Books by Elizabeth Laird

Gloria is making a big pot of porridge and Cat wants a share. When Gloria says no, Cat takes matters into his own hands and eats the lot! What happens next interrupts everyone's day... Inspired by an Ethiopian folk tale, Gloria's Porridge shows that placing blame is not the answer, and sometimes you both have to apologise to make it right.

A timeless tale of monsters under the bed, based on a story by the thirteenth century poet Rumi.

The moving story of a family's fight to reunite after their lives are torn apart by war in Syria, from Elizabeth Laird, award-winning author of A Little Piece of Ground and Welcome to Nowhere.

A heartbreaking story of the effects of bullying from the multi-award-winning Elizabeth Laird, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and reissued with illustrations by Alleanna Harris.

A neat and beautiful collection of wonderfully varied folk stories, gathered from East Africa and the Middle East. TreeTops Greatest Stories is a series of timeless classics for children aged 7-11. This pack provides 6 copies of the same title.

A neat and beautiful collection of wonderfully varied folk stories, gathered from across East Africa and the Middle East. TreeTops Greatest Stories is a series of timeless classics for children aged 7-11. Its much-loved stories, beautiful artwork and careful levelling make it easy to select books that children will love.

In Elizabeth Laird's A Little Piece of Ground, twelve-year-old Karim Aboudi and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. Israeli tanks control the city in response to a Palestinian suicide bombing. Karim longs to play football with his mates - being stuck inside with his teenage brother and fearful parents is driving him crazy. When the curfew ends, he and his friend discover an unused patch of ground that's the perfect site for a football pitch. Nearby, an old car hidden intact under bulldozed buildings makes a brilliant den. But in this city there's constant danger, even for schoolboys. And when Israeli soldiers find Karim outside during the next curfew, it seems impossible that he will survive . . .

'It's good that I've found this secret place . . . No one can get to to me up there. It's totally safe.'In real life, Jake is never safe. He lives in constant fear of his mother's violent boyfriend. But in his imaginary tower he can dream up his own father - the stranger who gave him a cuddle and a fluffy duck the day he was born and went away for ever. Jake doesn't believe dreams ever come true. But sometimes they do - in strange and surprising ways.Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, Jake's Tower by Elizabeth Laird is a powerful and moving novel that spotlights the issue of domestic abuse.

Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird is an unforgettable, award-winning novel of conflict, persecution and the hardships faced by refugees.Tara is an ordinary teenager. Although her country, Kurdistan, is caught up in a war, the fighting seems far away. It hasn't really touched her. Until now.The secret police are closing in. Tara and her family must flee to the mountains with only the few things they can carry. It is a hard and dangerous journey - but their struggles have only just begun. Will anywhere feel like home again?

Twelve-year-old Anna is looking forward to the birth of her baby brother. Ben arrives, but is disabled and will never be like other children. Anna loves him with her whole heart, but she finds herself unable to admit the truth of Ben's condition to her school friends. Eventually the truth gets out and leads not to the ridicule Anna expected, but to sympathy and understanding.An emotional and wonderfully written story by Elizabeth Laird, Red Sky in the Morning was Highly Commended for the Carnegie Medal.

Oranges in No Man's Land brings Elizabeth Laird's emotional and gripping adventure to her next generation of fans. Since her father left Lebanon to find work and her mother tragically died in a shell attack, ten-year-old Ayesha has been living in the bomb-ravaged city of Beirut with her granny and her two younger brothers. The city has been torn in half by civil war and a desolate, dangerous no man's land divides the two sides. Only militiamen and tanks dare enter this deadly zone, but when Granny falls desperately ill, Ayesha sets off on a terrifying journey to reach a doctor living in enemy territory.

Crusade is a richly detailed historical adventure, from Carnegie shortlisted author, Elizabeth Laird.Two boys. Two faiths. One unholy war . . .When Adam's mother dies unconfessed, he pledges to save her soul with dust from the Holy Land. Employed as a dog-boy for the local knight, Adam grabs the chance to join the Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. He burns with determination to strike down the infidel enemy . . .Salim, a merchant's son, is leading an uneventful life in the port of Acre - until news arrives that a Crusader attack is imminent. To keep Salim safe, his father buys him an apprenticeship with an esteemed, travelling doctor. But Salim's employment leads him to the heart of Sultan Saladin's camp - and into battle against the barbaric and unholy invaders . . .

Inspired by the true story of an African childhood lived on the edge of destitution, award-winning Elizabeth Laird's The Garbage King takes readers on an unforgettable emotional journey.When Mamo's mother dies, he is abandoned in the shanties of Addis Ababa. Stolen by a child-trafficker and sold to a farmer, he is cruelly treated. Escaping back to the city, he meets another, very different runaway. Dani is rich, educated - and fleeing his tyrannical father. Together they join a gang of homeless street boys who survive only by mutual bonds of trust and total dependence on each other.

A diverse selection of traditional stories from around the world that introduce juniors to classic plots and powerful characters. These fascinating stories are beautifully illustrated to bring each tale to life. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book. This pack contains 6 copies of 6 different books.

Have you ever wondered about dogs and noticed their bravery, their curiosity, their sense of mischief and their loyalty? The stories in Why Dogs Have Black Noses explain many mysteries about dogs. TreeTops Myths and Legends are a fascinating selection of the best traditional stories.

Eleven-year-old Solomon loves to run! The great athletes of the Ethiopian national team are his heroes and he dreams that one day he will be a gold-medal-winning athlete like them, in spite of his ragged shorts and bare feet.When his grandfather announces that he's going to take Solomon to Addis Ababa, Solomon cannot believe his ears. A trip to the capital? It's unfathomable. Solomon's joy is increased when he realizes that the Ethiopian running team will be doing a victory parade through the city that day. Maybe he'll get a glimpse of Haile Gebrselassie or Derartu Tulu?!But Solomon's grandfather has other plans. As Solomon follows him through the big, overwhelming streets, he learns something he cannot believe. The strict old man is a war hero who once risked his life to save a friend and has been in hiding ever since. When grandfather collapses, Solomon knows that getting help from his village is up to him. It's a twenty-mile run from the city to home, and grandfather's life hangs in the balance. Can the small bare-footed runner with the big heart do it?Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird is the inspiring story of a small Ethiopian runner with a very big heart.

A diverse selection of traditional stories from around the world that will introduce junior readers to classic plots and powerful characters. These fascinating stories are beautifully illustrated to bring each tale to life. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book. This pack contains 6 different books.

Bored with her little brother Pog's childish games, Dindy decides that she's finally grown-up enough for a real adventure. While her mother is sleeping and the servants are busy, she takes Pog deep into the tea gardens, a place they are never supposed to go alone.Terrified by wild animals and snubbed by the local children, Dindy starts to realize how little she really knows about India, even though it's the only place she's ever called home. But little does she know her life is about to be turned upside down when her mother is taken ill and her father tells her they are leaving India, for good. Dindy and the Elephant by Elizabeth Laird is a wonderful portrait of a young British child coming to terms with leaving her beloved childhood home, while at the same time realizing that many of the things she has been raised to believe are wrong.

Jenny wants to take her new puppy, Toto, to the circus but Toto isn't willing to sit still and watch the show. Suddenly there's a whooosh and the circus cannon goes off... Where's Toto now?! Find out in this exciting story - in Spanish and English. Includes parallel text, speech bubbles, guidance for readers and a quiz to check understanding.

Jenny wants to take her new puppy, Toto, to the circus but Toto isn't willing to sit still and watch the show. Suddenly there's a whooosh and the circus cannon goes off... Where's Toto now?! Find out in this exciting story - in French and English. Includes parallel text, speech bubbles, guidance for readers and a quiz to check understanding.

Original / British English Karen's job takes her to many places. She loves art, and in Rome she sees some beautiful pictures. But the artist can't sell them and he has no money. Karen likes the young man. Can she sell his pictures for him?

Original / British English Simon Simple is going on holiday and the police are looking for a spy. On the train, Simon meets a beautiful girl. He likes her and she likes him. But the spy is there too. Simon and the police can't see the spy. Can you?

Original / British EnglishSimon Simple is going on holiday and the police are looking for a spy. On the train, Simon meets a beautiful girl. He likes her and she likes him. But the spy is there too. Simon and the police cant see the spy. Can you?