17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore

All the grown-ups in Ivan's village wear a hat that shows what they love most. Because Ivan's father is the hatmaker, Ivan gets to watch his father create a hat that is perfect for each person. Ivan wonders what kind of hat he will have. Will he be a musician? A baker? A palace guard?

Ivan doesn't need to worry about his future because his father, the hatmaker who loves him most, shows him that there is only one hat-and one life-created just for him.

"Punchy dialogue and compact sentences should make this a read-aloud delight."—Publishers Weekly

"Part-slapstick, part-fairy tale, the gently humorous plot has enough twists and turns to keep newly independent readers engaged."—School Library Journal

Fred the dragon has a list of tasks he must complete in order to be a successful dragon—none of which comes naturally. But he's determined to make #5—eat people—work. Before you can say "pass the salt" he's gobbled up three people even though he doesn't have the stomach for it. Luckily a local shepherd, with the help of a giant and a witch, knows how to cure what ails him and get those pesky people out of his belly. It's happily-ever-after for everyone in ways you'd never expect.

Geisel award-winning author/illustrator Geoffrey Hayes is a stepped reader maestro. The common threads between his wildly popular Uncle Tooth and Otto SIRs and the more recent Benny and Penny series (Toon Books) are clear and constant. The art is adorable, the characters are bursting with personality, and the stories are humorously subversive. From marauding pirates to misbehaving mice to a dragon who swallows people whole (and then continues to communicate with them in his belly!), Geoffrey always hits that sweet spot for the stepped reader audience—easy to decode, illustrative tales that tickle the funnybone.

Christie's old organ is a heartwarming story about a young boy who is on a search to find out how his dear old friend can get to “home, sweet home.” One of the most famous children’s novels of the Victorian era. Filled with emotion, this uplifting story tells of the unique friendship between a poor, homeless boy and a sick old organ grinder. A salvation story.

Meet The Author

Amy Catherine Walton, better known as Mrs O F Walton, was a British author of Christian children's and teenage books, mainly but not exclusively fiction. Then in 1874 came one of her best known books, Christie's Old Organ, which has been regularly reprinted up to the present day. It is the story of orphaned Christie and his friend the aged organ-grinder Treffy.