Monthly Archives: June 2016

Teachers and pupils across the country love the great titles that we provide every term. But who are the people that keep those brand-new Badger Learning Books coming by the boxful every year? We caught up with Kerry from our Book Collections Development Team and Danny from the Publishing Team to learn what it takes to source suitable titles for teachers.

In the year 2320 the Great Disaster happened.

A nuclear war destroyed all the main towns and cities of the world. The water dried up and the world became one big desert. Then a plague came.

Welcome to Omak's world.

Omak rescues an old man from a pack of ravenous Snappers. The old man gives Omak a map as a reward. It's a map to unlimited petrol and oil, a dream come true in Omak's desert world.

But do dreams come true anymore? Is it more likely to be a nightmare?

Due to the richness of Jon Mayhew's bleak, dystopian landscape in the much-loved Death Road, we asked him to write another story set in the same world. And so we bring you Death Wheels. Note that this is not a sequel, and can be enjoyed as a standalone novel like all the other Teen Reads from Badger Learning.

With an invitingly creepy, modern cover and the look and feel of a 'real' book, all at a pared down word count of 7,000 with spread out text, this book can't fail to attract teenage

How would you approach an angry dragon?

This exciting new instalment of The League of Enchanted Heroes sees Jack, Tom Thumb, Hansel, Gretel and Red Riding Hood pooling their collective resources to recover some treasure from a greedy, grumpy dragon. Aren't you keen to know how beanstalks will feature?

As with all the stories in The League of Enchanted Heroes series, Dragon Danger is appropriate for reluctant readers aged 9-12, reading at a lower level of about 6-7. Author Tim Collins and illustrator James Lawrence have done an amazing job of creating a series that is as engaging as it is accessible.

Check out the cover for this title below, as well as some info about Tim and James.

Tim Collins has written over fifty books, including, Cosmic Colin, Dorkius Maximus, Monstrous Maud and Wimpy Vampire. His other titles for Badger Learning include Natural Disasters, Hip-Hop, The History of Cats and Dogs, The Secrets of Magic and Gladiators. His books have been

What would you do if you could temporarily take someone's pain away?

What if they were begging you for your help, would you help them?

Could you stand there and watch someone suffer knowing that you're a painkiller?

In a world where diseases are rife, technology has stopped working and all hospitals are closed, Esme is one of a small group of gifted individuals who can temporarily take someone's pain away.

With bounty hunters scouring the country trying to capture painkillers for the rich and powerful, will Esme make it to a safe haven?

Popular author Tim Collins has written another fantastic Teen Read for struggling readers.

Painkiller is one of ten titles in our new series of Teen Reads which feature a dyslexia-friendly design with bite-sized, generously spaced chunks of text, making them an accessible read for students with a reading age of 8-9.

About the Author

Tim Collins is originally from Manchester, but now lives near

Jack Mayer used to be an ordinary schoolboy, but when he crossed into Anotherland he became Jack the Giant Slayer. Together, he and his friends Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Hansel, Gretel, and Tom Thumb form The League of Enchanted Heroes, the greatest crime-fighting team in the world.

The team are under attack, blue flames are relentlessly being fired at them – by GRETEL!

Hansel tries his best to talk to his sister, but she won't listen.

Why is Gretel attacking her friends?

How can they stop her?

Tap into Tim Collins's imagination and join him in Anotherland to discover the adventures he has in store for his readers. James Lawrence's fantastic illustrations equal the writer's ingenuity and make this series enthralling for reluctant readers!

Creepy Curse has been written specifically to capture the interest of 9-12 year olds with a reading age of 6-7. This series of eight books can all be read as standalone titles, but rest assured, once your

In an age when many teenagers envy the fame and fortune of celebrities, Fascination, written by Daniel Blythe, shows how easy it is to get swept up with all the glitz and glamour of the celebrity world, but is it everything Maya dreams of?

Maya can't believe her luck. Magnus Gold - THE Magnus Gold - has seen her YouTube videos and has heard her songs; he wants to make her a superstar!

All it means is leaving her old life behind her and transforming her existence as she knows it.

Alfie, her best friend, doesn't like it. He knows something's not quite right, but what? Maya is getting everything she has dreamed about, and everything Magnus has promised her has come true.

But she's different, it's like Magnus has control of her...

Daniel Blythe has written a fantastic novel that will capture the interest of teenagers everywhere! With a word count of 7,000, this instalment of Teen Reads V will keep its readers hooked until the end.

Following the

Tom Thumb is trapped inside the belly of a giant. He's sinking into stinky stomach acid and time is running out.

Jack, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel need to find a way to rescue him.

And fast.

Talk about being in a sticky spot! Digest that!

Puns aside, Queasy Quest is one of our eight brand new titles for The League of Enchanted Heroes by Tim Collins. We are confident that reluctant readers will be amused and engrossed right to the end of this story, which, as well as being punchy and engaging, is brought alive by James Lawrence's quirky illustrations.

The simple sentence structure and accessible language makes the stories in this series ideal for readers aged 9-12 who are reading at a level of 6-7 years. And despite being short, they are styled like 'real' books, so those who read them can gain self-confidence without feeling like outsiders.

Check out the brilliant cover for this story below. Who wouldn't want to read about

Tanith has a disease that affects the world around her. She makes wood rot, plants wither and metal rust.

Samira takes pity and tries to make friends with her, but she has no idea what she's getting herself into.

She's soon to find out a dark secret that will change the way she sees everything.

This brand new Teen Read from Tim Collins holds mystery and intrigue right up until the final page. Even reluctant readers will be engrossed by this spine-tingling story, which is creepy and tragic in equal measures.

At a manageable word count of roughly 6,000, Wasteland has the modern and inviting appearance of a typical teenage novel, but with a spine width that will not intimidate less confident readers. The text is set at a reading level of 8-9 and the line breaks and clear font provide a manageable means for the reader to digest the story.

Wasteland is just one of the ten diverse new titles in Teen Reads V. Check back here for updates and synopses on each

Join Rapunzel and her friends, The League of Enchanted Heroes, as they carry out a daring rescue of a handsome prince who's being held captive in a high tower!

Tim Collins's Risky Rescue is one of eight titles in Badger Learning's new series which has been specifically written for reluctant readers with a reading age of 6-7. This fantastic, humorous series follows the team as they set off into Anotherland to battle their evil foes.

With bright, colourful illustrations by James Lawrence, the pictures encourage the reader to turn the page whilst portraying the amusing stories which are sure to capture the interest of 9-12 year olds. With a word count of no more than 750, Risky Rescue is an accessible read for struggling readers and will capture the imagination of boys and girls alike.

We’re known for our stories – but we thought it was about time we told our own tale – how Badger Learning began and became what it is today.