Susan Hellard – illustratör

Katy, a twelve-year-old gangly tomboy, dreams of blossoming into a sophisticated young woman, capable of grand deeds and adventures. She is however prone to mischief, and leads her six siblings into various scrapes, much to the annoyance of her kindly father and domineering aunt. Her life is turned upside down by a terrible accident, which leaves her a bedridden invalid. Now she is forced to learn the virtues of patience, sacrifice and hopefulness, as she comes to terms with her disability.A heart-warming tale that has become a children’s classic since its publication in 1872, Susan Coolidge’s What Katy Did is a lesson in the value of good humour and perseverance against the odds for young readers. Beautifully illustrated by Susan Hellard, this is a poignant and timeless story that every child should read.

This is the first in a series, where kittens are the stars. All Michael wants for Christmas is a kitten, but his parents say he has got to wait another year. When he wakes up on Christmas morning, he finds a tiny kitten trembling in the cold air. Could this be his best Christmas ever?

A story that tugs on the heartstrings, perfect for children learning to read. It’s Kitty’s birthday and she is given a trendy new doll, Suki. Mr Tubs is pleased Kitty is happy, but now it’s Suki who Kitty takes everywhere. Mr Tubs doesn’t mind waiting for Kitty to remember him, but he wishes she’d hurry up. When Mum gives him to Tom, the baby, Mr Tubs is happy to be useful again. But Kitty is furious. And Tom needs looking after – Mr Tubs can’t just leave him now!The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. • Clear type • Up to 8 lines per page • Bright, appealing pictures for added interest • A variety of sentence structures • A wider range of vocabulary • Strong themes and characters to discuss All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading.Book band: Purple

A funny, cheeky story about one very naughty little dinosaur by Tony Bradman. Perfect for children learning to read. It's Dad's birthday and Dorla has already got him a present. Dilly has nothing to give him but Dad says that all he wants is for Dilly to be good for the day. The challenge is on! Can Dilly be good for one whole day? It's going to be tough, especially with a sister determined to make him snap …The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. • Clear type • Up to 8 lines per page • Bright, appealing pictures for added interest • A variety of sentence structures • A wider range of vocabulary • Strong themes and characters to discuss All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading.Book band: Purple

Dilly the dinosaur gets up to lots of mischief in this colour-illustrated early reader by internationally acclaimed author, Tony Bradman. Perfect for children learning to read. Dilly's mother invites a good, quiet dinosaur to tea. But Dilly, the world's naughtiest dinosaur, invents some messy new games and soon there are two naughty dinosaurs on the loose!The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. Clear type Up to 8 lines per page Bright, appealing pictures for added interest A variety of sentence structures A wider range of vocabulary Strong themes and characters to discuss All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading.Book band: Orange Dilly the dinosaur gets up to lots of mischief in this colour-illustrated early reader by internationally acclaimed author, Tony Bradman. Perfect for children learning to read. Dilly's mother invites a good, quiet dinosaur to tea. But Dilly, the world's naughtiest dinosaur, invents some messy new games and soon there are two naughty dinosaurs on the loose!The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. It’s the first step towards a lasting love of reading. Level 2 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for readers who are growing in confidence and are beginning to enjoy longer stories. Clear type Up to 8 lines per page Bright, appealing pictures for added interest A variety of sentence structures A wider range of vocabulary Strong themes and characters to discuss All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children’s reading.Book band: Orange

Anne is an orphan with a penchant for daydreaming and distinctive flaming-red hair that catches the eye of everyone she meets. She is overjoyed to be sent to Green Gables, the Cuthberts’ farm, which she imagines to be the home she has always dreamt of. When her new family, who had been expecting the arrival of a boy, display reservations about the newcomer, Anne must win them over with her charm, beauty and intelligence and find a way to fit in.Originally published in 1908, L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables has come to be acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest children’s tales. Its numerous sequels, adaptations and spin-offs are a testament to the beauty of this simple story, which continues to enchant readers to this day.

Only unabridged translation available"Orphaned at an early age, Heidi has been brought up by her mother’s sister Dete in Switzerland. Having been offered a job in Frankfurt, however, her aunt is forced to entrust her young charge into the care of her grandfather, the reclusive Alp-Uncle who lives in the mountains without any interaction with the villagers beneath. The curmudgeonly old man is initially reluctant to accept the new arrangement, but his grand-daughter’s warmth, cleverness and exuberance soon win him over, while Heidi learns to love her new surroundings and makes a new friend, Peter the goatherd. But as Heidi gets settled in her new life, little does she suspect that a major upheaval is just around the corner.A timeless classic of Swiss literature that has inspired many adaptations and has captured the imaginations of children the world over, Heidi: Lessons at Home and Abroad is here presented in a brand-new, unabridged translation by Peter James Bowman, with charming illustrations by Susan Hellard."

“After a while, with the parrot’s help, the Doctor got to learn the language of the animals so well that he could talk to them himself and understand everything they said.”John Dolittle is a highly respected doctor in the village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh, yet he loves animals so much that his house is soon full of them. With all his patients scared away, and the expense of feeding his menagerie mounting, a friend suggests that the Doctor become a vet instead. With the help of Polynesia the parrot, Doctor Dolittle swiftly learns the language of the animals so that he can talk to all of his new patients. However, when a message comes from Africa, telling of a terrible sickness among the monkeys there, the Doctor and his animal friends depart on a thrilling and dangerous adventure that they are never likely to forget.

Only unabridged translation availableWhen the Sesemann family and their friend Doctor Classen, who were so kind to Heidi during her stay in Frankfurt, visit her and her grandfather at their home in the Swiss Alps, young Klara Sesemann, an invalid, chooses to stay on for a while alone in the hope that the healthy mountain lifestyle and the expert nursing of Heidi’s grandfather will do her good. Unfortunately, Heidi’s devoted attention to Klara excites the jealousy of the goatherd Peter, who senses that the stranger has supplanted him in his only friend’s affections. A fit of rage prompts Peter to commit an act intended to end Klara’s stay on the mountain, which sets into motion a series of events that will produce a positive, unhoped for outcome.Beloved of generations of young people, Johanna Spyri’s sequel to Heidi: Lessons at Home and Abroad is another cornerstone of children’s literature and every bit as beguiling and heart-warming as the first volume. It is here presented in a brand-new, unabridged translation by Peter James Bowman, once again beautifully illustrated by Susan Hellard.This edition contains extra material for young readers, including a section on 'Other Classic Stories of Orphans', a glossary and a test-yourself quiz.