Michelle is proud to be published by Barrington Stoke, the foremost publisher of super-readable short fiction by some of the very best children’s authors and illustrators in the UK.
Each title has a host of unique accessibility features to offer cracking reads to more children including reluctant and struggling readers and those with dyslexia or visual stress.
Click on the book jackets to buy the books!
The Front Room
Written by Michelle Magorian, illustrated by Vladimir Stankovic
Reading Age: 7+, Interest Age: Teen
ISBN: 978-1-78112-501-4
Hannah and her family are on holiday – the holiday from hell. Every night Hannah can a ghostly presence in her room, creeping closer and closer. But Mum and Dad don’t believe her. Will she ever find out what happened in the front room?
Information for Adults: This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy it. It has been edited to a reading age of 7.
It features a removable ‘super-readable’ sticker.
Review from LoveReading4Kids.com by Andrea Reece
There’s more than one ghost in Michelle Magorian’s genuinely creepy new short novel. Hannah, her mum and dad and little brother are on holiday and she’s sure there’s a sinister presence in their little holiday flat. But her mum and dad are distracted, ever since Mum lost the baby they’ve been snapping at each other, and they won’t believe her. It’s only when they do that Hannah can escape the ghost and find a way to acknowledge the loss of the baby too. Magorian explores family relationships with typical sensitivity and insight and there’s lots to think about in this spare, economically written novel, as well as moments to send shivers down the spine.
In At The Deep End
Reading Age: 7, Interest Age: 8-12
ISBN: 978-1-78112-502-1
Ben knows he’s taking on a lot, offering to do the first hundred lengths of the swimathon himself, but he’s desperate to impress Jack and Harry. But as he swims – and swims – Jack realises that his ‘friends’ aren’t going to show. Now he either has to forfeit the race or swim another hundred lengths!
Information for Adults: This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy it. It has been edited to a reading age of 7.
It features a removable ‘super-readable’ sticker.
Review from LoveReading4Kids.com by Andrea Reece
There is real depth to Michelle Magorian’s story of a young boy taking part in a sponsored swim at his local pool. Ben is set to swim 100 lengths, then his mates Jack and Harry will finish the relay doing 50 lengths each. He’s a bit disdainful of the other swimmers, the loudly enthusiastic group of teenagers determined to complete it in record time, and Betty the old lady – ‘wrinkly’ as Harry and Jack would say – in the next lane. But he revises his opinion after he finishes his laps and there’s still no sign of his so-called friends. With Betty’s encouragement he complete all 200 laps himself. It gives him a sense of achievement that changes the way he thinks about himself. An insightful book from an author who really understands human nature.
The Smile
Interest Age: 5-8
ISBN: 978-1-78112-500-7
Josh is finding it hard to like his new little brother. A tender tale with family at its heart.
Information for Grown-Ups: This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy it.
Review from LoveReading4Kids.com by Andrea Reece
Poor Josh, he’s being tortured by his baby brother. Charlie may only be 17 days old but he’s really making Josh angry: he keeps everyone awake all night; he takes all their parents’ attention; they’ve had to move house, and no-one has time to unpack, let alone decorate Josh’s room. But over the course of one night, Josh comes to love his brother so fiercely he knows he’d dive into icy waters to save him. It’s a beautifully observed slice of family life told with genuine warmth, and without a trace of sentimentality. Sam Usher’s illustrations of the two brothers are gorgeous too. A special book for sharing or for children to read on their own