2008 Short list
Books have been nominated by children across the country, here are the top ten books published in 2007, chosen by them!
Younger Children
- The Tear Thief
- Barefoot Books
- 9781846860447
Is the Tear Thief hiding on your street? Each evening in the twilight hours she appears. The Tear Thief collects tears from different streets and saves them in her silvery sack... tears caused by every emotion, each with its own special colour. Tears of rage are red, tears of self-pity, turquoise but some are more precious than others. The Tear Thief visits all kinds of children but what happens to the tears she collects? A magical tale beautifully told with enchanting illustrations.
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- A Dog Called Rod
- Macmillan
- 9781405092692
Elsa lives on the top floor of a block of flats - and desperately wants a dog. Her dad says dogs are far too much trouble, but Elsa knows different. Rod, her charming, well-behaved and invisible dog is just perfect! Will she ever manage to persuade her dad that not all dogs are messy, noisy and expensive? This story with its lively illustrations, including the sparkly Rod, has proved a big hit with children across a broad age range.
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- Penguin
- Walker
- 9781844280650
Ben is given Penguin as a present and wants him to talk. Will Penguin answer? No matter what lengths Ben goes to, Penguin remains silent. But when Ben is swallowed by a lion for being too noisy, events take an unexpected turn! Bright pen-and-ink and mixed media images against plain white backgrounds complement the story’s freshness and originality.
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- Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure
- Egmont
- 9781405228039
Nothing scares Sir Charlie as he journeys past the monstrous trees in the deep dark forest, not even the terrible beasties or the wiggly woos. Curious to discover what lies at the top of a mysterious tower, Sir Charlie takes on a fiery dragon. But what awaits the brave hero as he reaches the top? This lively story with bold illustrations and hidden surprises was a popular choice.
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Younger Readers
- The Perfumed Pirates of Perfidy
- David Fickling
- 9780385611237
Imagine being over 400 years old but never aged a day since you were eight! Luckily Charlie kept a diary of his second attempt to find his way home, on board the Betty Mae, the ship of a fierce band of lady pirates. If Charlie’s drawings are anything to go by, Captain Cut-throat and her crew are a match for any pirate on the High Seas! All Charlie wants, of course, is to find his way home and when he sees a chance to escape he begins his most daring adventure yet...
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- Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
- Macmillan
- 9781405050579
When a series of high society dog-nappings occur in Big City something must be done. Can Ottoline and her best friend, Mr. Munroe, a hairy creature from a bog in Norway, come up with a clever plan to solve the crimes? Enter the fantastical world of Ottoline, a Mistress of Disguise, who enjoys solving tricky problems and splashing in puddles. This exuberant mystery story, with lots of wonderfully detailed illustrations (and clues!) has broad appeal.
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- Mammoth Academy in Trouble
- Hodder
- 9780340930304
HELP! Mammoth Academy is under attack! Those cave people started using rude graffiti and now it looks as though they may break in. Oscar, Arabella and Ormsby are trapped in the school but can they save the day? Arabella’s clever plan leads to events that are more than the cave people bargained for... Neal Layton’s laugh-out-loud text, combined with lively, humorous illustrations will have even the most reluctant reader turning the page and demanding more!
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Older Readers
- The London Eye Mystery
- David Fickling
- 9780385612661
The London Eye seems a safe place to take a visitor, but when Ted and his older sister, Kate, take their cousin, Salim, to ride on it. They see him board but when his pod returns, he is not there! Can Ted, whose brain ‘uses a different operating system’ figure out where their cousin has gone before it is too late? This page-turning detective novel was a hit with older readers.
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- Teacher's Dead
- Bloomsbury
- 9780747586098
Jackson stood and watched his teacher die. Two classmates stabbed him and then calmly jogged away. Jackson is offered counselling but decides to work out his own therapy by talking to the widow, the mother of one of the boys and others. Where does the truth lie and why was his teacher murdered? Jackson’s quest for the truth demonstrates the danger of jumping to conclusions. An unputdownable read!
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- Skulduggery Pleasant
- HarperCollins
- 9780007241620
Stephanie’s uncle died suddenly and when she unexpectedly finds that she has inherited his wealth, she finds that her life moves in new directions, including becoming friends with Skulduggery Pleasant. This skeleton, who has come back to life, has unusual skills that become very important to her. Stephanie discovers that her uncle has been murdered and her own life is now under threat! Her life will never be the same again. This action-packed adventure has appeal with readers of both sexes.
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