The Queen's Pawns

Children were often badly treated in the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth – that’s no surprise. Those who were lucky enough to go to school had their wildness beaten out of them by their school masters. That was the way to force learning into their heads. Most boys laboured on the farm from seven years old and the girls would do household crafts or work as the most junior of maid-servants in the richer households. In London, they might earn a few pennies by working as errand boys or selling watercress, matches, sprats or oysters on the street. Some became shoeblacks, lamplighters, chimney sweeps or deckhands. Life was not easy for them.It’s more shocking that the Queen herself had a hand in the mistreatment of children. She was well known for her love of music. She played the virginals and lute and claimed to have composed dance music. As a singer herself in an age when the arts were enjoying a new dawn it is perhaps not particularly astonishing that she should want to set up a first-class choir to sing for her in the Chapels Royal.What strikes a harsher note is that, by her edict of 1597, she gave permission for agents of hers to take children from wherever in England they happened to be and to have them trained for her in the art and science of music and singing. Some of the men she appointed were prepared to use strong-arm tactics to pounce on their victims and snatch them from their homes. Knowing how the Queen loved the theatre these predators thought to make money for themselves by putting their young choristers on the stage.On the way to his London school in December, 1600, this was the fate that overtook Thomas Carlton. He was doubly shocked to be captured as a chorister because he had never thought of himself as a musician. Sir Henry Carlton, once he discovered where Thomas was and who had snatched him, contacted friends of his in high places. They arranged for the kidnappers to be charged and tried in the Star Chamber. The outcome of the trial did not please Thomas at all. The Queen’s Pawns is about the way his fate prompted him to become involved in bringing justice to those who could not fight for their rights as he could.

The Pack is Back

Three Labrador puppies face steep life challenges as they discover their identity, learn to overcome conflict and rebuild their pack.The stories are based on the author’s close observation of the dogs’ behaviour as they respond to jealousy, conflict, being lost, found, hurt, healed, grief, friendship and the joy of belonging to their pack.Children want to know about real life, and the dogs’ experiences provide a window to children’s own highs and lows, safely at one remove.The seven illustrated stories tell a big tale about canine and human life, today and in the deep past.The stories begin when the dogs were born, when they were One Litter with One Mother.As puppies, they were taken to separate homes. The One Pack family was lost.Everything in the stories really happened, just as it is told.

The Little Book of 101 Wise Words for Children

“A child is not a child if she does not know the meaning of fun.”

“When the child knows how to have fun, it cushions him to the ups and downs of life.”

Dear Child,

From the moment you were born, no matter where you came from, you have alongside within you a power waiting to be unleashed. The world is your playground and like the rainbows that you see behind the clouds, you can apply as many colours as you wish to make your own life colourful.

You are loved and every small step that you make counts. Once you dream, you should not be afraid to make that first step. Whether or not someone believes in you, but your dream is true to you, then do not be shy and give it a try. For every huge success started from that first, small step.

It is for you that I wrote this book to have fun and be free to pursue your dreams and to live life happily!

Lindzy McQueen

The Life and Times of Victoria-Ann Penny

This is a memoir of Victoria-Ann Penny and, as you may have guessed, she is a Victorian penny. This is her story, as best she can remember it. She is well over a 100 years old so her memory might be just a little bit hazy.
Born towards the end of Queen Victoria’s reign Miss Penny recounts various historical events in the 20th century including world wars and the first moon landing.
She also travelled around various countries and the British Isles with her ‘owners’ and gives her impressions of the things she saw. 
Reader, I do hope you enjoy her escapades.

The Flying School Begins

In this third book of a series, the community are trying to set up a flying school to teach the young elves and fairies how to fly. Alfred helps them set up a camp for the participants. Billy and Lionel are invited to attend and help out. Madam Erle is up to her tricks causing concern as usual. Her grandson Tristan is lost and there is a search for him. Finally, they have a graduation to celebrate: the flying school graduates.

The Bush Wood Valley Gang

This is a tale of a little mouse who, against all odds, survives many dangerous situations. He then discovers a new-found family friendship with a gang of orphans in Bush Wood Valley. Having lost his own near family, he quickly gets acquainted with his new-found family and gains higher status in the gang through his very positive attitude.

There’s a Mouse in the House

Aaron the mouse enters the house and runs up the clock. When the clock strikes one, the mouse runs down and befriends Mike, the boy who lives there. They become the best of friends. But Tom, the cat, gets jealous and tries to scare Aaron the mouse away as he feels he was there first. Little does Tom know that Aaron is not scared at all and returns to the house with a big surprise! This is a humorous and entertaining little book with clever rhymes.

There’s a Monster in the Cupboard

Embark on a whimsical adventure and meet Buckeroo, the mischievous monster lurking in the cupboard, eagerly awaiting playtime! But beware when you swing open the door, for he might unleash a fearsome ‘boo-hoo!’ Yet, with a dash of caution and a peek through the crack, you’ll discover that this monster is far from frightful. In fact, he’s friendly and simply seeking amusement.

In this enchanting tale, children will learn a valuable lesson about appearances and fears. Buckeroo’s transformation from a perceived threat to a joyful playmate teaches young readers that things are not always as scary as they may seem. As they befriend the monster, children will understand that fear itself is the true adversary to conquer.

The Yellow Cat in The Blue Suit

The Yellow Cat is one of the friendliest cats that you could ever hope to meet! He is very sociable and likes to take real pride in his appearance.

I hope that you will enjoy this little story book.

The Worms

Worms occupy all sorts of environments and creatures in nature, for all sorts of reasons. This book follows the lives and habits (some good, some not so good – from a human’s perspective) of a group (a ‘clew’) of worms of very different types and characters who live in a regular, if somewhat quiet and sometimes messy, garden. The worms are always busy (no, not really); sometimes disgusting (quite often); mischievous (a couple, definitely); intelligent (of course, what would you expect?); always clean (pass!); and friendly (Oh, for sure). Give yourself, family and friends, worms!

The Wild Ones

The stars of this book live all around you. You may not have noticed that cockatoo in your clothesline and realised he has a brilliant military mind. He may be plotting right now how to steal your lunch. And that cute, cuddly-looking possum – he would rather bite your hand than enjoy a tasty treat from you. Watch out! You may not have realised that those magpies in your garden are telling their kids all about you and your family. They know who is good for a feed and who is a dangerous baby magpie killer. Or at least they think they do. They have probably trained your dog and frightened your cat. There are so many characters out there living wild and uncivilised lives, having romances and adventures, teaching their young and protecting them, hiding from you or maybe even trying to make friends with you. Open up this book for a little inside view into their world.

The Wheels on the Bus

This wacky animal alphabet story is best sung to the well-known tune…The Wheels on the Bus.

The bus is empty, so will the cat, the dog, the elephant, the frog, the goat, the horse, the ibis, the jelly fish and the koala catch up before nightfall?

When will this animal alphabet nonsense finish? Sing along to discover…

…where all small children must drift as the sun goes down.