Books with author J. W. Wright

Children's illustrated story in rhyming verse. Brian is a nervous, jumpy lion who is embarrassed when smaller animals make him jump and decides to do something about it. A funny story, with lots of roaring and bold, vibrant illustrations throughout. Brian the Lion is the second title in the series, Cyril the Squirrel and Friends. Other books available include Cyril the Squirrel, Myrtle the Turtle and Lola Clare the Polar Bear. The books are set in varied contexts around the world. Suitable to be read aloud to toddlers and preschool children, but also for older children (up to age 8) as they are learning to read, this series of books deliberately includes a few longer or slightly less common words (like "plucky" and "glisten") in order to encourage early absorption of a wider English vocabulary, as this has been proved to benefit literacy and development later on. The rhyming character names also teach children about the idiosyncrasies of English pronunciation. Besides this, the books remain funny, happy animal stories for all children to enjoy.

KNOWN as the 'Russian' linesman, Tofiq Bahramov will forever have a place in the history of football.In a moment of high drama during extra-time in the 1966 World Cup final between England and West Germany, it was he who controversially advised Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst that, yes, the ball had crossed the line, and that a goal should be awarded to the host nation.It was the turning point of the match which England went on to win 4-2.In West Germany's media, the reputation of Bahramov - actually from Azerbaijan - was thereafter torn to tatters. A campaign of derision lasted for months.He was accused of being motivated by a thirst for revenge both for West Germany's defeat of the Soviet Union in the tournament semi-final and for atrocities said to have been committed by German soldiers on their Russian counterparts during bitter fighting at Stalingrad in the Second World War.It was even put about that he had secured his appointment for the World Cup final only after having bribed an official of FIFA's referees appointments panel with a gift of caviar.Even in the UK, he is now sometimes ridiculed as "dodgy", with former Barclays Premier League referee Graham Poll among those who have joined in the condemnation.But there has never been a shred of evidence to support any of the criticism. Bahramov made a brave, honest and correct judgement based on his view of the famous incident.In so doing, he almost certainly saved the match from degenerating into a fiasco because the referee had been uncertain whether or nor the ball had crossed the line. He would have had to have guessed - and the whole world would have known he was guessing.FIFA certainly had no problem with Bahramov's performance - he was selected as one of the officials for the final stages of the next World Cup in Mexico, and, in between, he was referee for many important matches in European competitions, including those involving Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.As well as exploring the career and background of Bahramov, this fascinating e-book also unearths much else about the famous final - for instance, the approach made to the England players by German sportswear manufacturer Adidas prior to the match, the pre-match worries of BBC TV commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme about his heart condition, the fainting fit of one England player's wife at the end of full-time and the sour atmosphere at the post-match banquet at a London hotel.

Fifteen year old Katie Jenkins has what her grandmother called a "gift" - an ability to see things that others can't. Her grandmother taught her to harness her ability using Tarot cards, but after the old lady's death, Katie begins to realise there is more to it than just predicting the future. She meets a strange girl called Star, who has runaway to escape from an abusive home life, and is being followed at night by an evil shadowy figure called the Dark Man. He wants Star's soul, and Katie knows she must not let that happen, whatever the cost. Not fully understanding how, Katie must protect the physically and emotionally scarred Star from the Dark Man, and also help to bring out into the open the real reason Star left her home, before it is too late.