Liz Pichon

Things are looking up for Tom Gates. The school dance is coming up, and his birthday, too! What could possibly put him in a bad mood? Well, the words math lesson, for one thing. And that annoying twit Marcus Meldrew at school. And Granny Mavis threatening to bake Tom's birthday cake (carrots!). And the fact that nobody seems to be noticing the long list of birthday presents Tom has prominently displayed. Worst of all, can it be true that Tom's dad...

Tom Gates is the master of excuses for late homework: dog attacks, spilt water, lightening. Tom's exercise book is full of his doodles, cartoons and thoughts, as well as comments from his long-suffering teacher, Mr Fullerton. After gaining five merits for his 'Camping Sucks' holiday story, Tom's work starts to go downhill, which is a pity, as he's desperate to impress Amy Porter, who sits next to him.

Tom Gates is happy about a day off from school because of the snow, but not so happy about the upcoming family portrait for his grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary.

When their mother sends them packing, three pigs find despicable ways to find new accommodations, but when the big, friendly wolf tries to show them the error of their ways, the pigs respond by huffing and puffing.

Tom Gates fills his notebooks with sketches and comments about his family and friends, including seeing his sister Delia without her sunglasses, trying to get in shape for Sport's Day, and forming a band, the Dogzombies, with his friends for the school talent show.

On her way to her grandfather's house with a bunch of bananas, Beatrice has a series of mishaps with jungle animals who each substitute something new for what she is carrying.

A simple lesson about the basics of addition and subtraction, with help from some funny animals and creatures.