{"title":"The Alligator's Mouth Award Shortlist 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe are thrilled that the 2026 winner of The Alligator's Mouth Award is Bear and Bird: The Secret and Other Stories by Jarvis (Walker Books). This fantastic shortlist celebrates highly illustrated fiction for 6-8 year old readers.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"9780702338793","title":"Beastie Bros","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  O'Connell, David \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eInterest age: from c 6 years\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 13 February 2025 by Scholastic in the United Kingdom as part of 'the Beastie Bros' series.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 160 pages\u003cbr\u003e197 x 129 x 15 | 148g\u003chr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn accessible, funny, black-and-white highly illustrated young\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003efiction series from David O'Connell, starring a hilarious firefly\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand snail duo. Perfect for readers aged 6+ and fans of Jamie\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmart, Toto the Ninja Cat and Dave Pigeon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Dash is a little firefly. One of his wings is shorter than the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eother so he flies more slowly than everyone else, but that doesn't\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003estop him getting where he wants to go. When he's happy, his\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ebottom lights up! And he's happiest when he's eating custard and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehanging out with his adoptive brother, Dribble the snail. Dribble\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eis never in a hurry. He likes to invent things - and eat cabbage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe keeps all kinds of useful objects hidden inside his shell.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey help to keep him out of trouble, which is never far away...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJoin our minibeast heroes on their first adventure as they foil\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea master criminal plot involving a crystal worm, ancient custard,\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea stolen Roboslug and some dastardly dung beetles...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA witty, brilliantly author-illustrated project from David O'Connell,\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethe illustrator behind Tom Vaughan's Hercules, Pip\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBird's The Naughtiest Unicorn, and many more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA winning blend of the chaos, wacky humour, adventure and comic-style\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eart of graphic novels like Bunny vs Monkey and Investigators,\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand a more traditional, wittily written fiction\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003estory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA laugh-out-loud tale packed with hilarious characters like Flattened\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDominic the slug and Mr Truffle the ball of dung!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"O'Connell, David","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51012553539921,"sku":"9780702338793","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0907\/0909\/8833\/files\/9780702338793.jpg?v=1745499985"},{"product_id":"9780241720608","title":"Good Bits : Bits of Stories. Endless Fun.","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Gray, Kes \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eGeneral fiction (Children's \/ Teenage)\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 4 September 2025 by Dorling Kindersley Ltd (DK flip) in the United Kingdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePaperback | 176 pages\u003cbr\u003e199 x 136 x 18 | 350g\u003chr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis imaginative collection of engaging short stories is perfect for all kids who love the unexpected.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGood Bits is a highly original collection of short stories for children aged 6-8 that demands to be read. It will excite and inspire young readers not only to read on, but also to write and illustrate their own stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten by award-winning author Kes Gray, this action-packed collection of stories is ideal for kids who need a bit of encouragement to keep them reading. The engaging layout and illustrations make the stories exciting and approachable, and short stories are perfect for a quick adventure somewhere new.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis collection of short stories for kids offers: Stories by award-winning author Kes Gray, who has written bestselling children’s books like Oi Frog.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn early chapter book with intriguing illustrations and an engaging format that will make children want to read on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShorter stories with fun, exciting plots that will encourage caregivers and children to participate in shared storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a spaceship flight into a Black Hole, to a town plagued by zombie beavers, a magical pen that knows all the answers to a test, to a crochet-loving pirate, this collection features the best bits of the story - the brilliant characters, actions and settings that spin a story that demands to be read.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gray, Kes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51816098201937,"sku":"9780241720608","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0907\/0909\/8833\/files\/9780241720608.jpg?v=1757004197"},{"product_id":"9781529518801","title":"Bear and Bird: The Secret and Other Stories : Book 6 in the internationally successful series for children aged 5-7 from Jarvis","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor:  Jarvis \u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eGeneral fiction (Children's \/ Teenage)\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch5\u003ePublished on 25 September 2025 by Walker Books Ltd in the United Kingdom as part of 'the Bear and Bird' series.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHardback | 64 pages\u003cbr\u003e158 x 236 x 11 | 316g\u003chr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\u003cp\u003e'These wittily illustrated stories of mishaps, hurt feelings, fondness and friendship have a transporting quality, ideal for 5+.' GuardianBear and Bird are best friends! And while they don’t always understand each other, they both agree: all they want is to make the other happy. So when Bird has a secret to tell Bear he will not listen - because he is worried he'll give it away! And when the pair find out they don’t actually like all the same things, they both agree it doesn’t matter, because the thing they like best of all is being friends with each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFull of comic mix-ups and misunderstandings, as well as genuine warmth and affection, these four stories are the sixth instalment in this irresistibly charming chapter book series from award-winning creator Jarvis. Bear and Bird’s adventures are perfect to read aloud together, or for children who are ready to start reading by themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Bear and Bird has all the charm and wisdom of Julian Gough and Jim Field’s Rabbit and Bear series … The illustrations are glorious.” Irish Independent on Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories 'Jarvis’s digital drawings, in beautiful colors, have an attractive handmade feel.' The New York Times Book Review on Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other StoriesReaders can enjoy lots more Bear and Bird adventures! Look out for: Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories Bear and Bird: The Adventure and Other Stories Bear and Bird: The Stick and Other Stories Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other StoriesThe Cloud: A Bear and Bird picture book\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jarvis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51936130892113,"sku":"9781529518801","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0907\/0909\/8833\/files\/9781529518801_49f86253-e87b-45a6-ac61-19b28cd6140a.jpg?v=1760268921"},{"product_id":"croaky-caverns-of-the-gemosaurus","title":"Croaky: Caverns of the Gemosaurus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCroaky: Caverns of the Gemosaurus by Matty Long\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFroggy, Fearless, and Ready for Adventure! Leap into this action-packed chapter book series from Super Happy Magic Forest creator Matty Long-perfect for readers who love funny stories!Croaky Hopper isn't like other little frogs. His head is filled with thoughts of wild adventures. He dreams of hopping across crocodile-infested waters, or being chased by a giant boulder, just like the famous TV explorer Tennessee Toad.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut where can an energetic amphibian like Croaky find real-life adventure? When his Aunt Lilly signs him up for the Woggle Scouts, he expects to spend his time crafting with pinecones and selling cookies, but he soon discovers there's much more in store...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn Caverns of the Gemosaurus, the Woggle Scouts go underground to the Crystal Caverns in search of the mythical Gemosaurus. On the expedition, they find runaway minecarts, carnivorous plants, and deadly lava flows!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Long, Matty","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54101586903377,"sku":null,"price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0907\/0909\/8833\/files\/CroakyCaverns.jpg?v=1781882457"},{"product_id":"cat-and-dumpling-home-sweet-home","title":"Cat and Dumpling: Home Sweet Home","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe first in a charming new series by author Nicola Kent! Packed with beautiful full-colour illustrations and a delightful story about best friends, Cat and Dumpling. Cat and Dumpling are best friends, but they're very different. Cat is an impulsive dreamer who loves to knit, and Dumpling is a cautious planner who loves gardening.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn these chapter books for early readers, the pair's far-fetched schemes and conflicting ideas wreak warm-hearted slapstick havoc — but always with a happy ending and a reminder that despite their differences, Cat and Dumpling will always be the very best of friends. In Home Sweet Home, Cat and Dumpling meet for the very first time. They're both searching for the perfect home and have very different needs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEventually, they stumble across the perfect place—the only problem is, they both want the same flat! Can the pair survive as flatmates, or will their differences be too much to overcome?Look out for the next book in the series: Cat and Dumpling: The Talent Show.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kent, Nicola","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54101590966609,"sku":null,"price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0907\/0909\/8833\/files\/CatandDumpling.jpg?v=1781882584"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk\/collections\/the-alligators-mouth-award-2026.oembed","provider":"The Alligator's Mouth Children's Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}