A Squirrelly Tangle

A Rusty Tales Book

When a storm blows their tree down, our three young red squirrels are taken by one big mistake, far away from home. 

Join them on their journey back, leaping and flying from one adventure to another…and making new friends along the way. 

A Squirrelly Tangle is a poem for everyone who loves the wonderful wildlife we share our world with.

A Summer's Tale

An adventure about the various animal characters in A Summer’s Tale in the beautiful setting of Snowdrop Hall, home to Lord and Lady Badger and their children. The adventure is full of fun, full of imagination, loveable animal characters with lots of magic, suspense and intrigue, as well as music, a memorable experience for all, but above all, a beautiful story that will draw the readers both young and old to be part of the amazing adventure and to join in, especially with the songs.

As always, the book has a strong conservation theme, this book is interlinked to the author’s other books. But the main message is that the book gives enjoyment, hope and happiness to all. After all, we are all children at heart.

A Tiger Called Luger

Luger was a handsome young tiger who, for some reason only known to him, just wasn’t happy with the way he looked! He tried everything he could to change the way he looked! He tried rubbing his stripes off, washing them off, covering them up with mud…because he wanted to look like someone else, like a lion.

Find out what happens next. Does Luger manage to hide his stripes?

Join Luger to learn about being yourself.

A Visit to the Zoo

Being a Lancastrian, I enjoyed Stanley Holloway’s ‘Albert and the Lion’ as a child and so resolved to attempt a monologue of my own. I chose the name Albert Ramsbottom in tribute to that earlier story, and my own tale is, in a manner of speaking, a sequel to it.

A Visit to the Zoo is based upon a true story that was recounted to me in a pub many years ago, which must have lurked in the back of my mind ever since. Something similar actually happened but I have adapted it to suit the character of Albert, the ‘hero’ of the yarn. I am almost ashamed to confess that Albert is a re-construct of myself as a boy, whilst his mother is the product of observing the adversities of parenting suffered by my own three daughters.

My wife and I took our niece, Lucy, to London Zoo, where we, too, were allowed to feed penguins. I can vouch for their voracious appetites and their complete absence of manners, together with the ready use of their beaks, and believe that this harrowing experience constitutes true in-depth research into the workings of a penguin’s mind.

I wrote the story to entertain my grandchildren, but I doubt if they enjoyed the telling as much as I enjoyed the writing. I do hope it makes you smile when reading it to your audience or yourself.

A Winter's Tale

One cold and frosty winter’s morning the animals in the pine and oak forest were busy gathering various berries, leaves, flowers, and fruits from their larders to be taken to Snowdrop Hall, in preparation of the annual winter festival. Come and join in the fun and find out what a magical time winter can be.

A Wish in Lockdown

Harriet, while in bed, said out loud that she wished she could have a lovely day out and forget all about the lockdown.

Immediately, a small Wish Fairy appeared and said she may grant her the wish. She then magically transported Harriett to her brother’s room where she told them that she would only grant the wish on four conditions:

1. The children didn’t mention they had seen a fairy.

2. They helped their mum and dad with the chores around the house.

3. They didn’t argue…

4. They completed all their school work for a whole week.

The children agreed but knew it would be difficult, particularly the no arguing part.

Could the children keep to the agreement?

At the end of the week did the Wish Fairy think they had been good enough for her to grant the wish?

Did their magical day out take place?

A Zebra Called Hoops

Hoops was one fine zebra! He was happy, he was healthy, he was fast, he was handsome…but he looked different to the other zebras…and they noticed.

Some of them said things to him that made him feel sad. Instead of his stripes running down his body from top to bottom, they ran across his body from head to tail! He didn’t feel any different but he looked different. When his best friend, Zac, decided to show the other zebras that Hoops was really no different inside than all of them, he worked out a special way to prove it to them!

Find out what happens next. What do you think happened that night? How do you think Zac showed the other zebras that Hoops wasn’t any different to them?

Join Hoops to learn about special needs.

A-Z of Animal Collectives

Have you ever wondered what a group of ants is called? Or a group of ducks? Or eagles? Or lizards? There is a whole world of amazing “collective nouns” to describe these groups. Some of them are very funny! Join us on an alphabetical journey through some strange scenarios, silly predicaments, and crazy situations, as animal groups from apes to zebu join together in a funny word world all their own! Language is a wonderful way to engage and amuse kids!
This book of 26 short verse poems plays with the sounds and images language produces for children and encourages imagination in the young reader.

Insects in a Rabble went out to play.
They put on their shoes, yellow and grey.
But a Mess of Iguanas had taken the swings,
And the sandpit and climbers and jumpity things.

Inspired by the inquisitive nature of children and their endless quest for answers, this sweet, funny book will ignite the love of language, reading and imagination in young readers everywhere!

Twelve Beds of Oysters lined up in a row,

Trying to sleep, though finding sleep slow,

Called out to a Parliament of Owls flying low,

“The moonlight is making us restless, you know.”

Ada and Emily

Ada and Emily are best friends and next-door neighbours. They love to engineer and build a variety of creations in Ada’s shed. One warm summer day whilst staring up at the sky, they realise what they want to do most is fly. They quickly get to work, turning a past project, a go-kart, into their very own aeroplane in which they can take to the skies and have amazing adventures.

Join Ada and Emily as they plan and build their aeroplane, become aircraft engineers and pilots, and take their first flights.

Adam and Isaac - The Five Stones

Adam and Isaac are brothers who like to spend time together having fun. While doing so they find out about mathematics in a fun way in the real world. They gently help each other to find the answers to questions they ask themselves. They are enthusiastic in their thinking and offer clear reasoning which is easy to understand.

Their stories offer a new approach to learning the basic skills and understanding to the subject. Children will enjoy the story without realising they are learning about mathematics. The illustrations are designed to clearly show their path in reasoning and learning.

This book is ideal for teachers to use in school with young children as an introduction to multiplication, either in a maths lesson or at story time. However, it is also perfect for parents/carers to use at home as a bedtime story, which can lead on to some fun while learning about mathematics.

Adventures in Willow Woodland

Willow Woodland is a beautiful place where lots of different animals live. It’s a friendly, fun and exciting place where anything is possible and everyone is welcome.

It was a beautiful bright sunny morning and the birds were all awake singing loud for the Woodland to hear. It was the perfect day for a surprise birthday party! Heather Hedgehog thought to herself.

Everyone was excited for today because everyone enjoyed a good party and they always had the best adventures when they were together.

Heather Hedgehog has planned this day for a very long time, will everything go to plan? Even with clumsy Harry Hare helping to set up the party with balloons, hats, games, and of course, a cake, because you need to have a cake if you’re having a birthday party, don’t you?

You're invited too, so come join Heather Hedgehog, Barry Badger and Harry Hare for a fun day, but remember it’s a secret so don’t tell Susie Squirrel.

Adventures of the Magical Leaf

When I wrote this book it was my intention to give some hope and encouragement. These past couple of years have been trying and very difficult to many people, and we need to be able to continue and never lose hope despite the adversities.

This book is about a leaf spreading happiness in dark places. It is about how, with a little bit of hope and never giving up, you are able to overcome your challenges in the end.