0:00:27 > 0:00:29Ice creams! Get your ice creams!
0:00:29 > 0:00:32It's a lovely sunny day!
0:00:35 > 0:00:40I don't think I'm fooling anyone. Have you ever told a little lie?
0:00:40 > 0:00:42How about a big one?
0:00:42 > 0:00:46Well, I bet it's not as big as the whopper that starts off this brilliant book, Cosmic.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Liam, he's the boy who's told the whopper,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55leaves this phone message for his mum and dad.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59"Mum, Dad, if you're listening,
0:00:59 > 0:01:04"you know I said I was going to the South Lakeland Outdoor Activity Centre with the school?
0:01:04 > 0:01:08"To be completely honest, I'm not exactly in the Lake District.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13"To be completely honest, I'm more sort of... in space.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16"I'm on this rocket, the Infinite Possibility.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20"I'm about 200,000 miles above the surface of the Earth."
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Yep, you heard right, Liam is supposed to be on a school trip.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Instead, he's on a rocket.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31A rocket with a kind of intergalactic ice cream van attached to it.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- In space! Imagine how he must be feeling. - BEEPING
0:01:34 > 0:01:37RUMBLING
0:01:37 > 0:01:42What?! Argh! Argh!
0:01:47 > 0:01:53Argh! Wargh! I guess, a little bit like this! Argh! Argh!!
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Whoa! Whoa!
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Liam only gets to go on the rocket cos he's so tall he tells everyone he's a grown-up.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11I know, another lie!
0:02:11 > 0:02:14But can you blame him?
0:02:19 > 0:02:22I mean, look at that!
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Liam says it better than me.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33"When you're in it, space looks like the biggest fireworks display ever,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37"except it's on pause. It looks like freeze-frame fireworks.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41"Even if you're completely doomed, you've got to be impressed."
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Is Liam doomed? He's on a rocket being sucked into the moon's orbit
0:02:46 > 0:02:50and almost certainly going to end up circling in space for ever.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52I'd say that's pretty high on the doom-ometer.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Oh, and I nearly forgot, Liam's not alone up there.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04The first five kids ever to go into space are on the rocket with him.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Of course, really there are six, but Liam's pretending to be an adult, remember?
0:03:07 > 0:03:11One of the other kids, Florida, she's got her own reasons for being on board.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15She's thinks that going into space will make her a world famous celebrity.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21A word of warning - if you read this book you will want to go into space.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24But you'll find out there's a lot of training involved.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29Liam and the others have to find out what it's like to be weightless, so they all go on the Vomit Comet!
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Want to know why it's called that? I'll leave it to your imagination.
0:03:34 > 0:03:40The book's not about boggly-eyed aliens and UFOs flying all over the place, there's real facts in it.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45There's even a real astronaut, Mr Alan Bean, he was the fourth man to walk on the moon.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48That's right, Mr Bean has walked on the moon!
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Once the rocket mission's gone wrong, it's just the five kids,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58a hi-tech ice cream van, that's another problem all together,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01and everyone hoping that Liam can get them home.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03After all, they think he's a grown-up,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05and he is having to grow up, fast!
0:04:05 > 0:04:09But lost in the universe, Liam can't help thinking of his dad.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16"When you're a kid you think your dad can do anything. It's different now.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20"If you ask me now if I think Dad's going to pop up at the controls of this rocket,
0:04:20 > 0:04:26"200,000 miles above the surface of the Earth, and fly us back to Bootle, I'd say... probably not.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29"I suppose that means I'm not a kid any more."
0:04:40 > 0:04:44I really hate it when you're about to start a book and then someone tells you the ending.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Like if I was to tell you that at the end of this book, Liam ends up living on Mars.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Ha-ha! Only joking.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54It's Venus! No, no, it isn't.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58It is! No, no, no, it's not. Or is it?
0:05:00 > 0:05:04I think that when you read a book, it becomes part of you, it's locked away in your brain
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and then years later, bits of it can pop into your head when you least expect it.
0:05:07 > 0:05:13If I were some sort of stuffy professor, I'd probably say, "We are the books we read!"
0:05:13 > 0:05:16But I'm not, so I won't.
0:05:16 > 0:05:17EERIE NOISE
0:05:17 > 0:05:19HE WHIMPERS
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Phew!
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Of course, the only way to find out if Liam makes it home
0:05:35 > 0:05:40is to read the book. I think you'll like it. And that's not a lie.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Right, let's try this again.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46CHIMES PLAY
0:05:46 > 0:05:50On second thoughts, I'll just get a burger.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59I'm out here in some very spooky woods with a fantastic book.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01And do you want to know why?
0:06:01 > 0:06:03HOWLING
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- Stick around and you'll find out more. Mummy! - THUNDER
0:06:16 > 0:06:19We're all a bit naughty sometimes, aren't we?
0:06:19 > 0:06:23You should meet this girl. She's called My Naughty Little Sister.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28BELL TINKLES
0:06:36 > 0:06:39My Naughty Little Sister is the number one expert
0:06:39 > 0:06:43at getting into trouble and this is a whole book of stories all about her.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52She could be at the funfair, in the garden,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55fishing or even at the dentist.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58But wherever she is, she's usually making mischief,
0:06:58 > 0:07:02making a mess or causing chaos, usually at the same time.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Now, the thing is, she's not trying to be deliberately bad,
0:07:06 > 0:07:08she just wants to have a bit of fun.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11And we all know how that feels, don't we?
0:07:16 > 0:07:19I used to read these stories, almost every night.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22It's probably one of my favourite books from when I was younger.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24The stories are told by an older sister
0:07:24 > 0:07:29and I like the funny way they show the new responsibility of having a younger sister,
0:07:29 > 0:07:33because even though we all love our younger brother and sisters,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36we all know they can be a real pain sometimes too.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41I have two sisters, one twin sister and one 11-year-old sister.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45The 11-year-old's quite sensible, quite well-behaved,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48but I think me and the twin were the naughty ones.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Yeah, we were definitely the naughty ones.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03In one of my favourite stories, at a birthday party,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07My Naughty Little Sister and her best friend, Bad Harry,
0:08:07 > 0:08:12sneak away from the other children to have a look at a delicious trifle decorated with sweets.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20"'Ring-a-ring-a-roses,' sang the good party children.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23"'Nice jelly sweets,' said My Naughty Little Sister.
0:08:23 > 0:08:28"'Nice silver balls.' And she looked at that terribly Bad Harry and he looked at her.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35"'Take one,' said that naughty boy, and My Naughty Little Sister did take one,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38"she took a red jelly sweet from the top of the trifle.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44"Before long, that trifle was disappearing fast,
0:08:44 > 0:08:49"because once My Naughty Little Sister and Bad Harry started eating, they found they couldn't stop.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55"They took a spoon each and scraped off the creamy stuff and ate it
0:08:55 > 0:08:58"and then they began to eat the nice, spongy inside.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02"Bad Harry said, 'Now we've made the trifle look so untidy,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06"'no-one else will want any, so we may as well eat it all up.'
0:09:06 > 0:09:12"So they dug away into the spongy inside of the trifle and found lots of nice fruit bits inside.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17"It was a very big trifle, but those greedy children ate and ate.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22"Then, just as they had nearly finished the whole big trifle,
0:09:22 > 0:09:28"the ring-a-rose-ing stopped and Bad Harry's mother called,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31"'Where are you two? We're ready for tea.'
0:09:31 > 0:09:36"Then My Naughty Little Sister was very frightened."
0:09:36 > 0:09:37SHE SIGHS
0:09:37 > 0:09:42I don't blame her. I mean, how's she supposed to explain all that?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44BELCHING
0:09:44 > 0:09:48And how am I going to explain this?! SHE SIGHS
0:09:51 > 0:09:54I still love to read a lot and I think that all started
0:09:54 > 0:09:57because I was reading a lot of books when I was growing up.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00It's great when you find a book like My Naughty Little Sister
0:10:00 > 0:10:03when you read about a character you actually recognise.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08And I'm sure the more you read, you'll find a book about a character who's just like you.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11When I was little I used to have a friend just like Bad Harry.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14We used to get into all kinds of mischief.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16And I think that's another reason
0:10:16 > 0:10:18I used to relate to the stories so well.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20A lot of the stories are about ordinary days
0:10:20 > 0:10:24and the kind I remember when you're stuck indoors, or you're not
0:10:24 > 0:10:27very well, or you're playing in the garden by yourself.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30And then, before you know it, you're off having an adventure just
0:10:30 > 0:10:34like My Naughty Little Sister, and who knows where that'll take you?
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Mmm, looks so tasty, doesn't it?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07I just don't understand what's going on.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11But I know who'll get the blame for it.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12Aimee? Aimee?
0:11:13 > 0:11:16You know, I really need to take some more tips
0:11:16 > 0:11:18from My Naughty Little Sister!
0:11:29 > 0:11:30BICYCLE BELL
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Cannonballs pounded into the water,
0:11:38 > 0:11:39making the ship rock with each blast.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43A missile whizzed overhead and smashed into one of the topsails.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Nat Carver and his pet dog, Woody, are in trouble.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Running for their lives trouble.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Hair-raising fangs and evil monsters trouble!
0:12:28 > 0:12:31And it's all in this great book here - Wolven.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Although I might have said Woody was Nat's pet dog
0:12:38 > 0:12:41that was only half true.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45He has white fur, strange yellow eyes and he doesn't bark he howls.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49WOLF HOWL
0:12:49 > 0:12:53On a full moon he changes into a boy.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57So he might be Nat's pet, but he's definitely no dog.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59He's Wolven a shape-shifting wolf,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02one of a very special race of animals.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04And he might end up being the last!
0:13:06 > 0:13:11Nat discovers Woody's run away from a top secret government project,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14and some very scary people are determined to get him back.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20And when I say very scary people, what I actually mean is werewolves.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22BLOODCURDLING SCREAM
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Why do they want Woody so much? He might look like a scruffy mongrel,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30with breath that smells of old pancakes.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32And that's because he is!
0:13:32 > 0:13:35But Woody is also Wolven, a legendary creature,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38a fearless, intelligent, telepathic warrior.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41Yeah, that's right, I forgot to mention Woody's telepathic
0:13:41 > 0:13:43he can read people's minds.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48And all this makes him very valuable to evil scientist, Dr Gruber.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Gruber wants to create a new creature,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53coming the ancient skills of the Wolven, with the cruelty
0:13:53 > 0:13:57of the werewolves and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00He wants Woody back at the secret project, whatever it takes.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10What I really like is that there are funny moments and scary
0:14:10 > 0:14:12moments, there's bits where you're on the edge of your seat,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and there's a chase going and you're like, "Go on, Nat, go on, Woody!"
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Then there's other really funny scenes,
0:14:17 > 0:14:21I think one of my favourites was when Nat enters Woody into a dog show,
0:14:21 > 0:14:22and he causes absolute chaos.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25And I think it might be the only book, as far as I remember,
0:14:25 > 0:14:29where a farmer's wife uses her big bottom to take on a werewolf,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31and wins it's brilliant!
0:14:31 > 0:14:33I think everyone can relate to Wolven,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35because one of the main morals within it is friendship
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and everyone has either got that Nat or Woody in their life.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41And I also have my own pet dog, Bella, and I might not have had to
0:14:41 > 0:14:44save her from werewolves, but I've definitely helped her in other ways.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48And although the book's full of adventure and mystery, ultimately
0:14:48 > 0:14:51it's all about helping each other and looking out for one another.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05This is one of my favourite parts in the book.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Nat and Woody are now on the run in the creepy East Woods.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Nat's exhausted but he knows he mustn't stop
0:15:11 > 0:15:13because those werewolves aren't far behind.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Nat's feeling of claustrophobia increased.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21In the unhealthy, humid atmosphere, his skin felt clammy
0:15:21 > 0:15:24and itchy, as if insects were crawling all over him.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27His backpack seemed to get heavier, and the tiny pinpricks of sunlight
0:15:27 > 0:15:32flickered through the trees and into his eyes, almost hypnotising him.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33Nat's eyelids began to droop.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Aaaahhhooowwww!
0:15:36 > 0:15:38WOLVES ANSWER HIS HOWL
0:15:40 > 0:15:43The voices of werewolves brought Woody back to Nat's side,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46his nostrils flaring, his eyes molten,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48hackles as stiff as stalagmites.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50"We're so dead," cried Nat.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52"There's two of them."
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Woody tore off ahead, then came back, then tore off again.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Nat gave a small sob of defeat. He was all but done in.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03He doubted if Woody could take on two werewolves and win.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04"I can't run as fast as you,"
0:16:04 > 0:16:07he said. "You go on, I'll try my best to keep up."
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Woody ran behind Nat, pushing him with his body,
0:16:10 > 0:16:12then ran up ahead, yipping and whining.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Nat took a deep, shaky breath.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18"I cant do it," he said, sulkily, "I'm too tired."
0:16:18 > 0:16:21WOLF HOWLS
0:16:24 > 0:16:28It was as though someone had lit fireworks beneath Nat's feet.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30His tiredness evaporated at the chilling howl,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and he took off behind Woody as fast as a ballistic missile.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Branches tore at him,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37blood mixing with the sweat running down his face.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39He was aware of nothing except his heart
0:16:39 > 0:16:40pumping the blood around his body,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44and the rhythm of his feet flying across the soft floor of the wood.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Books are just a great conversation starter,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59if you just met someone and you're like, "All right?"
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Just bring up at book, even if they haven't read it,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03explain to them, get them to want to read it,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05and you can go, "You know what?
0:17:05 > 0:17:06"I've done a good job."
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Reading's just great all round and if you don't love reading,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12you, my friends, people watching, you're missing out!
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Cos reading is the best and you pick up a good book,
0:17:15 > 0:17:16and you'll get lost in it,
0:17:16 > 0:17:21and when you get lost in a book you're on to a winner.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29What do you think will happen to Nat and Woody?
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Will they destroy the secret government project
0:17:31 > 0:17:33before it destroys them?
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Sometimes with a story, it's best not to know what's round the corner.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40SOMETHING GROWLS But with this book you can guarantee
0:17:40 > 0:17:43it's probably something really horrible!
0:17:45 > 0:17:46Time for you to get reading.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Time for me to get out of here!
0:17:49 > 0:17:53WOLVES HOWL
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Stay where you are, because coming up I'll tell you
0:18:01 > 0:18:05about a boy from Africa, whose life is going to change for ever.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20I love adventures! So does the hero of this book, Sam Silver.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Imagine this one day Sam's sat in his bedroom above his parents'
0:18:23 > 0:18:26fish and chip shop, polishing his gold doubloon.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29The next he's time-travelled backwards 300 years to a ship.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Shiver me timbers! Me too! And not just any ship.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41A pirate ship! The Sea Wolf.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Better keep an eye out some pirates think
0:18:47 > 0:18:49girls bring bad luck to a ship.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I don't want to end up walking the plank!
0:18:51 > 0:18:53But then again Sam's a boy and the crew
0:18:53 > 0:18:55don't exactly give him a warm welcome either.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03At first, Sam thinks this must all be a weird joke.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05More pirates were gathering round.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10A short, stout man stomped up, his wooden leg thumping on the deck.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12He pulled at Sam's t-shirt, with its picture of
0:19:12 > 0:19:16a Formula 1 racing car, and peered at his jeans and trainers.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18"Strap me, they be strange clothes."
0:19:20 > 0:19:22"Not as strange as yours," laughed Sam.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27"Maybe he's a spy for the Governor," sneered Fernando.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29"Or a thief," called a gruff voice.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33"Throw him overboard," shouted the short, stout man.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35"That's right, Mr Hopp," said Fernando.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37The crew pressed forwards.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41To Sam's horror, he suddenly found himself bundled onto the rail
0:19:41 > 0:19:43and staring down at the deep water below.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46This joke wasn't so funny any more.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50"Avast!" barked Captain Blade. "We'll hear his story first."
0:19:50 > 0:19:53"Aye, Captain," said Harry Hopp, with a nasty grin.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55"The sharks won't mind waiting."
0:20:03 > 0:20:06The pirates are all set to throw Sam overboard
0:20:06 > 0:20:07as a tasty lunchtime snack.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15Until he shows them a treasure map
0:20:15 > 0:20:17from his pirate ancestor, Joseph Silver.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20The tiniest chance of treasure changes everything.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Now Sam's not shark food he's an honorary crew member.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27He's a fellow buccaneer! He's a pirate!
0:20:31 > 0:20:34I've always wondered what it would feel like to be a pirate.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37And this book really gives you that experience.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39You really feel like you're up in the crow's nest,
0:20:39 > 0:20:41and climbing the rigging,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43and sailing the ship through the dangerous seas.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46There are some wicked characters in the story.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48There's Abel Wagstaff, who's bit of an ancient sea dog,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51probably the oldest sailor in the Caribbean.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54And then there's Sinbad, the most fearsome in the crew,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and he eats rats.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58I've met some pretty scary creatures in my time,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00but I reckon pirates are in my top ten.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07If you're thinking that pirate
0:21:07 > 0:21:09stories are all about boys - forget it!
0:21:09 > 0:21:11In this story, you'll see that girls
0:21:11 > 0:21:12make brave and tough pirates too.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Ship ahoy! The Grinning Skull!
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Just as well because when your deadliest enemies are out
0:21:19 > 0:21:23on the ocean ready to do battle, you're gonna need all hands on deck.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Now this is my kind of adventure!
0:21:26 > 0:21:28As Sam climbed down the rigging to help,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31his heart hammered in his chest with fear.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34They were being chased by the most villainous pirate crew
0:21:34 > 0:21:35to sail the Caribbean.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Until this adventure, the scariest thing he'd ever done was to
0:21:38 > 0:21:41play Attack Of The Deadly Zargons, on his computer.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43But this was real.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47This was totally real, and about to get very dangerous too.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50The Sea Wolf began to turn, but it was taking too long.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53The Grinning Skull was bearing down on them,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55and ripples of fear were running through the crew. Boom!
0:21:55 > 0:21:58The sound of the enemy cannon made Sam feel as
0:21:58 > 0:22:01if all his teeth had come loose in his head.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03It was even louder than the time the oven had exploded at home,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and they'd had to call the fire brigade.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09Cannonballs pounded into the water,
0:22:09 > 0:22:11making the ship rock with each blast.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14A missile whizzed over their heads,
0:22:14 > 0:22:17and smashed into one of the topsails.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20The sail was ripped from its tether and flapped uselessly.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22"Get that repaired," ordered the Captain.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24"We need all the sail we can muster."
0:22:29 > 0:22:34I really like reading, because I love my imagination being exercised,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37and taken to places that I wouldn't be able to go in real life,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40and meeting people that I've never met before.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41Whenever I read a book,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43I like to think about which character I would like to be.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I suppose my favourite character in this book is the girl
0:22:46 > 0:22:50she's really feisty, and she's got guts, and that's what I like.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53She's also got a massive secret, but I just can't tell you
0:22:53 > 0:22:57what that is, so I'm going to keep my mouth shut, and let you find out.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01I really like books that take me on an adventure, like going through
0:23:01 > 0:23:03space and meeting aliens, or going the jungle
0:23:03 > 0:23:04and meeting crazy animals,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08or even going through the oceans and meeting some fearless pirates.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Why don't you find a story that
0:23:10 > 0:23:11takes you on your favourite adventure?
0:23:15 > 0:23:19If you grab a copy of the first Sam Silver book - Skeleton Island,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22then you can join Sam and his pirate crew as they search
0:23:22 > 0:23:26for Joseph Silver's treasure, and go on some amazing pirate adventures.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Talking of which, time for me to go home.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Er, where are the crew?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Hello?
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Hello?
0:23:36 > 0:23:37HELLO?
0:24:12 > 0:24:16Everyone around you has a story if you just stop and ask them
0:24:16 > 0:24:20and books are a brilliant way to discover some of those stories.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25Stories like Alem's, in this book, called Refugee Boy.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Alem's mother is from Eritrea, a country in Africa,
0:24:29 > 0:24:35and Alem's father is from Ethiopia, the country just over the border.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39When a war breaks out between these two countries, neither place
0:24:39 > 0:24:41is safe for Alem and his parents.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44Alem is just 14,
0:24:45 > 0:24:46and is in real danger.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Alem looked on terrified as the soldier shot a number
0:24:56 > 0:25:00of bullets into the floor around the feet of his mother and father.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04His father screamed with fear.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07"Please, leave us!
0:25:08 > 0:25:09"We only want peace."
0:25:10 > 0:25:16The soldier continued shouting, "Are you Eritrean or Ethiopian?
0:25:16 > 0:25:18"Tell us, we want to know."
0:25:20 > 0:25:24"I am an African," Alem's mother replied.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31The soldier raised his rifle, and pointed it at Alem's mother.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33"You are a traitor."
0:25:33 > 0:25:37He turned and pointed the rifle at Alem's father.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38"And he is the enemy."
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Then he turned and pointed the rifle at Alem's forehead.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46"And he is a mongrel."
0:25:53 > 0:25:55With hatred and war all around them,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Alem's dad does something very brave.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01He brings Alem to Britain and leaves him here
0:26:01 > 0:26:04so he won't die in the fighting back at home.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Britain isn't Alem's home so he must become a refugee here
0:26:10 > 0:26:12and that life is hard.
0:26:12 > 0:26:13Full of shocks
0:26:13 > 0:26:17and new experiences, appearing in court in front of judges,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20having his fingerprints taken and questions.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21Questions all the time.
0:26:21 > 0:26:27Then there's new lessons at the new school. New people, new music.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Even the diet is new.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Meet and two veg and gravy just to keep the food wet.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37But Alem does get a new foster family here where
0:26:37 > 0:26:40I am in Manor Park in East London.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44These are the streets that Alem walks taking it one
0:26:44 > 0:26:48day at a time but never forgetting everything he has left behind.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Alem missed seeing animals that weren't just pets.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58He missed the sounds of home, he missed the smell of its earth,
0:26:58 > 0:27:04the smell of its people and even the smell of its cities.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08But the home Alem loves is a war zone.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Suddenly, he can't believe it.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15Alem discovers his new home - Britain - may be about to send him back there.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22While Alem is facing all of these new challenges, he's slowly
0:27:22 > 0:27:24starting to make new friends.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27I really like this part of the book, with Alem
0:27:27 > 0:27:28and his foster sister, Ruth.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Alem shows Ruth a photo of him and his parents.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35"How old were you when this was taken?"
0:27:35 > 0:27:38she asked, looking at the happiness on the faces.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40"12," Alem replied.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42"Do you have any more photos?"
0:27:44 > 0:27:47"'No, just that one, and that one is wearing out because it has
0:27:47 > 0:27:52"been in my bag, in my pockets, under my pillow, and I keep holding it."
0:27:52 > 0:27:55"Come here and watch me," Ruth said, smiling.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Alem stood over her as she booted up the computer and began to work.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Her speed and expertise astounded him.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Within 20 minutes, she had scanned in the photo
0:28:05 > 0:28:07and made it into his desktop image.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11"There you go"' she said, leaning back to admire her handiwork.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16"From now on, every time you boot up your computer,
0:28:16 > 0:28:17"that's what you'll get."
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Alem thought it was wonderful.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26I really wanted to read that part of the book to you because this story
0:28:26 > 0:28:30is about acceptance, for Alem to be accepted as part of Britain but,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34in that particular section, Alem gets accepted by his foster sister, Ruth.
0:28:34 > 0:28:41And from that moment onwards, their relationship does blossom.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43So this book might seem like a serious read
0:28:43 > 0:28:46but I assure you it's not.
0:28:46 > 0:28:47It's full of humour,
0:28:47 > 0:28:51and the roller-coaster ride that you go on with Alem.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55It's definitely, definitely one to read.
0:28:57 > 0:29:02Alem is honest and brave. He fights to stay alive.
0:29:02 > 0:29:08He fights back. So do his new friends, here in Manor Park.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12So if you read Refugee Boy, you can meet Alem
0:29:12 > 0:29:16and discover the rest of his story yourself.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20I think that's why books are so fantastic.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Because the stories of extraordinary people.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26People I bet you see around you every day.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28And you're one of those people too.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30So, after reading someone else's story,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33why not sit down and write one of your own?
0:29:34 > 0:29:36A story about you.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44If you love stories about giant, hairy, squelchy, fuzzy monsters,
0:29:44 > 0:29:45then stick around!
0:29:46 > 0:29:49I think they're lurking around here somewhere.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30This great book is called The Kick Off.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32It's all about a boy called Jamie Johnson.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Jamie Johnson is completely nuts about football.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37He loves it and I know how he feels!
0:30:37 > 0:30:40When you play for England and Team GB like me
0:30:40 > 0:30:44you find yourself thinking about football every minute of the day.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47Just can't help it!
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Jamie dreams of the big time too
0:30:51 > 0:30:54but first of all, he needs to make it into his school football team.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Reading this book, I can tell that Jamie's got lots of natural
0:30:57 > 0:30:59ability. He's got a good left foot.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02But to make it to the top, it's not enough to just be good,
0:31:02 > 0:31:04he needs total dedication.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07And that's tough when he still needs to go to parties,
0:31:07 > 0:31:09go out with his friends and pass his exams.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15At the start of the story, Jamie's not having much luck.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18It's the trials for the Kingfield school team. Jamie's all set
0:31:18 > 0:31:20to take a penalty but a divot in the pitch makes him
0:31:20 > 0:31:22completely lose his balance.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26Here's someone else who loves football to tell you how he gets on.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36As he was falling to the ground,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39he flung his foot towards the ball so desperately,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43so violently, that his left boot actually flew off his foot.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47It shot right up into the air. Jamie yelled out in horror.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50His boot rocketed skywards, doing somersaults as it went.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52Meanwhile, the ball that should have been
0:31:52 > 0:31:55flying into the back of the net was rolling slowly and painfully
0:31:55 > 0:31:58along the ground towards the goalkeeper's waiting hands.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Jamie could not believe it. This was his worst nightmare.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06He started to hear something behind him. It was laughter.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09He turned around and saw that all the players on both sides
0:32:09 > 0:32:11were laughing at him.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Can you imagine how embarrassing that must be?
0:32:16 > 0:32:17And in a trial game too?
0:32:17 > 0:32:21But Jamie's obsessed, remember? He's not going to give up.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Jamie puts a lot of pressure on himself, sometimes he scores,
0:32:28 > 0:32:33sometimes he misses and I know how that feels.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35It's all worth it when you're winning
0:32:35 > 0:32:38and when you're winning, it's an incredible feeling.
0:32:38 > 0:32:43When I was younger, I loved football but I also loved reading.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46I'd spend all my time training but it didn't stop me
0:32:46 > 0:32:48getting into some great books.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Jamie's granddad used to be a pro himself.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56He gave Jamie this scrapbook that he once used.
0:32:56 > 0:33:01It's packed full of tips and exercises to improve every aspect of your game.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03Jamie spends the whole summer practising everything in it
0:33:03 > 0:33:06and soon he's playing out of his skin.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11Books and football, great combination!
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Jamie's had some good matches.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Like this one when his school team, Kingfield, met St Anthony's.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Score so far? 1-1 draw.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Until Jamie comes alive on the pitch.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Slaloming in and out of the desperate tackles,
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Jamie's feet wove a spell as they sped forward.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Soon he'd single-handedly beaten practically all the defenders
0:33:39 > 0:33:41St Anthony's had on the pitch.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Now he was through, one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Marcusfield was desperately calling for the ball
0:33:46 > 0:33:48but Jamie couldn't hear him.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Or at least he wasn't listening.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54Jamie looked at the keeper and drew his foot back for a venomous strike.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Then, at the very last minute, just as his boot was about to
0:33:57 > 0:34:01swipe through the ball, he checked and stopped dead.
0:34:01 > 0:34:02The goalkeeper had gone for it
0:34:02 > 0:34:05though. He'd bought the dummy and dived.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08For a second, Jamie felt like the only player on the pitch.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12There he was all alone in front of an empty goal with the ball
0:34:12 > 0:34:15at his feet and the goalkeeper left sprawled on the ground.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18There was nothing left to do but pass it into the net.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25It was 2-1 to Kingfield, thanks to the best goal Jamie had ever scored.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Becoming a great footballer isn't easy.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35Some of the kids don't think Jamie can do it
0:34:35 > 0:34:37but he's determined to prove them wrong.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39He wants to be the best. What do you think?
0:34:39 > 0:34:40Can he do it?
0:34:40 > 0:34:43The only way to find out is to get stuck in and start reading.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53I think reading books is a great thing to do so grab a book
0:34:53 > 0:34:55and get reading.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Wow, today has gone so quickly.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33I've been reading this brilliant book.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36It's called Nelly The Monster Sitter.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38I just can't put it down!
0:35:38 > 0:35:42So this book is all about Nelly. She is super smart.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47She's realised there's a reason why you never see monsters out and about.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49They're all stuck at home.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53They can't get babysitters.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Nelly's solution is very simple.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59She decides she's going to become a monster sitter.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04But, you know, looking after monsters isn't an easy task.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07For a start, the monster parents living in each house
0:36:07 > 0:36:12come in all shapes and sizes and I really do mean all shapes and sizes.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20At number 55, Nelly meets a couple of slimy Squurms
0:36:20 > 0:36:23called Dollop and Splat.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27They were like slugs, giant, orange, upright slugs,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31with moist, glistening bodies and wet, foaming mouths.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36All over their heads, soft, yellow eyes nestled like egg yolks.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40And from their cheeks, stiff, black whiskers bristled
0:36:40 > 0:36:42like burnt sparklers.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44They seemed very pleased to see Nelly.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48"Give us a squonk, Nelly the Monster Sitter!" gurgled Splat.
0:36:48 > 0:36:53Nelly braced herself as two spaghetti-like feelers suddenly
0:36:53 > 0:36:58sprang from the Squurm's chest and planted themselves on Nelly's nose.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02Nelly's face tingled with cold as two more feelers sprung
0:37:02 > 0:37:06forward from Dollop's shoulders and fastened themselves to her cheeks.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10She'd never been kissed Squurm style before.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14It was like having your face pressed into a bowl full of cold jelly.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18Ughh!
0:37:18 > 0:37:21The great thing about this book is it gets you to really
0:37:21 > 0:37:25think about monsters as normal people so now when I'm
0:37:25 > 0:37:28walking down my road, I'm imagining that maybe there's a couple of
0:37:28 > 0:37:32monsters live there and if I did see like a green, slimy tentacle coming
0:37:32 > 0:37:35out of a letter box, I wouldn't be so hasty to run away and scream.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37I'd probably think they might be quite nice.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39They might be like the Water Greeps.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42What I love about Nelly is that she's so brave
0:37:42 > 0:37:45and even though her sister, Asti, is really critical of everything
0:37:45 > 0:37:49she does, Nelly kind of stands up for herself and she stands
0:37:49 > 0:37:53up for the monsters as well. I really like that, that she sticks
0:37:53 > 0:37:57up for other people which is quite difficult sometimes but she does it!
0:37:57 > 0:38:02Green, prickly, fuzzy, purple, massive, hairy, squelchy.
0:38:02 > 0:38:07Every job and every monster is different.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17Imagine a dog with five tails, six legs and two tongues.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21That's Glug, one of the monsters Nelly has to look after.
0:38:21 > 0:38:28Nelly tries playing fetch with Glug, but it isn't too successful.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31Nelly jumped back in alarm as Glug's jaws
0:38:31 > 0:38:35clamped down ferociously onto the branch and his head began to shake.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38His jaws shook with such force,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42his two orange tongues actually blurred into one.
0:38:42 > 0:38:47In a slobbering, slavering frenzy of snarls,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50he reduced the branch to sawdust.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Nelly stood motionless in the garden for a moment,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58trying to banish thoughts of what jaws like that could do to
0:38:58 > 0:39:02her legs should Glug become prematurely peckish.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05Still, at least Nelly knows it's nearly Glug's dinnertime!
0:39:05 > 0:39:09With a twist of her wrist she peered down at her watch.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13It was 6.45. Alligator chunks.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Alligator chunks in 15 minutes, she smiled.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22Alligator chunks? Urghh.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27Course, monsters eating you is one thing,
0:39:27 > 0:39:33but when Glug runs away, Nelly knows she's in even bigger trouble.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37Imagine telling two monster parents that you've
0:39:37 > 0:39:39lost their precious baby.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Eeek!
0:39:46 > 0:39:50I loved being read aloud to when I was little and I remember my mum
0:39:50 > 0:39:53and dad were really good at doing different voices.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55And then I went to my friend's house and her dad read us
0:39:55 > 0:40:00the same book but he didn't do the voices. I was really disappointed.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03What I love about reading is you imagine a character one way
0:40:03 > 0:40:06and somebody else might imagine it differently. It's up to the
0:40:06 > 0:40:10reader to decide how the character talks and what they look like.
0:40:10 > 0:40:15Nelly keeps a secret diary of all her monster-sitting jobs.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Which she makes sure her snotty sister Asti never finds.
0:40:19 > 0:40:24And in this book, there's a great map showing where all the monsters live.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26It's brilliant.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30When I started this book, I imagined Nelly would be terrified!
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Ooh, thank you...
0:40:32 > 0:40:33SHE SCREAMS
0:40:33 > 0:40:36But in fact, every time she goes monster-sitting,
0:40:36 > 0:40:39she has an amazing adventure.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42I mean, the monsters may be green, prickly, fuzzy, purple,
0:40:42 > 0:40:44massive, hairy, ugly and squelchy.
0:40:44 > 0:40:45But do you know what?
0:40:45 > 0:40:50They're actually really lovely and you soon get used to them.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56I know I have. Get your tentacle off the cushion!
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Sorry. Cheeky!
0:41:05 > 0:41:07That's Lizzie.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09She's the star of this fantastic book
0:41:09 > 0:41:13by Jacqueline Wilson, called Lizzie Zipmouth.
0:41:36 > 0:41:41I'm reading Tom's Midnight Garden. What a fantastic book. Here's Tom.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Now, Tom's staying at his aunt and uncle's flat.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48He's lonely, he's bored and right now, he's lying awake in the
0:41:48 > 0:41:51middle of the night stuck listening to the crazy old grandfather clock
0:41:51 > 0:41:55downstairs striking all the wrong hours as usual.
0:41:56 > 0:42:0411, 12. "Fancy striking midnight twice in one night," jeered Tom, sleepily.
0:42:04 > 0:42:1113, proclaimed the clock. Then stopped striking. 13.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16Tom's mind gave a jerk. Had it really struck 13?
0:42:16 > 0:42:20Of course, there is no such time as 13.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Is there?
0:42:27 > 0:42:30The stillness had become an expectant one.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33The house seemed to hold its breath.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38The darkness pressed up to him, pressing him with the question,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40"Come on, Tom, the clock has struck 13.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43"What are you going to do about it?"
0:42:43 > 0:42:47I'll tell you what Tom did about it.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51He rushes downstairs and he checks the grandfather clock and whilst
0:42:51 > 0:42:54he does this, he opens a door that he's never bothered with before.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59Why would she? It just leads out to a small yard full of rubbish and bins.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02But not tonight.
0:43:02 > 0:43:08Tonight, that door opens into a garden, a huge, beautiful garden.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10The type that is filled with trees to climb,
0:43:10 > 0:43:15places to explore, adventures to have around every corner.
0:43:15 > 0:43:21And now, that garden is Tom's to visit every single night.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25But only when the time was exactly right.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31I loved this book when I first read it.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34And I suppose I was a little bit like Tom, you know,
0:43:34 > 0:43:38always looking for adventures, easily bored.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Tom had to keep this book a secret, I'm not sure
0:43:40 > 0:43:41if I could have done that.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45I really would have wanted to show off the garden to my friends.
0:43:45 > 0:43:49It's amazing how the writer describes all the adventures in the garden in
0:43:49 > 0:43:53so much detail. It's like you get to know the garden as well as Tom does.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57It's like it's your own personal place and I wouldn't mind that.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00Ade's Midnight Garden. How cool would that be?
0:44:04 > 0:44:06Tom gets frustrated
0:44:06 > 0:44:09because he can't open any of the doors in the Midnight Garden.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11But he's not going to let that stop him.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15He tries pushing hard against one of the solid wooden doors.
0:44:15 > 0:44:20Now, if he can't open it, Tom's going to try going through it!
0:44:22 > 0:44:27At first, the body came through evenly from top to bottom.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30Then, the upper part seemed to stop,
0:44:30 > 0:44:35and the bottom part came through in its entirety, legs first.
0:44:35 > 0:44:39Then one arm came through, then another.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43Finally, everything was through except the head.
0:44:43 > 0:44:47The truth was that Tom was now a little lacking in courage.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50The passing through the door of so much of his body had not been
0:44:50 > 0:44:53without enormous effort and peculiar,
0:44:53 > 0:44:56if indescribable, sensations.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59"I'm just resting a minute," said Tom's head,
0:44:59 > 0:45:01on the garden side of the door,
0:45:01 > 0:45:05yet he knew that he was really delaying because he was nervous.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07His stomach, for instance,
0:45:07 > 0:45:11had felt most uncomfortable as it passed through the door.
0:45:11 > 0:45:16What would the experience be like for his head, his eyes, his ears?
0:45:16 > 0:45:18Pushing your head through a door?
0:45:18 > 0:45:21I told you this was an unusual garden.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34And here's another puzzler.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37Night after night, Tom spends hours
0:45:37 > 0:45:40and hours exploring the garden. But when he hurries back to
0:45:40 > 0:45:44the flat, it's still only a few minutes past midnight.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48One night, Tom sees a fir tree fall to the ground in a massive storm.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51But the next night, the tree's standing again.
0:45:51 > 0:45:55So is time going backwards?
0:45:55 > 0:45:58And if Tom can see other people's footprints in the dew-covered
0:45:58 > 0:46:02grass, why do his own feet leave no mark at all?
0:46:08 > 0:46:13I love reading books that actually make time fly. Have you ever had that?
0:46:13 > 0:46:17It's such a cool feeling. You know you're so in the world of the
0:46:17 > 0:46:21book that you don't notice your food going cold, you don't notice
0:46:21 > 0:46:26it going dark, you actually don't ever want to put the book down.
0:46:30 > 0:46:32Time. There's never enough of it for Tom!
0:46:32 > 0:46:35Not when he wants to figure out the true
0:46:35 > 0:46:38secrets of the Midnight Garden before he has to go back home again.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41Why not grab a few magic hours yourself?
0:46:41 > 0:46:43You could read this amazing book and, like Tom,
0:46:43 > 0:46:46you could solve the mystery of the Midnight Garden.
0:47:30 > 0:47:31That's Lizzie.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35She's the star of this fantastic book by Jacqueline Wilson
0:47:35 > 0:47:38called Lizzie Zipmouth.
0:47:42 > 0:47:46Lizzie's not having a great time at the start of this book.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49She's on the move...again.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52She's off to live with her mother's new boyfriend, Sam,
0:47:52 > 0:47:55and his two sons, Rory and Jake.
0:47:55 > 0:48:00Thing is, Liz was perfectly happy with it being just her mum
0:48:00 > 0:48:01and herself.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04They were like two best friends.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06So why did everything have to change?
0:48:07 > 0:48:09That's what she wants to know.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22Lizzie doesn't get upset, well, not in the way that you'd expect.
0:48:22 > 0:48:23She just stops speaking.
0:48:24 > 0:48:29And I don't just mean for a few hours, I mean for days and days.
0:48:30 > 0:48:32Maybe for good.
0:48:33 > 0:48:37That's why, when Lizzie moves into her new house, Jake very
0:48:37 > 0:48:40unkindly calls her Lizzie Zipmouth.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48It's pretty clear that Lizzie hates everything about being
0:48:48 > 0:48:50in the new house.
0:48:51 > 0:48:56I hated it in my room, too. All that bright red and purple hurt my eyes.
0:48:56 > 0:49:01I opened up my new wardrobe and shut myself inside.
0:49:01 > 0:49:03It was lonely in the wardrobe.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07I put my slippers on my hands and made them do a dance in the dark.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10I couldn't think of any other games I could play.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13After a while, I heard Rory calling for me
0:49:13 > 0:49:17and then Mum and Sam and even Jake.
0:49:17 > 0:49:21"Lizzie! Lizzie, where are you? Lizzie Zipmouth!"
0:49:23 > 0:49:27They shouted and shouted and shouted and shouted.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29I still didn't say anything at all.
0:49:29 > 0:49:31I kept my mouth well and truly zipped.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39After all the trouble about hiding in the wardrobe,
0:49:39 > 0:49:42Lizzie curls up under her duvet.
0:49:42 > 0:49:44Have you ever done that?
0:49:44 > 0:49:48I have sometimes and I've taken a little torch and a book.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52But Lizzie's not reading under there, she's just there,
0:49:52 > 0:49:55by herself, feeling a little bit lost.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59What I love about this book is that I really understand what
0:49:59 > 0:50:03Lizzie's going through. You sympathise with her. You want
0:50:03 > 0:50:07to help her but you can't. You just have to keep reading.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09Because what I love about books is that you put
0:50:09 > 0:50:14yourself in the character's situation and then think, what would I do?
0:50:14 > 0:50:17It's not a sad book though. Everything's in this story!
0:50:17 > 0:50:20Good days when everything's really good and bad days
0:50:20 > 0:50:25when things are horrible, but that's what's so brilliant about it.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27It's about real people like you and me
0:50:27 > 0:50:30and the problems that we face and how we get through things.
0:50:30 > 0:50:34Lizzie's new stepdad, Sam, tries to be friendly.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38But Lizzie remembers her first stepdad was friendly too for a while.
0:50:38 > 0:50:43Until he started shouting. So Lizzie just keeps her mouth tight shut.
0:50:43 > 0:50:48And it stays shut. Even when Sam drives them all to visit Rory
0:50:48 > 0:50:50and Jake's great-gran.
0:50:59 > 0:51:01Great-Gran seems scary and strict
0:51:01 > 0:51:05and meeting her isn't exactly on Lizzie's wish list of things to do.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14"Say hello to Rory and Jake's great-gran, Lizzie,"
0:51:14 > 0:51:17said Mum, though she knew I wouldn't.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21And I didn't. I stared at the doormat. It said "Welcome".
0:51:23 > 0:51:26The doormat was telling fibs. Great-Gran tutted.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29"Well, you'd better come in," she said.
0:51:29 > 0:51:33Mum held my hand tight and we stepped inside. "Dear, dear!
0:51:33 > 0:51:37"Wipe your feet! Watch my beige carpet," Great-Gran fussed.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41But I wasn't watching her carpet.
0:51:41 > 0:51:45I was staring all around the walls in a daze.
0:51:45 > 0:51:49Hundred of shining eyes were staring back at me.
0:51:49 > 0:51:53Can you guess what those shining eyes were?
0:51:53 > 0:51:58All I'm going to say is that Lizzie was in the car all the time
0:51:58 > 0:52:01after that because she wanted Sam to drive her to Great-Gran's flat.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04Are you surprised?
0:52:04 > 0:52:07Great-Gran was super stubborn, just like Lizzie,
0:52:07 > 0:52:09but she could turn out to be the one person
0:52:09 > 0:52:12that would help Lizzie settle into her new life.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16When I was little, my dad used to travel a lot,
0:52:16 > 0:52:18because he worked for the airlines, so I got into reading,
0:52:18 > 0:52:21because it was a way of escaping missing him.
0:52:21 > 0:52:23And then I just fell in love with it.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25Did you know, Jacqueline Wilson
0:52:25 > 0:52:27wrote her first story when she was nine?
0:52:27 > 0:52:30Now, do you have a story or an idea in your head?
0:52:30 > 0:52:32There's no reason to wait - start writing it now.
0:52:32 > 0:52:34You'll be surprised what you can do.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43So, do you think Lizzie does decide to talk?
0:52:44 > 0:52:47I'm not saying a word - you'll just have to read the book.
0:52:47 > 0:52:51And then you'll also discover how soon,
0:52:51 > 0:52:52Great-Gran needs help to talk, too.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00And how sometimes, when you're least expecting it,
0:53:00 > 0:53:03you can make a new friend.
0:53:44 > 0:53:47POLICE SIRENS WAIL
0:53:49 > 0:53:51Diamond Brothers - what do we know about them?
0:53:51 > 0:53:55They're two private detectives in this brilliant book,
0:53:55 > 0:53:57- The Falcon's Malteser.- Right...
0:53:57 > 0:54:01Tim is the older brother - pretty much the worst detective ever.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05- Lucky for him, he's got his kid brother for a partner.- Nick.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09Now, Nick is great, because he's smart, he's brave and...
0:54:09 > 0:54:12he really knows when trouble walks through the door.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14Which it does, in the shape of this,
0:54:14 > 0:54:16a package they're asked to look after.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18PACKAGE RATTLES
0:54:18 > 0:54:21- It sounds like a box of chocolates. - It IS a box of chocolates.
0:54:21 > 0:54:25And it also plunges Nick and Tim into a whole world of danger.
0:54:30 > 0:54:35It turns out that those chocolates are worth £3.5 million.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37Soon, the brothers are being pursued
0:54:37 > 0:54:39by some of the scariest villains in the world,
0:54:39 > 0:54:41who all want to get hold of that package.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44Villains like The Fat Man, the world's thinnest master criminal.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48He gives them a deadline to hand it over, and the key word here is...
0:54:48 > 0:54:50- dead. - DOOR SLAMS SHUT
0:54:50 > 0:54:51LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS
0:54:51 > 0:54:55I can wait all of 48 hours, but if I haven't heard from you
0:54:55 > 0:54:56in two days, you may wake up to find
0:54:56 > 0:54:59something very unpleasant has happened to you.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01Like, you no longer have any feet.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05- Nice guy(!)- I love the fact he meets them in Trafalgar Square in London,
0:55:05 > 0:55:09- so he can feed the pigeons. - Yeah, with poisoned corn.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12Nick only realises that once The Fat Man has driven off in his Rolls.
0:55:12 > 0:55:14Listen...
0:55:15 > 0:55:19A few feet away, a pigeon suddenly gurgled and keeled over
0:55:19 > 0:55:21on its side, and a moment later,
0:55:21 > 0:55:25two more joined it, their feet sticking up in the air.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28By the time the Rolls-Royce had reached the corner
0:55:28 > 0:55:30of Trafalgar Square, and turned off towards Hyde Park,
0:55:30 > 0:55:33we were surrounded by corpses. CHURCH BELL TOLLS
0:55:33 > 0:55:36"Do you think he's trying to tell us something?" I said.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39I'd say it's pretty clear - today it's pigeons,
0:55:39 > 0:55:41next time it's them.
0:55:48 > 0:55:50There's so many great characters in the book.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54You've got Nick and Tim, then The Fat Man, the Rich Widow,
0:55:54 > 0:55:56- the Professor... - Also, the two henchmen,
0:55:56 > 0:56:00who I think are really well-described by the writer, Anthony Horowitz,
0:56:00 > 0:56:03because at one point they're making tea, playing the piano,
0:56:03 > 0:56:06and the next minute they're tying Nick up in a chair.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08We're used to adult detectives being really clever.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10Or pretending they are.
0:56:10 > 0:56:13This time we've got Nick - he's 13 and he's just way ahead of everyone.
0:56:13 > 0:56:17Soon, the owner of the chocolates is dead.
0:56:17 > 0:56:19Tim is blamed and thrown in jail.
0:56:19 > 0:56:21And Nick's left with a mystery to solve.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24All while being threatened by the police, by some heavies...
0:56:24 > 0:56:28Oh, yeah, and don't forget - by a rich widow's alligator.
0:56:36 > 0:56:39The last time I saw an alligator, it was hanging on some rich woman's arm
0:56:39 > 0:56:41with lipsticks and purses inside.
0:56:43 > 0:56:46But this one was no handbag, it was very alive,
0:56:46 > 0:56:48waddling out of the pool,
0:56:48 > 0:56:50its ugly, black eyes fixed on the plate of meat.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53- "Don't worry..."- The widow said.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55"He's very fond of strangers."
0:56:55 > 0:56:57"Yeah? Cooked or raw?" I asked.
0:56:57 > 0:57:01I mean, when someone tells you they've got a pet called Fido,
0:57:01 > 0:57:03you're not expecting that kind of pet, are you?
0:57:05 > 0:57:07I pointed at the alligator.
0:57:07 > 0:57:10It was getting too close for comfort. As far as I was concerned,
0:57:10 > 0:57:13100 miles would have been too close for comfort!
0:57:13 > 0:57:15"Do you have a license for that thing?" I asked.
0:57:15 > 0:57:19- "I don't know..."- She said.- "It was a present from my late husband."
0:57:19 > 0:57:21"Have you ever thought about pussy cats?"
0:57:21 > 0:57:24"Fido ate the pussy cats."
0:57:24 > 0:57:25I thought of turning and running,
0:57:25 > 0:57:27but I couldn't be sure I'd make it to the door.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30The alligator had short, wrinkled legs,
0:57:30 > 0:57:33but at that moment, I can't say mine felt much better.
0:57:38 > 0:57:41'You're listening to the BBC World Service...'
0:57:41 > 0:57:44One thing I love doing when I'm reading is
0:57:44 > 0:57:46stopping halfway through and trying to guess
0:57:46 > 0:57:48where all the different stories are going to end up.
0:57:48 > 0:57:51You're trying to figure out the same clues as Nick at the same time?
0:57:51 > 0:57:54I think this is a great book to do that with. Maybe next time
0:57:54 > 0:57:57you're reading, put the book down, play detective a little
0:57:57 > 0:58:00and see if you can work out what might happen next.
0:58:01 > 0:58:03Poor Nick!
0:58:03 > 0:58:06He's attacked, knocked out,
0:58:06 > 0:58:09tied down and almost blown up!
0:58:09 > 0:58:11Imagine how that must feel!
0:58:18 > 0:58:20So, who is the Falcon?
0:58:20 > 0:58:22Why is...is this package worth so much money?
0:58:22 > 0:58:25Is Nick going to stay alive long enough to figure it all out?
0:58:25 > 0:58:27- Read the book.- I have!
0:58:27 > 0:58:31- I'm talking to these guys! - Oh...yeah.
0:58:31 > 0:58:34So, read the book to find out all the answers.
0:58:34 > 0:58:36And keep the secret to yourself.
0:58:36 > 0:58:38You never know who might be listening.
0:58:55 > 0:58:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd