Three hilarious novels of heart, humour and wishes gone wrong, from the new star of children's books - by award-winning and bestselling author, David Baddiel.

 BIRTHDAY BOY: This is the story of Sam Green, who really, really, really loves birthdays. He loves the special breakfasts in bed. The presents. The themed parties. Blowing out the candles on his cake. Everything.

 He is so excited about his 11th birthday, in fact, that he wishes it was his birthday every day.

 So, at first, it's quite exciting when his birthday happens again the next morning. And again. And again. And again.

 But it's not long before things start to go wrong. Soon, disaster strikes, threatening something Sam loves even more than birthdays.

 Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.

 HEAD KID: Bracket Wood is about to be visited by the school inspectors. But there's one big problem: Ryan Ward.

 The maestro of practical jokes, Ryan has played so many tricks that in the end the Head Teacher just walks out. And then the new Head Teacher, Mr Carter, arrives. A man so strict even the teachers are scared of him. So imagine his surprise - and Ryan's - when they swap bodies.

 Now Ryan is Head Teacher - and his mortal enemy is one of his pupils. It's every naughty kid's dream!

 But soon Bracket Wood School is in a total mess - and only its worst ever pupil can fix it.

 THE TAYLOR TURBOCHASER is a road-trip rollercoaster. with a twist.

 At its heart is the unforgettable Amy Taylor. Amy loves cars, and dreams of being a driver. But there's a major catch: her slow old wheelchair with its broken wheel. When Amy finally gets a new electric one, it's exciting. at first.

 But standard engines only have so much power. And that's where Rahul comes in - Amy's best friend and genius inventor. Soon Rahul turns a wheelchair into. a supercar!

 And so the Taylor TurboChaser is born. But when it all goes suddenly wrong Amy is going to have to hit the road - and drive.

The Blockbuster Baddiel Collection, Volume 2 - Birthday Boy, Head Kid, The Taylor Turbochaser

From million-copy bestselling author David Baddiel comes a laugh-out-loud and inspiring new adventure for all readers of 8 and up that is ahead of its time - 1, 001 years ahead, to be precise.

 The year is 3020.

 Pip@256X#YY.3_7 is lonely and bored: she goes to virtual school on her G-Glasses, she only has a talking cat and parrot to hang out with, and she can't even leave her LivingSpace due to the extreme heat and floods outside.

 Until the day that Pip explores a glowing ring in a lab and finds herself in a warehouse, in 2019.

 Where she meets boy-inventor Rahul - who is also lonely and bored.

 Together, Rahul and Pip are no longer lonely. But they have a whole load of new problems, including hiding talking animals from Rahul's parents, and finding a way back to the future.

 Plus - just maybe - saving the world.

 Future Friend is a terrifically entertaining time-slip adventure that combines action, laugh-out-loud humour and the importance of friendship, in a story that asks the question - what would happen if your best friend came from the future?

Future Friend

Three hilarious novels of heart, humour and wishes gone wrong, from the new star of children's books - by award-winning and bestselling author, David Baddiel.

 Illustrated by Jim Field - winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.

 THE PARENT AGENCY: Barry said, a third time, "I wish I had better parents!" And then suddenly the entire room started to shake.

 Barry Bennett hates being called Barry. In fact it's number 2 on the list of things he blames his parents for, along with 1) 'being boring' and 3) 'always being tired'.

 But there is a world, not far from this one, where parents don't have children. That's far too random for something so big and important. In this world, children are allowed to choose their parents.

 For Barry Bennett, this world seems like a dream come true. Only things turn out to be not quite that simple.

 THE PERSON CONTROLLER: Fred and Ellie are twins. But not identical (because that's impossible for a boy and a girl). They do like all the same things, though. Especially video games. Which they are very good at. They aren't that good, however, at much else - like, for example, football, or dealing with the school bullies.

 Then, they meet the Mystery Man, who sends them a video game controller, which doesn't look like any other controller they've ever seen. And it doesn't control any of their usual games. When the twins find out what it does control, though, it seems like the answer to all their problems. And the key to all their wildest dreams. At least it seems like that.

 ANIMALCOLM: Malcolm doesn't like animals. Which is a problem because his family love them. Their house is full of pets. What the house is NOT full of is stuff Malcolm likes. Such as the laptop he wanted for his birthday.

 The only bright spot on the horizon is the Year 6 school trip, until Malcolm realizes it's heading to.oh no. The farm.

 Over the next days, Malcolm changes. He learns a lot about animals. More, in many ways, than he would like. He learns what it's really like to be an animal.

 It does make him think differently. And speak differently. And eat differently. But will he end up the same as he was before? Because sometimes the hardest thing to become is. yourself.

The Blockbuster Baddiel Collection - The Parent Agency; The Person Controller; AniMalcolm

Barry Bennet en a marre. Marre de s’appeler Barry, déjà. Encore une brillante idée de ses parents, ces gens ennuyeux et toujours fatigués. Et la liste des reproches qu'il a à leur faire est longue !Mais il existe un monde où ce ne sont pas les parents qui font les enfants. Hors de question de laisser une telle responsabilité au hasard !Dans ce monde, grâce à l'agence Parents à la carte, chaque enfant peut choisir ses parents. Et même en essayer plusieurs. Jusqu'à trouver les parents parfaits.Pour Barry, ce monde-là est un monde de rêve.Mais il s'avère que ce n'est pas aussi simple…

Parents à la carte

From the million-copy bestselling author of THE PARENT AGENCY and BIRTHDAY BOY comes a wildly entertaining wish-fulfilment adventure that asks the question: what would happen if the strictest head teacher swapped bodies with the naughtiest kid in school?

 Strictest head ÷ naughtiest boy = chaos.

 Bracket Wood is about to be visited by the school inspectors. But there's one big problem: Ryan Ward.

 The maestro of practical jokes, Ryan has played so many tricks that in the end the Head Teacher just walks out. And then the new Head Teacher, Mr Carter, arrives. A man so strict even the teachers are scared of him. So imagine his surprise - and Ryan's - when they swap bodies.

 Now Ryan is Head Teacher - and his mortal enemy is one of his pupils. It's every naughty kid's dream!

 But soon Bracket Wood School is in a total mess - and only its worst ever pupil can fix it.

Head Kid

From million-copy bestselling author David Baddiel comes a laugh-out-loud story for readers of 8 and up that takes you on a roller-coaster ride of fame and friendship.

 Nothing extraordinary has ever happened to Billy Smith. In fact, every single thing about him is ordinary, including his name. But when a documentary crew turns up at Billy's school to film the new TV series School Daze, everything changes.

 Billy shouldn't stand out: all the other kids are much more interesting than him. But when remixes of his boring class presentation go viral, Billy finds himself accidentally an overnight star. With his friends Bo and Rinor by his side, his life turns into a whirlwind of red carpets, TV shows, albums and even the possibility of meeting Sunshine De Marto - the coolest girl on the planet. But as everyone knows, fame comes with a price.

 The Boy Who Got Accidentally Famous is an epically entertaining tale, brought to life with illustrations by the brilliant Steven Lenton, which asks the question - what if everyone suddenly knew your name.?

The Boy Who Got Accidentally Famous

Chrissie loves trains. She has train books, train pictures - and, of course, model trains.

 But Chrissie has never been on an actual train. In part, because Chrissie doesn't find getting around as easy as other people.

 Then, Chrissie finally gets on a train, with her Grandpa Henry, to go down to London for an important operation.

 Her parents and Henry hope the journey will take Chrissie's mind off things. And they're right: but in a way they couldn't possibly imagine.

 Because Chrissie's trip from Scotland to London turns out to be quite literally magical - and is going to change Chrissie's life forever.

The Girl Who Had Never Been on a Train

Collected Journalism

A Sunday Times Best Book for Children 2023

 From million-copy bestselling author David Baddiel comes a laugh-out-loud collection of three short stories for readers of 8 and up, brilliantly illustrated by Jim Field and Steven Lenton.

 MEET ALFIE. THE BOY WHO COULD DO WHAT HE LIKED!Previously published for World Book Day 2016Alfie has a routine. To be honest he has a lot of routines. But then one day Alfie's babysitter is unavailable, and Alfie's parents get Mrs Stokes instead. Mrs Stokes doesn't do routines. Instead, she just tells Alfie to do what he likes. And that's when things start to go weird. Does everything get hilariously out of control? Yes. Does Alfie learn a valuable lesson? Nah. This isn't that kind of story.

 DISCOVER CHRISSIE. THE GIRL WHO HAD NEVER BEEN ON A TRAIN!Chrissie loves trains. She has train books, train pictures - and, of course, model trains. But Chrissie has never been on an actual train. In part, because Chrissie doesn't find getting around as easy as other people. Then, Chrissie finally gets on a train, with her Grandpa Henry, to go down to London for an important operation. Her parents and Henry hope the journey will take Chrissie's mind off things.

 And they're right: but in a way they couldn't possibly imagine. Because Chrissie's trip from Scotland to London turns out to be quite literally magical - and changes her life forever.

 MARVEL AT ARIEL. THE CHILD WHO HAD NEVER BEEN ON HOLIDAY!Every year, Max, Lily and Jack are taken to Snoring-On-Sea for their holiday - quite possibly the most boring town in the world. There's nothing to do and nothing to see - even the beach at Snoring-on-Sea is dull and grey.

 But this year, something DOES happen. The children meet someone on a tiny island out at sea - a mysterious child called Ariel. Ariel claims to have never left their tiny island, and to Ariel, everything about Max, Lily and Jack's lives is amazing - fish and chips, fizzy drinks. even the view of the brick wall out of their bedroom window.

 And their new friend forces Max, Lily and Jack to see Snoring-On-Sea in a whole new light.

 Three hilarious, heart-warming and adventure-filled stories that will have you laughing out loud!

Only Children - Three Hilarious Short Stories

A boy travels to an alternate world where kids get to choose their own parents in this zany, internationally bestselling adventure, which combines the be-careful-what-you-wish-for humor of The Chocolate Touch with the classic appeal of Roald Dahl. Barry Bennett is sick of his parents. They're boring, they're too strict, and it's their fault his name is Barry. So he makes a wish for better ones-and is whisked away to the Parent Agency, where kids get to pick out their perfect parents. For Barry, this seems like a dream come true. But as he's about to discover, choosing a new mom and dad isn't as simple as it sounds.The Parent Agency is the first children's book by British author and comedian David Baddiel, and it includes illustrations by Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning artist Jim Field.

The Parent Agency

A novel from David Baddiel, comedian, columnist and author of the critically-praised The Secret Purposes.

 As Eli Gold, a famous old writer lies dying in a hospital in New York, his family gather around his bed. His first wife Violet is too old to travel from London but Harvey, their son, who has never emerged from the shadow of his overpowering father, makes the journey. And there is Colette, a six-year old daughter from a second marriage, struggling to make sense of the fact her father is about to leave her.

 The Death of Eli Gold is a mesmerising family drama which confounds the expectations anyone might have that David Baddiel as a TV comedian. It is the work of a very fine novelist, here writing at the peak of his powers.

The Death of Eli Gold

Written especially for WBD 2016, this is a fabulously entertaining and touching novella from David Baddiel, author of the bestselling THE PARENT AGENCY and THE PERSON CONTROLLER.

 Illustrated by the hugely talented Jim Field, winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.

 Alfie has a routine. To be honest he has a lot of routines.

 But then one day Alfie's babysitter is unavailable, and Alfie's parents get Mrs Stokes instead. Mrs Stokes doesn't do routines. Instead, she just tells Alfie to do what he likes. And that's when things start to go weird.

 Does everything get hilariously out of control? Yes.

 Does Alfie learns a valuable lesson? Nah. This isn't that kind of story.

The Boy Who Could Do What He Liked

Malcolm déteste les animaux. Tous les animaux.
Alors, quand, lors d'une classe verte, il se retrouve métamorphosé en tortue, c'est la catastrophe !
Et le pire, c'est qu'il change d'espèce à chaque fois qu'il s'assoupit !
Tour à tour chat, mouton ou cochon, Malcolm découvre un monde délirant, bien plus drôle que celui des humains.
Retrouvera-t-il un jour son corps de garçon ?
Ce qui est sûr, c'est qu'il ne regardera plus jamais les animaux comme avant !

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