will you answer the call? You decide...In each adventure the reader makes a choice that affects how the story progresses - it really is 'decide-your-own-destiny!Reading Age 6-8 years, Interest Range 7-10 years and printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia AssociationWritten by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (more commonly known as the 2Steves).

Exciting, monster-based, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story in which YOU are the heroTake on the role of the Monster Hunter in this fully interactive, flick-through-the pages, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.YOU are the Monster Hunter, fighter of evil half-men-half-robots and protector of the living! When your services are needed, will you answer the call? You decide...In each adventure the reader makes a choice that affects how the story progresses - it really is 'decide-your-own-destiny!Reading Age 6-8 years, Interest Range 7-10 years and printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia AssociationWritten by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (more commonly known as the 2Steves).

Take on the role of a shape-shifting MEGAHERO in this fully interactive, wacky, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.You and your mega-computer sidekick, PAL, must save the world from Dinah Shaw - a brilliant scientist who has decided she'd rather be baddie 'DINASAW'. The evil genius has started building deadly robot dinosaurs - can you possibly morph into the right shapes to take down a TERRORSAUR?? Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (AKA the 2STEVES) and illustrated by the hilarious Pipi Sposito. Reading age from 7 to 9 years old. Interest range from 7 to 12 years old - suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association on off-white paper.Read and laugh along with the whole series!October 2020I HERO: MegaHero: Sushi Man - 9781445169477I HERO: MegaHero: Professor Weird - 9781445170039November 2020I HERO: MegaHero: DinaSaw - 9781445170084I HERO: MegaHero: Miss Take - 9781445170091December 2020I HERO: MegaHero: MegaBite - 9781445170121I HERO: MegaHero: Queen of Hearts - 9781445170152

Take on the role of a shape-shifting MEGAHERO in this fully interactive, wacky, choose-your-own-destiny adventure story.You and your mega-computer sidekick, PAL, must save the world from MegaBite - an ultra-skilled and not-very-nice computer hacker. The evil genius has built a web of scams online - can you possibly morph into the right shapes to unravel his coordinated cyber attacks?? Written by the award-winning duo Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore (AKA the 2STEVES) and illustrated by the hilarious Pipi Sposito. Reading age from 7 to 9 years old. Interest range from 7 to 12 years old - suitable for reluctant readers and less confident older readers. Printed using a font approved by the British Dyslexia Association on off-white paper.Read and laugh along with the whole series!October 2020I HERO: MegaHero: Sushi Man - 9781445169477I HERO: MegaHero: Professor Weird - 9781445170039November 2020I HERO: MegaHero: DinaSaw - 9781445170084I HERO: MegaHero: Miss Take - 9781445170091December 2020I HERO: MegaHero: MegaBite - 9781445170121I HERO: MegaHero: Queen of Hearts - 9781445170152

Shakespeare's Macbeth like you've never seen it - or read it - before!Classics in Graphics: Macbeth has been adapted into a graphic novel by expert authors, Steve Skidmore and Steve Barlow, with illustrations by Jason Millet and Edu Rubio. The tragic downfall reads like your favourite action film - as Macbeth's desperation becomes more and more deadly.Classics in Graphics is a series of graphic novels for children aged 10 plus that has inclusion at its heart, flinging wide the doors of literature for everyone to enter and understand. Including dyslexia-friendly design on every page, and encouraging readers to relate to these iconic roles - casting spells, falling in love and winning duels.Each graphic novel includes pitch-perfect illustrations for presenting the tragic, the romantic, the comedic, the magical, as well as:- snappy simplified text presenting Shakespeare's themes clearly- introductory materials to help set the scene and context of each story- heaps of extra material at the back to keep the learning and fun going, including an exploration of themes in the play, the language, Shakespeare's inspirations, the publication and performance of the play in history, a timeline of Shakespeare's life and works, and much more!Plays available in the series include:MacbethThe TempestHamletRomeo and JulietA Midsummer Night's DreamMuch Ado About NothingPraise for the Classics in Graphics series:"Excellent production and binding, quality paper, and with fantastic writing and illustrations - an encouraging entry point to Shakespeare for my kids, and ease of dive-in for my own flighting or cursory storytelling engagement/whimsy [...] an excellent job converting challenging language and literary themes to make it very inclusive, smoothing ease of understanding dialogue, plot, and narration without dumbing it down. Each book has a wonderful appendix including notes on Shakespeare, relevant maps and themes (i.e. for example in Hamlet it goes deeper into its themes of Revenge, Madness & Mortality), and a glossary. For a graphic novel adaptation, I think these books are delightful. [...] They are wonderful and have quickly broken down the wall of "fear of Shakespeare" in my house as they are so easy to read and engage. And they have a really nice tactile production value, heft, and readability that makes broaching these often deemed difficult works, FUN. And of course, they are nice to look at." - EricWilliamson, www.leagueofcomicgeeks.com

Shakespeare's The Tempest like you've never seen it - or read it - before!Classics in Graphics: The Tempest has been adapted into a graphic novel by expert authors, Steve Skidmore and Steve Barlow, with illustrations by Edu Coll. The fantastical revenge story is a swirling delight on the page - as Prospero conducts the story to his desired end.Classics in Graphics is a series of graphic novels for children aged 10 plus that has inclusion at its heart, flinging wide the doors of literature for everyone to enter and understand. Including dyslexia-friendly design on every page, and encouraging readers to relate to these iconic roles - casting spells, falling in love and winning duels.Each graphic novel includes pitch-perfect illustrations for presenting the tragic, the romantic, the comedic, the magical, as well as:- snappy simplified text presenting Shakespeare's themes clearly- introductory materials to help set the scene and context of each story- heaps of extra material at the back to keep the learning and fun going, including an exploration of themes in the play, the language, Shakespeare's inspirations, the publication and performance of the play in history, a timeline of Shakespeare's life and works, and much more!Plays available in the series include:MacbethThe TempestHamletRomeo and JulietA Midsummer Night's DreamMuch Ado About NothingPraise for the Classics in Graphics series:"Excellent production and binding, quality paper, and with fantastic writing and illustrations - an encouraging entry point to Shakespeare for my kids, and ease of dive-in for my own flighting or cursory storytelling engagement/whimsy [...] an excellent job converting challenging language and literary themes to make it very inclusive, smoothing ease of understanding dialogue, plot, and narration without dumbing it down. Each book has a wonderful appendix including notes on Shakespeare, relevant maps and themes (i.e. for example in Hamlet it goes deeper into its themes of Revenge, Madness & Mortality), and a glossary. For a graphic novel adaptation, I think these books are delightful. [...] They are wonderful and have quickly broken down the wall of "fear of Shakespeare" in my house as they are so easy to read and engage. And they have a really nice tactile production value, heft, and readability that makes broaching these often deemed difficult works, FUN. And of course, they are nice to look at." - EricWilliamson, www.leagueofcomicgeeks.com