Computational Intelligence Paradigms in Advanced Pattern Classification

Learn how a movement builds from one person to a billion in this A to Z environmental activism book. Readers count from 1 to 10 – and then in larger increments to a billion – as they learn new terms from "conservation" to "activism." Inset boxes provide easy-to-understand definitions of additional new vocabulary words.

In Hey, Bruce!, Bruce the bear experiences . . . well, whatever readers want him to.Rupert, Thistle, and Nibbs, the fun-loving mice in Bruce's begrudgingly expansive family, guide readers on a quest for a fun reading experience, with Bruce the ever-reluctant star. As readers turn the page, flip the book, and follow the mice's increasingly silly instructions, Bruce is sent flying and tumbling―all as he looks right up the reader's nose! How will you interact with Bruce?Bruce's life is what YOU, the reader, make it in this special interactive addition to the award-winning Mother Bruce series.

In a sleepy town in Southern France stands a mysterious structure. Is it a fortress? A giant labyrinth? The castle of a long-forgotten king? It is, in fact, the work of one man, Ferdinand Cheval, who shaped a palace over the course of 33 years with nothing but his bare hands, his will, and a few tools. This is the story of how and why his palace came to be.

It's a warm summer's day, so Boy and his grandad pack up their provisions and head for the seaside. There's so much to do, from exploring rock pools to building a magnificent sandcastle. But their day takes a different turn when they go for a swim and find a baby seal caught up in a net.Its rescue leads Boy and Grandad on a thrilling underwater adventure!All the excitement of a day at the beach is captured with Sam Usher's stunning illustrations in this classic book, the fourth in a highly collectable series, following on from WILD, FREE and LOST.

《全方位華語精進讀本》提供中文學習者精選閱讀素材 以第二外語學習者的詞彙及程度編寫，契合需求 有效提升閱讀理解能力！ 除了一般教材，閱讀理解力的提升是語言學習的關鍵。 第二外語學習者的閱讀力需求，包含適量的詞彙、符合學習程度的句型語法、適當的主題題材、充分的詞彙應用說明，以及大量的練習題檢視吸收成效。 本書為資深海外及國內華語教師團隊撰寫的閱讀材料，書中選題契合時代趨勢，用詞遣字斟酌符合學習者需求，而清楚明瞭的結構培養閱讀寫作能力，精心設計的習題測驗理解程度，更加鍛鍊學習要點，並延伸學習應用變化。 除了契合語言學習的需求，同時亦可為華語能力測驗做準備。 適用對象：《當代中文課程》第三冊延伸閱讀、TOCFL Designed for students learning Chinese at intermediate through advanced-low proficiency levels, The Ultimate Chinese Reader cover engaging topics from Chinese literature, history & geography, technology, and culture studies, suitable for all learners to polish their reading comprehension abilities. It can be useful resource to the preparation for TOCFL as well. Each chapter includes vocabulary and intense exercise and practice section especially designed to further enhance reading and writing skills. The Ultimate Chinese Reader may be used independently for reading courses or as supplementary materials in existing Chinese learning programs. This book is ideal for learners with the

The Secret Life of Pets meets The Bad Guys in DOWN IN THE DUMPS, an all-new, highly illustrated, early chapter book series about three unlikely friends--a rotten banana, a broken tea pot, and a crusty blob of gum--and their adventures together in the local town landfill. To Nana, there isn't a better, more beautiful home for a mushy, moldy banana than the Westerfield Waste Transfer & Recycling Center! Nana loves living at the dump! She welcomes every new piece of trash with a hardy hug and happy hello.And in The Mystery Box, the first adventure in the Down in the Dumps series, when a Teddy Tedd Ted doll still perfectly wrapped in his gift box arrives, Nana realizes that not everyone is ready to be thrown away. Will Nana and her friends be able to navigate the many dangers of the dump to help Teddy Tedd Ted find his way home?The Mystery Box is the first book in the Down in the Dumps series from beloved author-illustrator Wes Hargis. It will have even the most reluctant readers takin

TOY STORY meets the GARBAGE PAIL KIDS in A VERY TRASHY CHRISTMAS, the third of four books in the hilarious, new, highly illustrated early chapter book series DOWN IN THE DUMPS, about three unlikely friends―a rotten banana, a broken tea pot, and a crusty blob of gunk―and their adventures together in the local town landfill. Santa who? Nana has never heard about Christmas until the old toys of the Westerfield Waste Transfer and Recycling Center tell her about the most magical night of the year! And when Nana learns that Santa Claus delivers toys to all the good boys and girls, she insists on writing him her own letter. But when Santa arrives with their gifts in tow, the Forklift of Doom mistakes his sleigh for rubbish. Can Nana and her trash friends band together to save Christmas before it’s too late?A VERY TRASHY CHRISTMAS is the third book in the hilarious new chapter book series DOWN IN THE DUMPS from beloved author-illustrator Wes Hargis. It’ll have even the most reluctant readers w

TOY STORY meets the GARBAGE PAIL KIDS in TRASH VS. TRUCKS, the second book of four books in the hilarious, new, highly illustrated early chapter book series DOWN IN THE DUMPS, about three unlikely friends―a rotten banana, a broken tea pot, and a crusty blob of gunk―and their adventures together in the local town landfill. Oh no! The trucks are planning to move Nana’s beautiful home at the Westerfield Waste Transfer and Recycling Center. And to a trash barge of all places, too! Nana isn’t about to give up her beloved dump without a fight, but she’ll need a plan first. Will Nana and her trash friends be able to save their home and stop the trucks from taking apart everything they’ve worked so hard to build?TRASH VS. TRUCKS is the second book in the hilarious, highly illustrated new chapter book series DOWN IN THE DUMPS from beloved author-illustrator Wes Hargis. It’ll have even the most reluctant readers clamoring for more adventures!

Join your favorite characters from Animal Crossing™: New Horizons for all-new adventures in this official manga!What do the residents of Animal Crossing™: New Horizons get up to when you’re not around? Find out all about their antics in this hilarious manga filled with goofy gags and silly stories!Get ready for even more charming characters from Animal Crossing: New Horizons to show up for all the fun! K.K. Slider might even drop by the island!

Jorg Muhle小兔子互動硬頁書。可愛溫馨的睡前晚安故事，簡單圖文卻充滿吸引力，讓小寶貝不經意想要跟著小兔子一起躲進毛毯裡，大玩躲貓貓，不知不覺進入夢鄉。Join in with Little Rabbit, playing all the games that toddlers love in this new board book in the internationally bestselling Tickle My Ears interactive series that will have toddlers, adults and rabbits all playing together.Little Rabbit wants to play. He hides behind a blanket, then peeks out: Peek-a-boo! He splashes in the bath, swings back and forth, and plays with his own little rabbit too—one, two, three, whee, rabbit flies!Young children will love taking part in these familiar sequences and laugh at the cheeky finish, because Little Rabbit has grown up enough to play a joke on his readers.Jorg Muhle’s warm and accessible illustrations encourage children to take on all the roles in the story as they copy Little Rabbit. This new book in the bestselling interactive board book series will have toddlers jumping to play.Follow-on from Tickle My Ears: “A wonderful interactive bedtime book for children and l

Discover the unforgettable world of best friends Ivan and Bob in this gorgeous illustrated paperback box set, including the Newbery Medal-winning The One and Only Ivan and its bestselling sequel, The One and Only Bob!Ivan is an easy-going gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. Mostly, he thinks about art. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home--and his own art--through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.Continuing the story of these friends in The One and Only Bob, Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.The One an

The Wellington snow slide of 1910 was--and still is--the deadliest avalanche in America's history. Lauren Tarshis's story of one child surviving the frozen nightmare pounds with page-turning action and heartwarming hope.The snow came down faster than train crews could clear the tracks, piling up in drifts 20 feet high. At the Wellington train depot in the Cascade Mountains, two trains sat stranded, blocked in by snow slides to the east and west. Some passengers braved the storm to hike off the mountain, but many had no choice but to wait out the storm.But the storm didn't stop. One day passed, then two, three . . . six days. The snow turned to rain. Then, just after midnight on March 1, a lightning storm struck the mountain, sending a ten-foot-high wave of snow barreling down the mountain. The trains tumbled 150 feet. 96 people were dead.The Wellington avalanche forever changed railroad engineering. New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tells the tale of one girl who survive

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Robert Bailey comes a compelling legal thriller about a lawyer who takes on his sister's case--and confronts small-town secrets and family skeletons.Attorney Jason Rich has made a fortune off other people's bad luck. His billboard slogan--"In an accident? Get Rich!"--accosts motorists on highways from Alabama to Florida. As ambulance chasers go, he's exceptional.But after a recent divorce and a stint in rehab, Jason has hit a rough patch. And things only get worse when his sister, Jana, is accused of her husband's murder. Even though Jason has no experience trying criminal cases, Jana begs him to represent her.Jason has mixed feelings about returning to Lake Guntersville, Alabama--and even more reservations about diving back into his sister's life. Between the drugs, the affairs, and a tendency to gaslight everyone in her inner circle, Jana has plenty of enemies in town.But did Jana hire someone to kill her husband? Jason isn't so sure. He he

The study of analysis on dynamic capability of Tzu-Wen Chang specialty barista in Taiwan-Examples of the winners of World Coffee Champion（WCE）Generating positive online word of muoth vis brand impge and trust: The moderation role of perceived privacyCSR beauty in the eye of the beholder: Influences of retailer imahe congruency and consumer personal values

This new series of little books builds children's confidence with mathematical vocabulary and ideas and provides a foundation for learning in a way that feels good. Using carefully chosen words in relatable settings from the world around them, this book creates a moment for children and adults to discover first sorting words through dressing up and having fun. The engaging art style, fun characters and hardback picture book feel make this series accessible and perfect to share.Written and illustrated by the same winning team as 'Big Words for Little People', this series is special not only because it focuses on maths in a child-friendly way, but also because it's from Oxford, it's packed with educational goodness that helps children develop and grow.

This new series of little books builds children's confidence with mathematical vocabulary and ideas and provides a foundation for learning in a way that feels good. Using carefully chosen words in relatable settings from the world around them, this book creates a moment for children and adults to discover first counting words at a pizza party. The engaging art style, fun characters and hardback picture book feel make this series accessible and perfect to share.Written and illustrated by the same winning team as 'Big Words for Little People', this series is special not only because it focuses on maths in a child-friendly way, but also because it's from Oxford, it's packed with educational goodness that helps children develop and grow.

In this wonderfully festive picture book, Yuval Zommer imagines the Northern Lights' fleeting journey from space to Earth and how they weave a special magic for the animals and people living in the frozen lands below. From tiny specs of dust to gleaming rays in the dark, the Northern Lights travel across the Arctic, uniting every creature in a celebration that reverberates through land and sea.

It's time to snuggle down for a bedtime story with Elmer! In this chunky shaped board book, Elmer helps Baby Elephant find his lost teddy just in time for bed. Everybody needs their own special teddy bear at bedtime... have you got yours?A perfect introduction to the classicElmer and the Lost Teddystory for the very youngest readers, with an abridged text of the best-loved tale.

A series of chunky board books featuring things that go and sliding counters!Discover five different cars in this series of interactive board books with easy-to-use moving parts – a car, a sports car, a racecar, a four-wheel drive and a taxi!Learn vehicle vocabulary with simple first words, clear diagrams and helpful text prompts to encourage discussion. Then trace 5 types of transport around 5 different tracks with a moving counter on every spread and the cover. The perfect book for children who love racecars – and being in the driving seat!Other titles in the series include: Farm, Building Site and Trucks

Once teeming with plants and animals, our ocean is no longer in good shape. It's warming up and becoming a dumping ground for plastic rubbish. But it doesn't have to be that way! There are all sorts of clever things that we can do to make life in the ocean healthy again.

** Adapted into the Oscar-nominated film adaptation, An Cailin Ciuin / The Quiet Girl **From the author of the Booker-shortlisted Small Things Like These, a heartbreaking, haunting story of childhood, loss and love by one of Ireland's most acclaimed writers. 'A real jewel.' Irish Independent'A small miracle.' Sunday Times'A thing of finely honed beauty.' Guardian'Thrilling.' Richard Ford'As good as Chekhov.' David MitchellIt is a hot summer in rural Ireland. A girl is sent to live with foster parents on a farm, not knowing when she will return home.In the strangers' house, she finds a warmth and affection she has not known before and slowly begins to blossom in their care. But in a house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers how fragile her idyll is.

Sparkling new branding for The Worst Witch - the original magical boarding school series!The second hilarious adventure in the Worst Witch series.'I wonder,' said Miss Cackle, 'if there is any hope for you in this Academy, Mildred.'It's the Summer Term at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches and disaster-prone, trainee witch Mildred Hubble is in deep trouble again - all because of the new girl Enid Nightshade, who isn't nearly as sweet and innocent as she looks...

Look up! From the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of the Hat trilogy comes a new deadpan gem. Turtle really likes standing in his favourite spot. He likes it so much that he asks his friend Armadillo to come over and stand in it, too.But now that Armadillo is standing in that spot, he has a bad feeling about it... A hilarious meditation on the workings of friendship, fate, shared futuristic visions, and that funny feeling you get that there's something off somewhere, but you just can't put your finger on it. Merging broad visual suspense with wry wit and existential silliness, celebrated picture-book creator Jon Klassen gives us a wholly original comedy for the ages.

A beautiful and sensitive exploration of grief, loss and hope from Karl James Mountford, in his much-awaited author-illustrator debut. One day, Fox is drawn to something in the forest - it's something small, something silent, perhaps forgotten. It's a bird, as still as can be.Fox is confused, upset and angry - is the bird broken? But then a little moth comes along. Kind and wise and comforting, Moth shares a gentle philosophy: the story of the circles in the sky. Told with huge sensitivity and style, this story of grief and hope feels like a folk tale for modern times.

From a #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a sizzling, sweepingly romantic story filled with dangerous secrets, evil twins, and powerful magic. Now in paperback!One sister.Two sinful princes.Infinite deception with a side of revenge . . . Welcome to Hell.After selling her soul to become Queen of the Wicked, Emilia travels to the Seven Circles with the enigmatic Prince of Wrath, where she's introduced to a seductive world of vice.She vows to do whatever it takes to avenge her beloved sister, Vittoria . . . even if that means accepting the hand of the Prince of Pride, the king of demons.The first rule in the court of the Wicked? Trust no one. With back-stabbing princes, luxurious palaces, mysterious party invitations, and conflicting clues about who really killed her twin, Emilia finds herself more alone than ever before. Can she even trust Wrath, her one-time ally in the mortal world . . or is he keeping dangerous secrets about his true nature? Emilia will be tested in ever

In this tenth Henry Heckelbeck adventure, Henry enters a wintry contest!It's winter in Brewster and Henry Heckelbeck is ready for fun! Snowball fights, building snow friends, and drinking lots of hot chocolatewhat's not to love? But when Max sets up a winter wonderland contest, Henry finds that fun in the snow can be no fun. Can he put the win in winter with the help of a little magic? With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Henry Heckelbeck chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

The bestselling Cupcake Diaries series is now available in graphic novel format! In this adaptation of the second book, new girl Mia tries to find her place at the Cupcake Club's school.When Mia arrives at her new school, her goal is to be open to and friendly with everyone, but everyone at Park Street School fits into a clique. When the Popular Girls Club takes an interest in Mia's awesome fashion style and wants to recruit her, Mia must decide between them and her great new Cupcake Club friends. It's like choosing between her divorced mom and dad and her old house and new house. Is it always going to be Mia in the middle, or can she mix it up? Fun, bright, full-color graphic panels tell the story with the same humor and heart as the original novel.

In The Chinese Idea of a University: Phoenix Reborn, Rui Yang conceptualizes the cultural foundations of modern university development in Chinese societies. Instead of focusing on the uniqueness of the societies, this book aims to prove that one educational purpose could be fulfilled via many paths, and that most of the characteristics the university could be found in other institutions of higher learning. Citing the practices of four selected Chinese societies, Yang opposes the existence of an impassable chasm between Chinese and Western ideas of a university and argues that it is possible to combine Chinese and Western ideas of a university. Also, this book is one of the first in English to theorize the Chinese idea of a university. It links the historical events to the present, in a context of an enormous impact of Western academic models and institutions, from the beginning of modern universities in Chinese societies to the contemporary period.

繼《Winter in Sokcho》，作者又一探討認同與歸屬之作。韓裔人口聚集的日暮里，Claire的外祖父母守著一間傳統柏青哥。兩人拒絕和她以日語溝通，卻也對「回韓國看看」的提議反應冷淡。藉Claire視角，探詢離散者的故里他鄉、家族間的疏離，及語言與身分的連結。From the author of Winter in Sokcho, Winner of the 2021 National Book Award for Translated Literature.The days are beginning to draw in. The sky is dark by seven in the evening. I lie on the floor and gaze out of the window. Women’s calves, men’s shoes, heels trodden down by the weight of bodies borne for too long. It is summer in Tokyo. Claire finds herself dividing her time between tutoring ten-year-old Mieko, in an apartment in an abandoned hotel, and lying on the floor at her grandparents: daydreaming, playing Tetris and listening to the sounds from the street above. The heat rises; the days slip by.The plan is for Claire to visit Korea with her grandparents. They fled the civil war there over fifty years ago, along with thousands of others, and haven’t been back since. When they first arrived in Japan, they opened Shiny, a pachinko parlour. Shiny is

A brand new 'Who's in Your Book?' story from bestselling children's book author Tom Fletcher. OH, LOOK! A bear has wandered into your book!And - what's that noise? He's yawning! He looks like he's ready for bed. Can you help him drift off to sleep?This warm, gentle adventure combines interactive fun with a night-time routine to help little ones wind down before they go to bed.Who's in Your Book?Interactive adventures for big imaginationsAlso in this series:There's a Monster in Your Book: makes reading interactive and funThere's a Dragon in Your Book: explores empathy and responsibilityThere's an Alien in Your Book: explores acceptance and inclusionThere's an Elf in Your Book: explores following instructions and good/bad behaviourThere's a Superhero in Your Book: explores the power of kindnessThere's a Witch in Your Book: makes tidying up funThere's a Unicorn in Your Book: explores soothing your worries through sharing them

The third book in this hilarious and relatable bestselling series from the creator of Hurrah for Gin.Lottie Brooks is BACK for more extremely embarrassing adventures as she goes on holiday and gets her very first boyfriend!THINGS THAT ARE RUBBISH IN MY LIFE:· Have the most disgusting little brother in the entire world· Have to get braces when am on the brink of having my first kiss· Mum is making cottage pie for dinner. VOM.Finally summer has arrived and Lottie has BIG plans - scrolling through Instagram, dreaming about MEGA-crush Daniel and sunbathing by the pool on their family holiday to France.Then Lottie meets new CRUSH Antoine. The language is a tiny bit of a barrier but does it matter when he's THAT good looking?Readers LOVE Lottie Brooks:My daughter couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days. Read at breakfast, walking downstairs, tea time, in the bath.My 9-year-old daughter devoured it in two nights, and all I could hear from her was giggling and the occasional "Mum! Listen to

Brave knights, fire-breathing dragons, and underwear -- every kid's favorite things in one paperback picture book illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling artist Pete Oswald!Cole's wish comes true when he becomes an Assistant Knight to Sir Percival, his favorite Knight of King Arthur's Round Table. Cole learns how to ride a horse, swing a sword, cheer for Sir Percival when he goes to battle, and bandage his boo-boos when the battle is over. Cole loves practicing every skill a Knight-in-Training must master and he is determined to be granted knighthood.Sir Percival is a great knight in every way, except for one thing: He is terrified that an Underwear Dragon will come and destroy the kingdom. But when the unthinkable happens, Cole is the only knight left standing (and just an assistant knight at that!) Cole must use all of his newly acquired skills to battle the fearsome dragon and avoid a catastrophe. Luckily, an unfortunate underwear mishap changes everything and Cole triumphs in

A picture book biography celebrating the life and work of disability rights activist and icon Judith Heumann, highlighting one of her landmark achievements--leading the historic 504 Sit-in in 1977 From a very young age, Judy Heumann heard the word NO. When she wanted to attend public school, the principal said, "NO." When she wanted her teaching license, the New York Board of Education said, "NO." Judy and people with disabilities everywhere were tired of hearing "NO." In the 1970s an important disability rights law, Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, was waiting to be signed. Judy and other disability rights activists fought for "YES!" They held a sit-in until Section 504 was signed into law. Section 504 laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was established thanks in large part to the ongoing work of Judy and her community. Along with a personal reflection from Judy herself, this picture book biography captures the impact and influence of one o

From Geisel Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli comes a hilarious and mouth-watering history of pizza.Do YOU like PIZZA? Because right now, somewhere in the world, someone is eating it. Did you know that in the United States we eat 350 slices of pizza every second? Or that in Sweden they serve pizza with bananas and peanuts? All over the world, people love pizza―but where did it come from? And who made the first pizza?Join award-winning author and illustrator Greg Pizzoli as he travels through time and around the globe to discover the mouth-watering history of pizza. Bursting with color, flavor, and fun facts, Pizza!: A Slice of History reveals the delicious story of the world's best food.

From the multi-award winning author of The Bridge (BBC) and Marcella (Netflix, ITV) comes a blockbuster new thriller… A DEAD WOLFA DRUG DEAL GONE WRONGA LETHAL FEMALE ASSASSINHannah Wester, a detective in the remote northern Swedish town of Haparanda, finds herself on the precipice of chaos.When human remains are found in the stomach of a dead wolf, Hannah knows that this summer won’t be like any other. The remains are soon linked to a bloody drug deal that went down just across the border in Finland. But how did the victim end up in the woods outside Haparanda? And where have the drugs and money gone?Hannah and her colleagues are soon caught up in an increasingly complex investigation. But time is scarce and they aren’t the only ones looking.When the secretive and deadly Katja shows up, unexpected and brutal events start to pile up. In just a few days, life in the border town is turned upside down. Not least for Hannah, who is finally forced to confront her own past.

The third title in the laugh-out-loud series of picture books starring Bad Apple, a truly terrible piece of fruit. It's Granny Smith's birthday party and all the apples are invited. There's face painting, a pinata, a pile of presents and one of Snake's finest cakes...Bad Apple can't wait to spoil the fun! But it looks like this party pooper's luck might have run out. Pineapple has had enough of Apple's bad behaviour and is ready to teach him a lesson. In the third instalment of Huw Lewis Jones's hilarious series of picture books, a truly terrible piece of fruit is once more wreaking havoc far beyond the rim of the fruit bowl.Illustrated in a deadpan, painterly style by Ben Sanders, Party Pooper will entertain the entire family.

Explore the big outdoors in these action-packed animal board books with sliders on every page.Published in collaboration with the National Trust, this series of board books will inspire a love of nature in even the littlest of animal lovers. With vibrant artwork printed on white board, robust easy-to-use mechanisms for tiny hands and a rhyming text with friendly animal facts, these are the perfect books to captivate curious little explorers time and time again.In this first woodland book, there are shy deer to find hiding in the trees, a noisy woodpecker pecking on a tree trunk, moles digging holes and many more woodland creatures to bring to life with the moving parts.Other titles in the series include: Countryside, Seaside and River

I slide my hand into the crook of your arm, as you open your big brolly wide. We both can stay dry when the spring showers fall, if we dash through the drops, side by side... As spring turns to summer, and autumn turns to winter, we follow a little boy and his grandmother as they take delight in everything the changing seasons have to offer - from jumping in puddles, to tasting sweet ice lollies, to nestling under blankets on a cold, snowy night.But no matter the weather, whatever they do, their joy is in being together, in the small - but momentous - adventures that they share. With vivid illustrations and read-aloud words, this is a tender celebration of grandparent love from the duo behind the bestselling and acclaimed Pick a Pine Tree and Pick a Pumpkin.

You’d better not tickle the elephant... because it might just trumpet if you do! Little children will love pressing the touchyfeely patches to hear the animal sounds in this irresistible novelty book. As well as the elephant, there’s a wildebeest, a vulture and a jackal to tickle, before they all get noisy in a musical finale guaranteed to get everyone dancing.

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023ONE OF THE THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023The first book in the ‘criminally good’ Crookhaven series, the secret school where students are taught to do wrong, so that one day, they can put the world to rights.“So this is really a school for criminals.” It was meant as a question, though it came out more as an accusation.“We are so much more than that,” Caspian said, sitting in a plush leather chair and gesturing for Gabriel to sit in a similar one across the table. “We are a home for the forgotten, a sanctuary for the lost and … yes, a training ground for the greatest crooks of the future.”13-year-old Gabriel is a brilliant pickpocket, a skill which he uses to keep his often empty belly not quite so empty. And then one day, he’s caught.But instead of being arrested, he is invited by the mysterious Caspian Crook to attend Crookhaven – a school for thieves. At Crookhaven, students are trained in lock-picking, forgery