Books published by publisher Dolphin Paperbacks

"I love adventure. Ratties do." This is the opening line of this wonderful story, narrated by Ratty himself. The peace of the city farm where he lives with his friends Cow and Woolly is shattered by a marauder, and he learns that there are wild animals planning to get back at humans by attacking the animals they love. In a rollercoaster adventure with a wildly exciting ending, brave Ratty—helped by Cow, Woolly, and his new friend Chee the chihuahua—saves the day.

Annie's not your ordinary heroine. She's quirkier, kinder, knows better . . . and always gets things wrong. Luckily her gran's normally there to bail her out—just as well, really, because Mom tends to be off tackling mountains, while Dad's sculpting skyscrapers out of carrots. So whether Annie's buying anteaters for her in-laws, baking birthday surprises for the circus family next door, or doing the laundry . . . in Lapland, you're guaranteed an adventure! Annie is a cracking new character whose stories of everyday events, though rooted in reality, will take you on some fantastic flights of fancy.

Four great new stories featuring the one and only Annie and her chaotic friends and family. When Annie needs new clothes, she goes off to the local department store with Dad and Gran on Grumbler the motorbike. How they end up pacing the catwalk with an ugly bulldog is typical of Annie and her spirited capers. Join Annie as she takes her dog to the dog-trainer and joins the Brownies at school—Annie is a girl with a mind of her own, and she shows it!

When Chee the chihuahua tells her friend Ratty about some puppies who've been locked up in a barn, Ratty dashes to the rescue. Woolly the fierce lamb, kind Cow, White Horse, Foxy Loxy, and a whole flock of sheep all pitch in. It seems an exciting adventure, but soon they find themselves in fearful danger. Told in Ratty's own special words, this is a heartwarming story of animals sticking together against the unkindness of two bad men—and winning! It is the third book about Ratty and his friends, following The Road to Somewhere and The Road to the River.

Kev's a loner, a hard case. When his mom and dad split up, he goes off the rails. He's looking for trouble, but he never meant it to go that far—the fire, the shed, that old man. After the fire Kev is moved to a new school to build a new life, but his terrible secret is found out. The only way Kev knows how to deal with it is through another fire. But this time perhaps it's Kev's life that will go up in flames. Alan Gibbons writes with compassion and intuitive understanding about one boy's battle to survive against the odds.

Olly can't sleep. He wiggles and jiggles, falls out of bed, climbs back in, gets out to go to the bathroom, comes back to bed, wants a drink of milk, and goes down to the kitchen. Meanwhile, his mom and dad are woken by mysterious bumps, thumps, and bangs. But by the time they go up and check in Olly's room, Olly is fast asleep. Oops! Says Olly Bear introduces an adorably funny and memorable little bear character with whom all small children can identify. The pictures in soft crayon and muted nighttime colours, and the text with its gentle humor and repetition, tell a story of universal appeal.

Emilia's family are Romanian gypsies and believe she has brought shame on them. Locked in the family's rooms in a refugee hostel, isolated and afraid, she finds a notebook and begins to draw a picture diary of her life—poverty and persecution in Bucharest, the family's flight to England hidden in a lorry, her joy at going to school, and the family's abrupt departure following a race riot. And as she finishes the last picture, she is shocked into an act of courage that may open the door to freedom. Gaye Hicyilmaz has a rare gift of empathy and her picture of the closed world of Romanian gypsies, and of the racial hatred they encounter, is truthful, uncompromising, and compelling.

Davy's too chicken to stand up to bullying at school. He's been singled out as an easy target. His family aren't much help—they're all chicken too. Mom's frightened of learning to drive, big brother Carl is terrifying himself trying to impress his new friends. And Dad has too many problems of his own to be sympathetic. But in the end it's his little sisters strange secret which spurs Davy on—and surprises the whole family as well.