Books published by publisher Fair Havens Books

Semi-historical adventure Young Adult novel set in China. The past collides with the present when a theft occurs at the Shanghai International School. Three school friends exploring an abandoned chapel discover the key to the Stronghold of the White Emperor has been stolen. They then recreate a 1941 expedition to the Stronghold, to try to prevent the thief from stealing the bronze Brazen Head, which can predict the future. Facing many dangers, they must outwit the best of the White Emperor's court to get to the prize in time.

Five colorful illustrated stories in a gift-quality slipcase: Panda Goes to the Olympics; Geoff and the Ride of His Life (Monkey); Jifu's Twist of Luck (Tiger); Esmelda Goes for Gold (Ostrich); and Chiru's Lucky Seven (Tibetan antelope). The animals embark on fantastic athletic adventures, and work hard to make it to the Olympic games. Their antics prove that even if you don't win the medal, perseverance will always take you places! Includes a brief, easy-to-read history of the Olympics, plus educational fact sheets on each animal and its endangered natural habitat.

Esmelda is an Ostrich. Ostriches are very fast runners, but Esmelda decides she wants a new challenge in the Olympics: to be an equestrian! She heads off for training with the equestrian team and has many adventures far from home. She's ready to win the gold! However, before the Games begin, she receives a phone call saying that her grandmother is very sick. Esmelda decides that family is more important than winning and returns home, where she and her grandmother watch Esmelda's team win the gold medal for Dressage on TV!

Jifu is a South China Tiger who dreams of winning a medal in the Olympics! At first, people are scared of him, but after he makes friends with a runner named Mai, they accept him as a contestant. Jifu has some trouble finding the right event until he discovers that he's fantastic at doing a ribbon routine in rhythmic gymnastics. Jifu is welcomed to the team!

Geoff is a Black-Crested Gibbon who becomes a great cyclist! While he travels around to train, he makes friends with another gibbon named Glenda. After having a lot of fun with Glenda and his new friends, he has to head off to Beijing for the competition. He discovers that his friends are cheering for him in the stands! With his friends' support, Geoff earns a first-place finish.

At the end of Scruffy Sam and the Pirates, as Pirate Peter's mother went home after presiding over Fairhaven's annual biscuit tin convention Pirate Pete breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately for him, though, he wasn't allowed to relax for too long as Scruffy Sam reminded him of his promise to take all his helpers for a day out as a 'Thank You' for all their efforts. Plans are thrown into disarray when the crew of the Flying Dolphin fall sick and again, it's up to Scruffy Sam and his mother and sister to come up with a remedy.Eventually, after more problems to solve and with a lot of preparation everybody sets sail for Palm Tree Island.This second book in the Scruffy Sam series introduces new characters such as Urchin (who isn't very clean), Namby (who is rather forgetful) and Barney (an amateur lawyer)all of whom play a vital part in the story of Palm Tree Island.The Scruffy Sam series of books is different to many children's books as they have been written to appeal to two completely different types of audience.Firstly, children in the 5 - 9 age range who are competent readers will be able to read and enjoy the books for themselves. Secondly, there are those children who are lucky enough to have the books read to them - perhaps as a bedtime story. If you have the privilege and the joy of reading a child a bedtime story you might have found, as the author has, that although the children often enjoy the story, you, the reader-out-loud, sometimes don't. The story may for example touch a child's sense of humour or it may excite their sense of adventure but, because it has been written specifically for youngsters - and youngsters only - then it may hold little appeal for you, the adult.With this in mind, the author has deliberately set out to address this problem - the Scruffy Sam series is definitely for children but it has been written to entertain adults as well. Children will love the adventures of Sam and his sister and they will laugh at the bumbling and the silliness of the pirates. The adult reader will smile and enjoy also - but for different and perhaps more grown-up reasons.To find out more, scroll up and click the 'Look Inside' button to check it out for yourself.