Kaye Umansky

The Silver Spoon of Solomon Snow

Ten-year-old Solomon Snow, a foundling who was discovered with a distinctive silver spoon in his mouth, sets out to find his parents and receives help along the way from an aspiring writer, a precocious young circus performer, and several orphans.

Solomon Snow and the Silver Spoon

Pongwiffy (Puffin Books)

Johanna Wright

Capable and hardworking ten-year-old Clover Twig takes a job as housekeeper for a messy witch, Demelza, but while Demelza is away Clover and an accident-prone neighbor boy must defend the weird cottage from the witch's evil sister.

Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage

While trying to rescue Prudence's father from prison, Solomon, Prudence, the Infant Prodigy, and Mr. Skippy the rabbit find themselves caught up in the mad plans of the villainous Dr. Calimari to steal a fabulous and cursed ruby.

Solomon Snow and the Stolen Jewel

'A Bewitching tale, charmingly told and is certain to delight any witch in the making' M.G, Leonard, award-winning author of Beetle Boy 'A gorgeous story that bubbles with charm, wit and magic' Abi Elphinstone, author of The Dreamsnatcher 'Bursting with memorable characters, a huge sense of fun and a big dollop of honey, flowers and strawberry-scented magic!' Joe Berger, author of Lyttle Lies and Hubble Bubble 'A sulky raven, a grubby dog and a common-sense heroine with a strong sense of customer service. This is a funny, magical treat!' Holly Webb, author of Lost in the Snow When Elsie Pickles offers to house-sit the mysterious home of local witch Magenta Sharp, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. Left with a talking raven and a scruffy dog for company, a magical tower that has a mind of its own and a book of instruction called Everything You Need to Know, what could possibly go wrong? With an assortment of weird and wonderful neighbours banging at the door and a box of volatile magical ingredients that must be used immediately, Elsie finds out that looking after Magenta's home might not be as easy as she first thought ... does she have what it takes to be a witch for a week or will it all end in a magical disaster? A new magical adventure from Kaye Umansky, the bestselling author of the spellbinding children's classic Pongwiffy, brought to life with charming illustrations from rising star Ashley King!

Witch for a Week

A Ruby, a Rug and a Prince Called Doug

Sophie and Abigail

Sophie and the Wonderful Picture

A comic story set in mock-Victorian times. Solomon Snow discovers, to his amazement, that he is a foundling. A silver spoon was left with him as a baby, but Pa has pawned it. Solomon leaves home in high dudgeon to seek his spoon and his real parents. He joins up with Prudence Pridy, a very bossy girl, and a very irritating child called the Infant Prodigy, who can wind any adult round her little finger. Together they reach Town and promptly meet a glorious cast of assorted larger-than-life characters including a villainous pawnbroker, kidnappers, a child farmer, an awful orphanage and a cheery chimney-sweep's boy. Solly does find his spoon eventually - but the ending takes everyone by surprise.

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing and reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. What's waiting for Algy at the bottom of his garden this time? With his best friend Cherry and her little brother Brad, Algy opens the loose board at the back of his garden shed - to find himself in space! Cherry and Brad are really excited, but Algy's not so sure. Space seems very dangerous. Will he enjoy his latest adventure or not?

Algy's Amazing Adventures in Space

Winner of the Nottinghamshire Book Award, 1993. When Pongwiffy finds Granny Malodour's famous wishing water recipe, she's certain it will win the Spell of the Year Competition. But getting hold of the unusual ingredients is not an easy task, and it lands Pongwiffy in big trouble.

Pongwiffy and the Spell of the Year

Ashley King

Everyone is already the spell of this funny series from Kaye Umansky... 'Umansky is one of our most delightful comic writers. Read aloud and chortle together...' The Sunday Times 'A Bewitching tale, charmingly told and is certain to delight any witch in the making' M.G, Leonard, award-winning author of Beetle Boy 'A gorgeous story that bubbles with charm, wit and magic' Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song 'Bursting with memorable characters, a huge sense of fun and a big dollop of honey, flowers and strawberry-scented magic!' Joe Berger, author of Lyttle Lies and Hubble Bubble 'A sulky raven, a grubby dog and a common-sense heroine with a strong sense of customer service. This is a funny, magical treat!' Holly Webb, author of Lost in the Snow It's summertime in Smallbridge, but, as always, nothing exciting is happening. Smallbridge doesn't do excitement. They do gossip, though. And now Elsie Pickles is the subject of the gossip as rumours spring up about her new magic skills ... Things aren't helped when Magenta Sharp, bored of running her mail-order service, Spells on Tap, opens up a pop-up magic shop next to Pickles' Emporium. Soon the town is overrun with witches, much to the annoyance of the magic-hating people of Smallbridge! But maybe a little bit of magic is just the thing Smallbridge needs?

Witch in Winter

A brand new bind-up edition of the much-loved classic children's series Pongwiffy including A Witch of Dirty Habits and The Goblin's Revenge! Pongwiffy has just moved into a new cave, and it's dirty, smelly and damp - in other words it's perfect for a witch like Pongwiffy! At least it would be if her next door neighbours weren't a group of extremely noisy Goblins... Before long Pongwiffy can bear it no more and enlists the help of her best friend, Witch Sharkadder, to find her somewhere else to live. And that's when the problems really start! In the second story, the Goblins are back and up to their usual tricks! But this time Pongwiffy also has to deal with a badly behaved broom, a bonfire disaster and a strange genie.... Two laugh-out-loud stories of humour and warmth, enticingly mixed with much sludge, slime and very bad habits. Now with brand new illustrations from Katy Riddell!

A Witch of Dirty Habits and The Goblins' Revenge

The Pongwiffy Stories 1

Nick Price

Pongwiffy, a witch of very dirty habits, is slumming it as usual in her filthy hovel, Number One, Dump Edge, Witchway Wood. But all is not well with Pongwiffy. It is slowly dawning on her that a witch cannot live on greasy skunk stew, limitless supplies from Sugary Candy's, the local sweet shop, and the minimum of exercise alone. Pongwiffy's teeth, stomach and general body parts are crying out for some healthy care and attention. It is time to take action. It is time to get healthy. And Pongwiffy is determined to take not only her fellow witches, but all the residents of Witchway Wood with her. There is only one thing for it: the greatest sporting event to happen in Witchway Wood - the O'Lumpicks! A laugh-out-loud story that is witty and clever, enticingly mixed in with much sludge, slime and very bad habits.

Pongwiffy Back on Track

A laugh-out-loud take on King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, in the vein of Kaye's ever-popular fairy tale retellings. Wonderfully witty and quirky.

The Knights of the Drop-Leaf Table

Dick the Delightful Duck

Even the most delightful ducks can have a bad day . . . What's the matter with Dick the Duck? He's usually so kindand friendly! But today Dick got out on The Wrong Side of Bed. He feels humpy and grumpy, cranky and cross. Can anyone help cheer him up? Luckily Dick's friends rally round and shower him with kindness, and Dick is soon back to his usual delightful self! This magnificently funny rhyming storyshows that even the most delightful ducks can have a bad day. (And that's totally okay!) Children will adore this hilarious rhyming storyby the much-loved author of the PONGWIFFY books Kaye Umansky is one of the funniest children's writers around. This brilliant rhyming story is a joy to read aloud, and has echoes of Dr Seuss Ben Mantle's superb colourful illustrations bring every character to life. Each page is packed with fabulous, funny details Full of warmth and humour, Dick the Delightful Duckshows even the youngest children that it's okay not to be okay, and how they can be a good friend

Let Dr Doom take you on a journey into a very spooky world of stories. A boy takes refuge in a sinister, crumbling castle and gets the shock of a lifetime; an empty suit of armour goes out for a walk and gives people a nasty turn; spooks from the ghost train have a wonderful ride on the dodgem cars when the fairground's closed; and a respectable bogey family are upset when an uncouth troll family move in next door. These four hilarious stories are written in jaunty, catchy verse that's just right for beginner readers. They have already proved their popularity with children who love the scary plots and the comic characters, and are now brought together in one book with delicious drawings and a spooky introduction from the author.

Kaye Umansky

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