New Releases by Jonny Zucker

Hatton Rangers''s new golden boy, Nat Dixon is still basking in the glow of his dramatic end to the last Premier League season when the team are invited to play in a mini-tournament in Spain. Nat is still on edge trying to hide the truth about his age from his team-mates and the outside world, especially when he fears it might have been leaked. And he soon discovers that his host family in Spain are covering up a secret of their own. Can Nat get to the bottom of it before something disastrous happens? And who is the mysterious man following him? Meanwhile, on the pitch Nat faces a brute of a Spanish defender, who is determined not to let Nat show him up. Packed with action on and off the field, this is a high-energy adventure story.

Mr Blast teaches History in a very different way to other teachers. He takes you there! This is an incredibly accessible series for reluctant readers - pitched at a low reading age of between 6 and 7. The First Flight collection offers a variety of different text types including fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry, so is well placed to cater for many interests and abilities to absorb text. Stories range from shipwrecks, surfing and ghosts to monsters, robots and aliens on earth, plus non-fiction topics include rollercoasters, animals and the biggest lies ever.

Carol has drawn the most realistic comic book monster ever - Glob! But is he too real? Carol and her friend, Ned, find they are in a bit of a mess! This is an incredibly accessible series for reluctant readers - pitched at a low reading age of between 6 and 7. The First Flight collection offers a variety of different text types including fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry, so is well placed to cater for many interests and abilities to absorb text. Stories range from shipwrecks, surfing and ghosts to monsters, robots and aliens on earth, plus non-fiction topics include rollercoasters, animals and the biggest lies ever.

Keesha and Carl must find a way to rescue their Dad and his fellow workers. They are trapped down a mine with no way out. This is an incredibly accessible series for reluctant readers - pitched at a low reading age of between 6 and 7. The First Flight collection offers a variety of different text types including fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry, so is well placed to cater for many interests and abilities to absorb text. Stories range from shipwrecks, surfing and ghosts to monsters, robots and aliens on earth, plus non-fiction topics include rollercoasters, animals and the biggest lies ever.

Just after a garden centre opens up in Nick and Zoe''s town they both realise that the people who visit come out differently. They must find out who, or what, is behind all this... and fast. Each title in Full Flight Adventure is only 32 pages, and the text is broken down into bite-sized chunks to make it manageable for struggling and reluctant readers. The target reading age is 7.5-8 and the interest age is 8-14. Readers will find an array of adventurous stories to catch their interest, including hypnotic plants, living robots, white water rafting, the Wild West, lurking monsters, space travel and aliens on earth.

Yasin and Mariam are helping their dad on his fishing boat when suddenly the boat is taken by pirates! Shop Shut Jenni and her dad have moved to the UK from Poland. Jenni''s dad finds it hard to attract customers to his shop until one day Jenni has a plan. The Travellers series has the lowest reading level of all our reluctant reader collections - age 5-8. The stories are incredibly short - only 100-300 words each, and each book in the set of 14 titles contains 2-3 stories. Collecting the stories in this way gives more of an appearance of a ''real'' book even though the stories are bite-sized, which helps to make the reader feel less self-conscious that they are reading something ''specialised''. The language level throughout this set of books is very low, and features such as short sentences, line spacing and illustrations help to create an encouraging experience for the reader.

Atash and Gulnar are the star players on their schools basketball team. They are playing against Mayland and no matter how hard they try they just can''t beat them, but are Mayland playing by the rules? Water Life Salima lives in a beautiful village in Ethiopia that is visited by a group of water engineers. They try to help her village with a new water supply. The new tap does not work, but Salima has an idea that may help. The Travellers series has the lowest reading level of all our reluctant reader collections - age 5-8. The stories are incredibly short - only 100-300 words each, and each book in the set of 14 titles contains 2-3 stories. Collecting the stories in this way gives more of an appearance of a ''real'' book even though the stories are bite-sized, which helps to make the reader feel less self-conscious that they are reading something ''specialised''. The language level throughout this set of books is very low, and features such as short sentences, line spacing and illustrations help to create an encouraging experience for the reader.

Mac is desperate to try out his older brother''s new Jet pack and borrows it without asking. But what is Mac to do when the jet pack breaks down and there are only seconds to spare before he crashes? Badger''s Gripping Stories series is an imaginative collection of supernatural mysteries and thrilling page-turners, all designed with reluctant readers in mind. Features of the series include an introduction to difficult vocabulary, bold illustrations, a facts page and questions at the end of the story to ensure comprehension. Readers can enjoy stories about: other-worldly monsters, fanatical villains, alien racing, futuristic technology, football and friendship amidst war.

The Runway series contains 12 books, each including 2-3 manageable stories on varying topics. The stories have very low word counts and a reading age of just 6-7, so are perfect for reluctant or struggling readers between 9 and 13 with a short attention span. The stories are set in varying environments, from schools and museums to streets, forests, haunted houses and space ships, and feature a wide range of people from different cultural backgrounds. Each story is illustrated, with a vocabulary page and questions at the back to further encourage engagement and understanding.

Fifteen-year-old Rex Jones and his friends Dave and Carl are transported by Rex''s mysterious cell phone onto a soccer team that is headed for the championships--if they can avoid being killed by a bully on the opposing team.

While looking for his running shoes before a race at school, fifteen-year-old Rex Jones is transported by his mysterious cell phone to the Olympics, where a strange man gives him a new pair of shoes just before he competes in the 100-meter final.

Rex and his friends are transported to a pirate ship.

Rex is transported to the backstage of a cool new club.

An irreverent take on Britain''s best-selling guide to the rules of the road.

Wood End are the worst team in the league. The coach is desperate and the team is depressed. Until one day, when a strange meeting in the school grounds leads to unexpected success. This is an incredibly accessible series for reluctant readers - pitched at a low reading age of between 6 and 7. The First Flight collection offers a variety of different text types including fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry, so is well placed to cater for many interests and abilities to absorb text. Stories range from shipwrecks, surfing and ghosts to monsters, robots and aliens on earth, plus non-fiction topics include rollercoasters, animals and the biggest lies ever.

Keisha''s MP3 player is the coolest thing ever, but it seems to have a mind of its own. First it flashes funny numbers, and then it seems to be stealing her thoughts. What''s at the bottom of this high-tech mystery? Badger''s Full Flight Girl Power is a series of 10 girl-centred stories aimed specifically at a female audience. They are reluctant readers with a reading age of 7.5-8.5 but include characters and storylines that would appeal to an interest age of 8-14. The female protagonists are relatable and the stories are varied and thoughtful, including issues surrounding friends, family and bullying, with narratives about snowboarding, judo, fashion, dance, rock climbing, mysteries and supernatural peril.

Nick Jones was all set to win the skateboard competition. That is, until bully Dan Abbot stepped in and dashed his chances. With no board, Nick has no hope. And time is running out... This hi-lo series contains intriguing and stimulating content for reluctant readers aged 12-14 with a lower reading age of 7.5-8. Aptly named Dark Flight, this set of ten short novels contain such chilling topics as soul-sucking monsters, a deadly burger bar, a girl with a stone cold stare, a ghost spaceship and a terrifying game that feels all too real. We hope that the gripping nature of these stories will allow readers - however reluctant - to achieve that sense of satisfaction and confidence that comes from finishing a book.

Emma Stone is the new girl in school. Why does she always wear sunglasses when the others are not allowed? Gail and Tanya are determined to find out, but Emma''s cold stare is more than they had bargained for. This hi-lo series contains intriguing and stimulating content for reluctant readers aged 12-14 with a lower reading age of 7.5-8. Aptly named Dark Flight, this set of ten short novels contain such chilling topics as soul-sucking monsters, a deadly burger bar, a girl with a stone cold stare, a ghost spaceship and a terrifying game that feels all too real. We hope that the gripping nature of these stories will allow readers - however reluctant - to achieve that sense of satisfaction and confidence that comes from finishing a book.

Pocket Chillers is part of Pocket Reads, a superb collection of quality books that really capture children''s imaginations! Pocket Reads have fantastic breadth and variety of genre, with Pocket Facts, Pocket Tales and Pocket Sci-Fi making up the rest of the collection of independent readers. The fiction books are beautifully illustrated and are guaranteed to appeal to even the most reluctant of readers. The non-fiction readers are equally as stunning and will captivate and excite children with fascinating facts. The 105 pocket-sized fiction and non-fiction readers have each been carefully levelled to the National Curriculum and Book-Banded to ensure children make progression. You can therefore be assured that every reading experience is one that counts.

A simple introduction to the Muslim season of Ramadan and Eid. Follow a family as they fast each day, go to the mosque on the Night of Power, and enjoy a delicious feast to celebrate the beginning of Eid. This pre-school series introduces young children to world religions and focuses on the way the festival is celebrated today. There is detailed historical and cultural information at the end for parents and teachers.

This is a simple introduction to the Jewish festival of Passover - suitable for even the very youngest child. Follow a family as they prepare the six different types of food on the Seder plate, ask four questions and hunt for the Afikoman to celebrate their festival of freedom.

Western Lions are on top of the league. When Langham Jets get a new coach, however, Western begin to seem less secure. Baffled by Langham''s revival, Jim and Ali discover a far more sinister plot. This stimulating and fast-paced set of ten books is designed especially to appeal to reluctant and struggling readers. From sprinting to space to technology, we are confident that there is a topic in this series to appeal to all tastes. Packed full of exciting stories as well as some dynamic non-fiction, this series makes reading a less daunting experience for those who are usually unwilling or struggle with the activity.

January 1941. The middle of the Blitz. Ned and Harry Jennings are convinced there''s something strange going on at number 46. The boys know they have to prove that the mysterious, pale face at the window is real. But what is it that waits for them in the ruins..? The Full Flight Impact series covers themes such as football, basketball, rollercoaster mayhem, aliens and futuristic worlds, ancient Rome and Blitz England. The stories, poetry, plays and non-fiction have been carefully crafted for reluctant readers aged 8-14 with a much lower reading age; their features include a contents page, illustrations, short sentences and line breaks.

Jonny Zucker has provided another breathtaking collection of modern poems, on topics ranging from football to families, that are guaranteed to amuse. With works by popular poets such as Brian Moses, David Orme, Wes Magee and Celia Warren, Stop Talking at the Back provides a feast of quality poems. The Full Flight Impact series covers themes such as football, basketball, rollercoaster mayhem, aliens and futuristic worlds, ancient Rome and Blitz England. The stories, poetry, plays and non-fiction have been carefully crafted for reluctant readers aged 8-14 with a much lower reading age; their features include a contents page, illustrations, short sentences and line breaks.

A simple introduction to the festival of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Follow a family as they celebrate the festival by eating apples and honey, hearing the shofar and planning for a sweet and joyful year ahead. This pre-school series introduces young children to world religions and focuses on the way the festival is celebrated today. There is detailed historical and cultural information at the end for parents and teachers.

Focusing on Chanukah, the Jewish festival of light, this book is part of pre-school series looking at Jewish festivals. This book looks at the way the festival is celebrated today, with simple text and bright illustrations of a family taking part.

Tom is looking forward to his summer holiday with his best mate Jeyram, when his American cousin Ben e-mails him to say that he''s coming to visit. Tom''s forgetful mother hasn''t told him, and he views Ben''s visit with horror. This tale of friendship and bullying reaches its climax when an unexpected kung-fu expert saves the day. Full Flight Variety showcases different text types including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and one play, in order to maximise engagement and reinforce the diversified joys of reading. This series of ten books caters to an interest age of 8-14 with a reading age as low as 7.5. There is much in the subject matter to interest reluctant readers, including mysteries, aliens, and various sports.