Noisy Neighbors

by Nicola Moon

Published 13 May 2004
Two simple stories featuring animal neighbors who compromise in order to get along with one another.

J.J. Rabbit and the Monster

by Nicola Moon

Published 3 August 1999
Strange footprints have appeared outside JJ Rabbit's burrow - there must be a monster on the loose! Mole, Owl and Squirrel crowd into their friend's burrow until morning...Only Owl is brave enough to look when they all hear some strange sounds in the middle of the night and discovers the mysterious monster is Badger, making 'footprints' with his heavy bundle. In the second story, JJ, Mole and Squirrel set off in search of an adventure. They walk for miles past fields of corn and cows, have sticky encounters with a muddy river bank and finally get lost in the dark - until Owl arrives to lead them safely home.

"Hide and Seek": Crocodile and Alligator play hide-and-seek in the jungle. But their long, floppy tails give the game away. "Bake a Cake": Crocodile is trying to bake a lovely cake, but Alligator isn't helping much - he drops the flour, smashes the sugar bowl, and tries to juggle the eggs. The "I Am Reading" series provides just the right balance of challenge and support for newly independent readers. Large, easy-to-read type, satisfying stories by top writers and cheerful full-colour pictures help children make the transition from picture books to chapter books. Each book includes a bookmark flap, tips for beginner readers and either short, numbered chapters or two short stories.

High-spirited Alligator and his patient friend Crocodile play hide-and-seek and bake a cake.

Noisy Neighbours

by Nicola Moon

Published 18 August 2003
Life is never dull for the neighbours in Acorn Road...George lives at number 6 Acorn Road, and he loves to sit in his garden doing magazine competitions. Louis lives at number 8, and he loves to stand in his garden practising the trumpet: Traan-traan-traaah! With all that noise, poor George just can't concentrate on his questions. But worse is to come when Harriet moves in over the road...with her big, shiny and very noisy motorbike: Vroom-vroom-whrrr! Now Louis is unhappy, too. But diplomatic Harriet takes matters in hand and proposes a noise rota with competitions, trumpets and motorbikes to be enjoyed on alternate days from Monday to Saturday - leaving Sundays free to meet for tea and cakes! In the second story George has a very difficult competition to enter, but his friends keep distracting him. Finally his patience is exhausted and he asks them to leave him alone, until he realizes that he needs their help to answer some of the questions. When all the questions are answered and George looks at the closing date he realizes that he only has an hour to get them to the magazine office - Oh No! But help is at hand in the shape of Harriet and her super-speedy motorbike and sidecar.
They arrive at the office just in time and one week late George receives a golden envelope in the post...he's won the prize!