Earle, Phil – The Bell Bookshop

Downhill From Here

Emma — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Finn N. O. Hope, ultimate fail-magnet, is back in this second instalment of the hilarious middle-grade series by Phil Earle. Perfect for readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Loki and Tom Gates.

Finn’s Gran is treating the family to a summer vacation in Tenerife – what could possibly go wrong? How about lost luggage, a hotel with guest rats, an army of dads in tiny mankinis (shudder) and an unexpected encounter with the Mothership and her new boyfriend… Suddenly it’s feeling less like paradise and more like the HOLIDAY FROM HELL. Finn’s going to need some serious good luck to turn this festival of fails into a week of wins!

'Failure has never been this funny. Finn is my new hero!' – Rob Biddulph

What to expect:

Illustrations by the brilliant and hilarious AL MUPRHY
Laughter guaranteed
Holiday humiliations
Cringe karaoke
Poolside pranks
Off the scale Fail-o-meters!!!
And MUCH MORE…!

'Absolutely captures how mortifying school can be! Painfully accurate, like Adrian Mole with smartphones.' – Louie Stowell

'Pure comedy genius. This book belongs on every kid's bookshelf!' – Jenny Pearson

Finn’s Epic Fails

Emma — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A hilarious new series by award-winning author Phil Earle which introduces Finn N. O. Hope and his life of epic failure! Perfect for readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Loki and Tom Gates.

?Finn just wants to survive Year 7, but his life is destined to be a series of epic fails. It’s only Tuesday and his scheming, unicorn-obsessed little sister has already stuck a horn to his head (with superglue) and his properly evil older brother has wedgied him 278 times. And don’t even ask what happened at swimming, in front of the WHOLE CLASS. At least he has best friends Laszlo (a hopeless romantic) and Google (ask her anything) by his side as he attempts to turn failure into victory in his very own book that is definitely not a diary.

‘A comedy classic and hilarious page-turner from a genuinely brilliant writer.’ Liz Pichon, author of Tom Gates series

‘Pure comedy genius – Finn’s Epic Fails will have you howling with laughter and cheering for more! This book belongs on every kid’s bookshelf!’ – Jenny Pearson, author of The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates

‘Failure has never been this funny. Finn is my new hero!’ – Rob Biddulph, author of Draw With Rob

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Illustrations by the brilliant and hilarious AL MUPRHY
Mortifying moments
Laughter guaranteed
Disastrous supply teachers
A stinky stray dog who may just be the PERFECT best friend
PRANKS!
Mates who save the day
OFF THE SCALE FAILOMETERS!!!
And much more?!

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle won the 2022 British Book Award for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year, the Books Are My Bag Readers Award and the Times Children’s Book of the Year.

The Dawn of Adonis

Emma — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The much-anticipated thrilling companion to the award-winning When the Sky Falls from best-selling author Phil Earle.It is 1911 and London’s docks thrum with underhand deals, none so great as the arrival of a valuable, rare and exotic animal, smuggled from the depths of the Congolese rainforest. The baby gorilla stands to make one man, the shady Goliath Deeds, very, very rich: he and his right-hand man, juvenile pickpocket, Toff Squabble. Heaven help anyone who dares stand in their way, not least the brave and innocent twelve-year-old Nettie Beecroft, who finds herself embroiled in a dangerous rescue attempt where she encounters toshers, bone grubbers and gangsters. Whom can Nettie trust? And can she save the life of this very special creature?’This richly atmospheric adventure . . . confirms Earle as a master of his craft’ Daily Mail’Nobody writes striking, heartfelt adventure like Phil Earle. I loved it!’ Ross Montgomery’It’s a tremendous nail-biting read, tender and terrifying in equal measure’ Jacqueline WilsonPraise for When the Sky Falls:’A magnificent story’ Philip Pullman’Deeply felt, movingly written, a remarkable achievement’ Michael Morpurgo

Two families to call my own

Emma — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Florrie now lives in two different houses:
One with her mum.
One with her dad.

And everything finally feels just right. Until Florrie’s dad gets a new girlfriend… who’s not her mum!

Will having two families be too much for Florrie?

A comforting picture book tackling the tricky emotions that surface when blending families after a separation, while celebrating new connections.

Brought to you by best-selling and award-winning author, of When the Sky Falls and Two Places To Call Home, Phil Earle.

Praise for Two Places to Call Home:

‘Phil Earle’s reassuring and hopeful picture book suggests imaginative ways to find courage and to tackle a child’s anxiety about parents who separate.’ Sunday Times

‘Heartfelt, honest and positive – a much needed, wonderful picture book!’ Jim Field

‘A gentle and beautiful book filled with comfort and imagination.’ Katya Balen, Carnegie Medal winner

‘Warm and wise and sweet.’ Ross Montgomery

‘Perfect example of how picture books can be a powerful tool when helping children to make sense of their lives. Just lovely.’ Rob Biddulph

‘A soothing and positive tale for those feeling split down the middle after a parental breakup.’ Benji Davies

Northern soul

Emma — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

From award-winning author Phil Earle comes the hilariously agonising account of one teenage boy’s disastrous attempts to win the heart of the cool new girl at school.

Marv’s fourteen and his life is simple. There’s football. And his best mate, Jimmy. Perfect.

Nothing else matters until a new girl at school called Carly crashes into his life. For Marv, it’s love at first sight, his emotions flipped upside down, as he knows a girl like Carly will never notice him.

He needs help – lots of it – but when it miraculously arrives in the shape of a musical idol from the past, the path to Carly’s heart proves anything but easy ?

First love is unforgettable, and poor Marv is about to learn this the hard way – him, and his northern soul ?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 8.

Until the road ends

Emma — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

From the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls comes the heart-rending story of evacuee Peggy, separated from her beloved dog Beau in the Second World War. Peggy and her dog Beau are inseparable: the only thing that can ever come between them is war. Peggy is evacuated to the safety of the coast, but Beau is left behind in the city. He becomes the most extraordinary and unlikely of war heroes, searching the streets after the bombs fall for survivors. Then disaster strikes when Peggy’s parents are killed, leaving her and Beau alone, hundreds of miles apart. But Beau has a plan to reunite them… ‘Dad’s Army meets Animals of Farthing Wood. Warm, weepy, wonderful. Victory medals all round’ The Times, Children’s Book of the Week’A heartbreaking story of love and devotion in the midst of war’ Waterstones

Two places to call home

Emma — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Florrie has two of everything.
Two lovely brothers . . .
Two smashing parents . . .
Two very cuddled pets.

But two isn’t always a magic number, as Florrie now has to live in TWO different houses:
one with her mum . . . and one with her dad.

An uplifting picture book that helps young readers embrace change and discuss their feelings around divorce or separation.

Brought to you by the award-winning, best-selling author, of When the Sky Falls, Phil Earle.

While the Storm Rages

Emma — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

From the bestselling author of When the Sky Falls comes the remarkable story of Noah’s fight to save his beloved family dog following the outbreak of the Second World War. September 1939. The world is on the brink of war. As his dad marches off to fight, Noah makes him a promise, to keep their beloved family dog safe. When the government advises people to have their pets put down in readiness for the chaos of war, Noah and his two best friends go on the run to save his dog and as many animals as they can… ‘A page-turning triumph to make you laugh and cry – it’s Phil Earle at his best’ Jacqueline Wilson’A triumph’ The Sunday Times, Children’s Book of the Week’Another gritty adventure full of heart, humour and historical accuracy’ Daily Mail

Supernan’s Day Out

Emma — Thu, 05 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

An unexpected family secret has hilarious consequences in this action-packed story from Phil Earle and illustrator Steve May – perfect for superhero fans.

Plane crashes, robberies and fires were not what Stanley was expecting on a day out at the seaside with his nan and the other residents of her care home! Nan doesn’t know about his superpowers, so Super Stan can’t step in to help as it would blow his cover.

Luckily, though, another mysterious superhero seems to be on hand, saving the day. But who could it possibly be?