It is unlikely that we still publish a title more than 5-10 years old. If we do, it is likely that the format has changed and might not be exactly what you are looking for. For more information on finding older Ladybird titles, please visit the vintage Ladybird website or try one of the following collector sites:

The Wee Web
Contents include: History, series listing and information, identifying editions, FAQs, Ladybird Forum, Articles and Bookshop.
Website: www.theweeweb.co.uk/index.php

Ladybird Fly Away Home
Contents include: Articles, Information for Collectors, Identifying editions, Key Words and Bookshop.
Website: www.ladybirdflyawayhome.com

Easy on the Eye
Contents include: Information on Artists and Illustrators, SwapShop, Series Listing and information.
Website: www.easyontheeye.net/ladybird

Ladybird Book Collector
Contents include: History, Series Information and Series Tips.
Website: www.ladybirdbookcollector.co.uk

Minty Lou's Cool Collectables
Contents include: Bookshop
Website: www.mintylou.connectfree.co.uk

Stella & Rose's Books
Contents include: Information and Bookshop
Website: www.rosesbooks.com

The Arran Alexander Collection
Contents include: Information and Bookshop
Website: www.arranalexander.co.uk

You can buy online from the Ladybird bookshop or by calling Customer Services on 0845 313 4444.

Click here to see all overseas publishers.

Browse our Advice and Resources for more information on how Ladybird Books can be used to aid your child's learning or email for advice at helpline@ladybird.co.uk

People frequently ask us how to go about getting published. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any unsolicited manuscripts or synopses and cannot enter into correspondence about unpublished work. We can, however, offer the following advice on how to go about getting into print.

A great place to start is your local library where you'll find a wealth of information on writers groups and plenty of books on writing and the publishing process.

When you feel your work is ready for publishing you need to get a Literary Agent. Agents can objectively advise you on your work and will know the most suitable publisher to take it to, not to mention fighting for the best deal on your behalf. A comprehensive listing of UK literary agents can be found in the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, published annually by A & C Black.

There are a number of websites who offer great advice and writer's resources:

Authorlink
Writers resource and rights marketplace
Website: http://www.authorlink.com

Booktrust
Provides listings, factsheets on publishing and getting published, plus book news
Website: http://www.booktrust.org.uk

The Writers' Advice Centre for Children's Books
Founded in 1994 The Writers' Advice Centre for Children's Book is the only manuscript agency in the United Kingdom specialising solely in children's publishing.
The Writers' Advice Centre for Children's Books
16 Smiths Yard
London SW18 4HR
Tel: 0797 9905353 Email: info@writersadvice.co.uk Website: http://www.writersadvice.co.uk

We wish you the best of luck and hope you are successful in placing your work.

Illustrators

If you feel that your style is suitable for Ladybird Books, please add your work to our Flickr group: www.flickr.com/groups/iwanttobealadybirdillustrator. However, due to the high number of submissions we receive, we can only respond to those we feel might be suitable for our titles.

Due to the volume of requests received we are unable to send advice to students looking for information on how children's books are made and other related issues. For more information on the history of Ladybird Books, please browse the vintage Ladybird [Link to www.vintageladybird.com] website, the main site contains information on our current publishing and educational issues, as well as links to other sites that might be of help.

Other websites you might find useful for research purposes are:

• www.penguin.co.uk
• www.puffin.co.uk
• www.publishingnews.co.uk
• www.thebookseller.co.uk

Please visit our Ladybird worldwide page for more information.

All our sound book batteries are guaranteed for one year. If your battery has run out, you should find information on replacing the batteries on the book jacket. Our Noisy Noisy range requires three AG-10 button cell batteries, which can be purchased from numerous outlets, including Amazon.

For customer service enquires, including online orders, please contact;

Tel: 0845 313 4444
UK Enquiries: customer.service@penguin.co.uk.
International Enquiries: enquiries.international@pearson.com.

• Trade - UK, export and international
• Schools: Puffin Book Club and Books on Demand
• Ladybird international contacts
• Website enquiries

Trade - UK, export and international

For all UK trade account queries, please contact orders@penguin.co.uk
For all export trade account queries, please contact export@penguin.co.uk
For all international trade sales enquiries, please contact internationalsales@penguin.co.uk

Schools: Puffin Book Club and Books on Demand

Find out how to inspire your pupils to read and how to get £6,000/€8,760 of free books a year for your school through Puffin Book Club.

Teachers! Get a 20% discount on all Penguin, Puffin, DK and Ladybird titles with Books on Demand. Plus there's free school delivery, free gifts online and a dedicated customer service team.

For further information on Puffin Book Club and Books on Demand, please contact:

Email: pbccustomerservice@penguin.co.uk
Tel: 0500 454 444 (UK)
Tel: 1800 340 131 (ROI).
Tel: +800 3382 2833 (International Schools).

Ladybird international contacts
Visit our Ladybird Worldwide page for more information.

Website enquiries
The following email address is intended for correspondence regarding the Ladybird website only. Please check through our frequently asked questions list before emailing, as due to the high volume of emails we receive; only specific queries that are not covered here can be answered. Thank you and click here ladybird@uk.penguingroup.com to contact us.

Please note: Unfortunately we are unable to respond to any queries already covered by our frequently asked questions page.

Our search engine makes it easy to find what you're looking for. You can search for a book using our quick search, which appears at the top of each page. Click 'search' and you should receive a search results page with the information you were looking for.

If you can't find the book you are looking for it may be that it is no longer in print, or for more recent books, that it is in the process of being re-printed. We only display titles on the site that are currently in print and that can be purchased from the site. However, it may be possible to find the Ladybird book you are looking for by searching a specialist collector site:

The Wee Web
Contents include: History, series listing and information, identifying editions, FAQs, Ladybird Forum, Articles and Bookshop.
Website: www.theweeweb.co.uk/index.php

Ladybird Fly Away Home
Contents include: Articles, Information for Collectors, Identifying editions, Key Words and Bookshop.
Website: www.ladybirdflyawayhome.com

Easy on the Eye
Contents include: Information on Artists and Illustrators, SwapShop, Series Listing and information.
Website: www.easyontheeye.net/ladybird

Ladybird Book Collector
Contents include: History, Series Information and Series Tips.
Website: www.ladybirdbookcollector.co.uk

Minty Lou's Cool Collectables
Contents include: Bookshop
Website: www.mintylou.connectfree.co.uk

Stella & Rose's Books
Contents include: Information and Bookshop
Website: www.rosesbooks.com/informationsource/ladybird/ladybird_home.php

To place an order, simply click on the 'Buy now' button against the appropriate book title. You can use the 'YourBasket' button on the top right-hand side of the page to view the contents of your shopping basket. When you have finished shopping, click to pay, and you will be asked to enter your delivery information and your credit card details.

All orders must be in UK pounds sterling.

If you have any questions regarding your order please email us at: customer.service@penguin.co.uk or telephone 0845 313 4444.

Safe Shopping

It is as safe to shop at penguin.co.uk as it is to shop by credit card at a regular store. We use the latest security software, and have been issued a Secure Server Digital Certificate by BT Trustwise.

Shipping Information

Delivery Charges: these are books.ladybird.co.uk's delivery charges in UK pounds sterling (£). To work out your total delivery charge, add up the Charge per Order and the Charge per Item columns for your region.

*Delivery is FREE for orders of £25.00 or over in the UK.

**There is no delivery charge for ebooks.

Where applicable, VAT will be charged at a local rate.

Delivery Times

UK - Your order should reach you within 2-3 working days
Europe - Your order should reach you within 6-8 working days
Rest of the World - Your order should reach you within 8-11 working days

The availability and published prices are correct at time of going to press but are subject to alteration without prior notice.

Should you have any queries about your order, our Customer Service department can be contacted at customer.service@penguin.co.uk.

Returns

If you are unhappy with any product you purchase on this website for any reason (other than any ebook, which cannot, by reason of its nature, be returned. See the Terms & Conditions of sale for further information), you may return it to us in its original condition within 14 working days and we will provide a full refund. If the reason for the return is the result of our error, or if the item was damaged before it reached you, we will refund the postage costs.

To make a return please send the item securely wrapped, along with your packing slip and a letter giving the reason for the return.

Please send the package to the following address:

Online Returns Department
Ladybird Books Ltd
Pearson Customer Operations
Edinburgh Gate
Harlow
Essex
CM20 2JE

We recommend that you use a recorded delivery service.

Post & Fax Orders

Books can be ordered by post or fax using our Penguin Direct ordering service:

Penguin Direct
Pearson Customer Operations
Edinburgh Gate
Harlow
Essex
CM20 2JE
Fax: 0870 8505777

UK orders only. Delivery is normally within 14 working days.

Shopping online

Simply click on the 'YourAccount' button on the top right-hand corner of the Penguin homepage. When the log-in screen appears, insert your email address and then click the password hint button. You will then see the hint and the password prompt will now say 'email me my password'. Click this and the password will be emailed to you.

Email your request to ladybird@penguin.co.uk with your name and address, and we will do our best to send a catalogue out as soon as possible.

If you are a UK trade customer please contact your Penguin sales rep for copies of the catalogues.

Purchased from a shop

We apologise for any errors that occurred during the printing process. For severe defects such as missing pages or improper binding, please return the book to the store where you purchased it and they will replace the copy.

Please note, Ladybird cannot replace books purchased from bookshops (as opposed to books purchased from our website). This is because we sell our stock to the bookshops and they are then responsible for dealing with any faulty products in accordance with their own returns policies.

Purchased at www.ladybird.co.uk

If you are unhappy with any product you purchase on this website for any reason (other than any ebook, which cannot, by reason of its nature, be returned. See the Terms & Conditions of sale for further information), you may return it to us in its original condition within 14 working days and we will provide a full refund. If the reason for the return is the result of our error, or if the item was damaged before it reached you, we will refund the postage costs.

To make a return please send the item securely wrapped, along with your packing slip and a letter giving the reason for the return.

Please send the package to the following address:

Online Returns Department
Ladybird Books Limited
Pearson Customer Operations
Edinburgh Gate
Harlow
Essex
CM20 2JE

We recommend that you use a recorded delivery service.

For further information, please contact customer.service@penguin.co.uk. This email address is specifically dedicated to enquiries concerning books that have been ordered online through www.ladybird.co.uk.

If you are looking for a title which is now out-of-print, try one of the out-of-print finding services listed below:

ABE Books
For first editions, antiquarian and out of print books: includes reviews
Website: http://www.abebooks.com

Book Finder
Over 40 million new, used, rare, and out of print books at your fingertips
Website: http://www.bookfinder.com/

Books at Sixpence
Advice, communication and trading centre for book collectors
Website: http://www.booksatsixpence.co.uk

Zardoz
Out of print and collectable books dealer
Website: http://www.zardozbooks.co.uk

To request review copies, please call 020 7010 3000 and ask to speak to the Ladybird press office.

Please click here to download the rights and permissions request form. Email the completed form to rights-brandsandlicensing@uk.penguingroup.com and a member of our rights team will be in touch in due course.

For a full listing of our current vacancies, graduate recruitment and details on working in the Penguin Group please see our Careers website.

You can find information on the following websites:

Achuka
The independent children's books site brimming with information on children's books
Website: http://www.achuka.co.uk

Booktrust
Book readers and professionals site, provides listings and news
Website: http://www.booktrust.org.uk

British Council for Arts, Literature and Design
British Arts Council, literature and design events and services
Website: http://www.britcoun.org

Parent's Information Network (PIN)
Information and advice about how to make the most of computers at home
Website: http://www.pin.org.uk

Reading Connects
Reading Connects is a DfES-funded National Reading Campaign initiative that supports schools in using reading for pleasure to enhance achievement
Website: http://www.readingconnects.org.uk

Reading Matters
Book reviews and book lists by theme, plus a handy way to choose a book for your child - enter details about their age and interests and a title is chosen for you
Website: http://www.readingmatters.co.uk

Scottish Booktrust
Book readers and professionals site, provides listings and news for Scotland
Website: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com

The British Library
The British Library is the national library of the UK
Website: http://www.bl.uk

The Bookseller
Publishing industry news
Website: http://www.thebookseller.com

The Federation of Children's Book Groups
Local groups of adults and children interested in books, plus some useful book lists
Website: http://www.fcbg.org.uk

The National Literacy Trust
Up-to-date information about literacy for all age groups throughout the UK, including details of the National Reading Campaign and Reading is Fundamental, UK
Website: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk

Wordpool
Advice on choosing books for children and helping children with reading
Website: http://www.wordpool.co.uk

Book charities:

Book Aid International
Book Aid International targets those in greatest need and each year provides over 750,000 books to support literacy, education, training and publishing in more than 40 of the poorest countries in the world
Website: http://www.bookaid.org/cms.cgi/site

Readathon
Children's book news, views and jokes. Find out what other schools are up to and help raise money for charity simply by reading a book
Website: http://www.readathon.org

Out-of-print, second-hand and antiquarian Ladybird Books:

The Wee Web
Contents include: History, series listing and information, identifying editions, FAQs, Ladybird Forum, Articles and Bookshop.
Website: http://www.theweeweb.co.uk/index.php

Ladybird Fly Away Home
Contents include: Articles, Information for Collectors, Identifying editions, Key Words and Bookshop.
Website: http://www.ladybirdflyawayhome.com/

Easy on the Eye
Contents include: Information on Artists and Illustrators, SwapShop, Series Listing and information.
Website: http://www.easyontheeye.net/ladybird/index.htm

Ladybird Book Collector
Contents include: History, Series Information and Series Tips.
Website: http://www.ladybirdbookcollector.co.uk/

Minty Lou's Cool Collectables
Contents include: Bookshop
Website: http://www.mintylou.connectfree.co.uk/lbook1.htm

Stella & Rose's Books
Contents include: Information and Bookshop
Website: http://www.rosesbooks.com/informationsource/ladybird/ladybird_home.php

Ladybird Books Limited
Registered number: 200 130
Registered office: 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL

The reading scheme is carefully structured to ensure that a group of words are adequately repeated before the child has to learn a new group of words. The 'a' book introduces and repeats new words. The 'b' book reinforces learning by repeating these new words in a different way and with different illustrations. The 'c' book links reading to writing, spelling and phonics. For a more detailed explanation of Key Words with Ladybird, click here.

In the first instance you can help your child to practise phonics by: ensuring that he knows the sound that each letter of the alphabet makes. Helping him to use letters of the alphabet to make simple, three-letter words, e.g. c-a-t, m-u-m, d-a-d, etc.

As children learn more about phonics, they start to blend consonants together: st, spr, nd, ng. They also learn the different spellings of long vowel sounds: 'a' as in train, name, play. For a more detailed explanation of phonics with Ladybird, click here.

Talking positively about what will happen at school is a great way to get ready for this big event. Talk about what your child can expect. She will need to do a few more things for herself, such as going to the toilet, getting changed for PE, and putting shoes and socks on.

Talk about what will happen during the day. Some children become anxious about lunch arrangements, being left behind at the end of the school day, or finding their way around the building. You can help your child feel more confident by taking advantage of organised visits or settling-in sessions provided by school.

Prepare her for classroom expectations. Your child will learn how to work with other children, how to share equipment, and how to speak and listen to adults and children. You can help by talking to your child about being polite, helping others and listening to instructions given by grown-ups.

For a more advice on starting school, click here.

Help your child with some basic learning - alphabet sounds, counting to 10, recognising some numbers, knowing colours and shapes, even writing her own name. Children learn best through play and talk. Use counting rhymes, touch and feel books, and wipe-clean formats to encourage your child to join in without worrying about getting it wrong or making a mistake that can't be rubbed out. For a more advice on starting school, click here.