Pickard, Richard – The Bell Bookshop https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk Henley-on-Thames Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:39:17 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-Bell-Background-Blue-32x32.png Pickard, Richard – The Bell Bookshop https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk 32 32 Son of the sea https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/son-of-the-sea/ Thu, 11 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/?post_type=product&p=32581  

A magical, wondrous novel by the author of The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy – about a boy who longs to swim, and a town with a mysterious past …

‘A hilarious and warm-hearted mystery set in a secretive seaside town, Son of the Sea had me hooked!‘  JENNIFER BELL, AUTHOR OF  LEGENDARIUM

‘A splashing success, frothing with adventure. This beautiful book is a witty, warm-hearted, web-toed delight.‘  SAM SEDGMAN, AUTHOR OF THE ADVENTURES ON TRAINS  SERIES

HIS FEET WERE THE FIRST CLUE …

Casper dreams of swimming the Channel. Surely, he was born to use his webbed toes … Instead, he’s strictly forbidden to go near water.

When his parents have an unlucky accident, Casper is sent to stay with a grandmother he’s never met – where he discovers his special tie to the sea …

  • From the acclaimed author of The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy – winner of the Times/Chicken House Competition Chairman’s Choice Award
  • Packed full of magical realism, humour, LGBTQ+ representation and a message of acceptance  
  • Perfect for readers aged 9 and up

 

]]> The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/the-peculiar-tale-of-the-tentacle-boy/ Thu, 05 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/?post_type=product&p=15215 When Marina discovers a boy called William with a head of tentacles and crab claws for hands, she resolves to help him unravel the mystery of his past. But danger lurks among the fishmongers of the seaside town of Merlington ...]]>  

A fin-tastic tale of friendship and adventure, perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Edward Scissorhands!

‘Charming and delightful … a whimsical adventure story stuffed to the flippers with fish puns and fun’ SAM SEDGMAN

‘I loved this story of fish, friendship and finding yourself.’ A.F. STEADMAN

‘The story has been polished like a pebble in a gift shop ? so charming and quirky is our voyage’ THE TIMES

Marina lives in Merlington, a fish-obsessed seaside town. Unfortunately, she doesn’t care for fish; she loves telling stories.

Marina finds her best story yet when she explores the ruined, haunted pier: a boy called William with a head of tentacles and crab claws for hands. He has lived on the pier all his life, cared for by a fisherman who has since disappeared and who warned him always to remain hidden.

Together, the pair resolve to unravel the mystery of his past – but danger isn’t far away …

  • The debut novel by Richard Pickard, a fresh new voice in children’s fiction and winner of the Times/Chicken House Chairman’s Choice Award 2019.
  • A funny, dark, core middle-grade story touching on themes of lies, storytelling, secrets, acceptance and, of course, fish!
  • Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and Edward Scissorhands!
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