Books by David MacPhail

Prepare yourself for the wrath of the Norsemen! That is, if you don't mind and it's not too inconvenient... Everyone knows Vikings are ruthless barbarians whose idea of a good time involves pillaging, plundering and feasting. But Thorfinn is no ordinary Viking! He is always polite and happily offers to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad his dad is Harald the Skull-Splitter, Village Chief and the roughest and toughest Viking of them all. Harald, Thorfinn and the other Vikings are preparing to compete in the annual Gruesome Games, held on the Scottish island of Uraig. It falls to Thorfinn to save their village, but in a competition where belching, axe-throwing, pie-clobbering and goat-throwing are great point scorers, what help will a terribly nice Viking with a talent for baking be? Thorfinn the Nicest Viking is a funny, illustrated, action-packed new series for young readers who love Horrid Henry and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, set in a world where manners mean nothing and politeness is pointless!

From warrior kings and mythical monsters to famous landmarks and unique wildlife, discover something you didn't know about Scotland in this brilliant atlas packed with surprising facts and amazing illustrations.

Oi, you snivelling pig-dogs! Are you ready for a Viking adventure?Velda is a small girl with a big axe, and she knows how to use it. Alongside her misfit crew, she's living her best Viking life, sailing the seas in her very own longship and teaching anyone who thinks she's 'just a little girl' a lesson.But when a raid on the vault of the treasure-obsessed Count Stollenberg goes wrong, Velda is forced into a deal to bring him the legendary Frost Hammer. The only teensy tiny issue is that it belongs to the Frost Giants, who are anything but teensy tiny. Velda and her crew must trek across snow and ice to break into the giants' mountain home, but it seems the Frost Giants are happier to see them than they expected. A bit too happy, in fact...Join Velda on her mission as she schemes her way out of scrapes and battles enormous enemies, all while proving she's the awesomest Viking around.

Oi, you snivelling pig-dogs! Are you ready for a Viking adventure?Velda is a small girl with a big axe. The only problem is, everyone thinks she can't be a proper Viking because she's "e;just a little girl"e;. PURLEASE! She sets sail with Freya, captain of the dragonship Valkyrie, and her notoriously ferocious crew for a life of awesome adventure (and very loud belching).But when the Valkyrie and her crew are captured by the Queen of the Saxons, Velda is the only one who can free her friends. The small and mighty Viking must travel to the mysterious Islands of Deadly Doom, but there's just one problem, er, well more than one, actually -- she doesn't have a ship, a crew, or a clue how to get there...Join Velda on her quest as she makes some unlikely new friends and takes on terrifying tasks, all while proving she's the awesomest Viking around.

Have you ever wondered where your ancestors came from? From the Ice Age to the present day, discover how the movement of people to and from Britain has shaped the UK. Prompt thoughtful discussions and develop higher-level comprehension skills with Reflect - a series of emotionally powerful fiction and non-fiction with realistic settings.

Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available.

Mr Braithwaite is a painter and has built a robot to help him on all his decorating jobs - Colourbot. Equipped with every colour you can think of, Colourbot can paint exactly what Mr Braithwaite says. But as time goes on Colourbot starts to have other ideas... Highly engaging, illustrated picture book to be read out loud to children aged 4-5 Ideal for reading aloud at home with your child Helps expose your child to rich language and curriculum-linked vocabulary Includes key terms from Art and the topic area of colour Part of the Bug Club reading series used in over 3500 schools 'These books are a great start to addressing the wider curriculum and the vocabulary issues that schools are identifying.' - Assistant Head, Primary AcademyThe Bug Club Shared books are highly engaging, beautifully illustrated stories designed to be read out loud to children. The programme exposes children to rich, curriculum-linked vocabulary, helping to build an understanding across school subjects and cultivate a love for reading.

Thorfinn is a nice, polite young Viking. When Chief Harald is poisoned by a putrid sleeping potion, can Thorfinn find the cure and save the village?

July 1969: Clare tucks a letter into the time capsule being buried at her school in honour of the Apollo 11 Moon landings. A letter containing information about space exploration which nobody could possibly know ...July 2019: Space-geek Ryan is given a letter from the same time capsule. A letter written by someone called Clare, who seems to have been able to predict the future ... Could time travel really be possible? The Apollo Time Capsule is part of the Reading Planet range of books for Stars (Lime) to Supernova (Red+) band. Children aged 7-11 will be inspired to love reading through the gripping stories and fascinating information books created by top authors. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and questions to support reading at home and develop comprehension skills.Reading age: 10-11 years

Thorfinn is a nice, polite young Viking. Can he persuade a dreadful dragon to help him win the Shetland Fire Festival competition?

When Angelita is left in the jungle to fend for herself, she finds safety with three gentle giants. They live happily together until Angelita is poisoned by her jealous stepmother. Can the giants find a way to save Angelita? The Little Sister of the Three Giants is part of the Galaxy range of books from Rising Stars Reading Planet. Galaxy provides captivating fiction and non-fiction for Pink A to White band. The rich collection of highly decodable books immerses children in a range of cross-curricular topics and genres. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and activities to support reading at home as well as comprehension questions to check understanding. Reading age: 6-7 years

Castaway is the amazing true history of Alexander Selkirk, the real Robinson Crusoe who was marooned on the island of Juan Fernandez in 1704. TreeTops inFact is an exciting non-fiction series for children aged 7-11. Its range of subjects and careful levelling make it easy to select books that children will love.

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level They came in their longships from Scandinavia, stealing gold and spreading fear. From fighting to settling, this is the story of how Vikings shaped the history of Britain as we know it.

Prepare yourself for the wrath of the Norsemen! That is, if you don't mind and it's not too inconvenient... Everyone knows Vikings are ruthless barbarians whose idea of a good time involves pillaging, plundering and feasting. But Thorfinn is no ordinary Viking! He is always polite and happily offers to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad his dad is Harald the Skull-Splitter, Village Chief and the roughest and toughest Viking of them all. Harald the Skull-Splitter, along with fellow chiefs Magnus the Bone-Breaker and Ranulf the King-Thumper find a massive treasure chest in the remote Western Isles of Scotland. Thorfinn and his rival Olaf must guard it overnight, but despite their best efforts, they can't help falling asleep. In the morning the treasure has disappeared and now Thorfinn's village is at stake. Can Thorfinn the Nicest Viking and his friends find the missing loot in time to save their village? Thorfinn the Nicest Viking is a funny, illustrated, action-packed new series for young readers who love Horrid Henry and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, set in a world where manners mean nothing and politeness is pointless!

Prepare yourself for the wrath of the Norsemen! That is, if you don't mind and it's not too inconvenient... Everyone knows Vikings are ruthless barbarians whose idea of a good time involves pillaging, plundering and feasting. But Thorfinn is no ordinary Viking! He is always polite and happily offers to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad his dad is Harald the Skull-Splitter, Village Chief and the roughest and toughest Viking of them all. Indgar villagers are out watching an elk polo match, the village is attached, and Thorfinn's mum goes missing, presumed kidnapped. Harald, Velda Thorfinn and his boisterous brothers chase the mysterious raiders across the North Sea towards Scotland. Will Thorfinn the Nicest Viking manage to find his mum and bring her back home safe and sound? Thorfinn the Nicest Viking is a funny, illustrated, action-packed new series for young readers who love Horrid Henry and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, set in a world where manners mean nothing and politeness is pointless!

Prepare yourself for the wrath of the Norsemen! That is, if you don't mind and it's not too inconvenient... Everyone knows Vikings are ruthless barbarians whose idea of a good time involves pillaging, plundering and feasting. But Thorfinn is no ordinary Viking! He is always polite and happily offers to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad his dad is Harald the Skull-Splitter, Village Chief and the roughest and toughest Viking of them all. The king of Norway is coming to visit Indgar village and Thorfinn is named Head Chef for the greatest feast the village has ever seen. Apparently the king has a taste for exotic fish, but he's also been known to catapult chefs who displease him into the sea! Thorfinn sets sail for Orkney with a ragtag crew to visit his Uncle Rolf and learn how to cook and catch fish. But it seems a poisoner is at large and he has his eyes on the poisson... Thorfinn the Nicest Viking is a funny, illustrated, action-packed new series for young readers who love Horrid Henry and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, set in a world where manners mean nothing and politeness is pointless!

Prepare yourself for the wrath of the Norsemen! That is, if you don't mind and it's not too inconvenient... Everyone knows Vikings are ruthless barbarians whose idea of a good time involves pillaging, plundering and feasting. But Thorfinn is no ordinary Viking! He is always polite and happily offers to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad his dad is Harald the Skull-Splitter, Village Chief and the roughest and toughest Viking of them all. On a raiding voyage to Scotland, Thorfinn and his friends Velda and Oswald are kidnapped by Ranald MacRanald, chieftain of the Clan MacRanald. Little does Ranald he know that his methods of 'torture' (making the Nicest Viking sew with the women and clean the castle from top to bottom) are actually Thorfinn's idea of a brilliant Scottish holiday! Will Chief Harald the Skull-Splitter come to his son's 'rescue' before Thorfinn drives the Rotten Scots crazy with politeness? Thorfinn the Nicest Viking is a funny, illustrated, action-packed new series for young readers who love Horrid Henry and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, set in a world where manners mean nothing and politeness is pointless!

Prepare yourself for the wrath of the Norsemen! That is, if you don't mind and it's not too inconvenient... Everyone knows Vikings are ruthless barbarians whose idea of a good time involves pillaging, plundering and feasting. But Thorfinn isn't an ordinary Viking! He is always polite and happily offers to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad his dad is Harald the Skull-Splitter, Village Chief and the roughest and toughest Viking of them all. Tired of Thorfinn and his too-nice ways getting them into trouble, his dad decides it's time for Thorfinn to earn his gruesome Viking name. Stuck on a longboat with a ragtag bunch of adventurers who'd like to throw him overboard, how will the Nicest Viking cope with a dangerous voyage to Scotland? Thorfinn the Nicest Viking is a funny, illustrated, action-packed new series for young readers who love Horrid Henry and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, set in a world where manners mean nothing and politeness is pointless!