Alf loves soccer, but is he good enough? F&P: E, RR/DLL: 8, DRA2: 6, Stage: Early, Type: Nonfiction

ALF enjoys a day out at the fair.

After a trophy-laden and record-setting club and international career, England’s greatest ever goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, could rightly look forward to an equally successful post-playing career. But a gambling habit forged in his playing days soon spiralled into a gambling addiction: a silent, self-destructive and ruinous obsession that destroyed relationships, his mental health and very nearly himself. With the love and support of his wife Steph, he was able to face up to his addiction, find hope for the future and overcome his 45-year secret and turn his life around. Peter and Steph – who has over 20 years’ experience working in the NHS – now campaign to raise awareness of this, and other destructive addictions, helping both addicts and their partners weather the long and arduous journey back to recovery. Their charity ‘Gambling with Lives’ works with both the government and FA to tackle the tragic rate of suicide associated with gambling addiction, and campaigns to bring in stricter advertising controls. Steph and Peter bravely tell both sides of their journey with a direct honesty and an empathy born of real-life experience, offering advice and hope to not only to those effected by gambling, but sufferers of other chronic addictions. They also shine a light on football’s obsession with gambling, taking millions of pounds from the gambling sites and bookies who sponsor the game, while neglecting to support both the players and fans who fall prey to addiction. This is the ultimately uplifting story of how he was saved – by Steph’s love and support, and his own strength and determination.

No one is better poised to write the biography of James Herriot than the son who worked alongside him in the Yorkshire veterinary practice when Herriot became an internationally bestselling author. Now, in this warm and poignant memoir, Jim Wight talks about his father--the beloved veterinarian whom his family had to share with half the world. Alf Wight (aka James Herriot) grew up in Glasgow, where he lived during a happy rough-and-tumble childhood and then through the challenging years of training at the Glasgow Veterinary College. The story of how the young vet later traveled to the small Yorkshire town of Thirsk, aka Darrowby, to take the job of assistant vet is one that is well known through James Herriot's internationally celebrated books and the popular All Creatures Great and Small television series. But Jim Wight's biography ventures beyond the trials and tribulations of his father's life as a veterinarian to reveal the man behind the stories--the private individual who refused to allow fame and wealth to interfere with his practice or his family. With access to all of his father's papers, correspondence, manuscripts, and photographs--and intimate remembrances of all the farmers, locals, and friends who populate the James Herriot books--only Jim Wight could write this definitive biography of the man who was not only his father but his best friend. NOTE: This edition does not include a photo insert.

The Tough of the Track was The Victor's most popular hero, having instilled the competitive spirit into millions of British lads for over 50 years. A welder who worked under railway arches, Alf Tupper survived on a diet of fish and chips. He was always the underdog, running against posh toffs who devised underhand ways of keeping him off the winner's rostrum. Although Alf often looked beaten, he nearly always came through in the final few strides, exclaiming "I've run him!" as he breasted the winning tape in a photo-finish. Published in the year the Olympic Games returns to Britain, this nostalgic anthology will not only be the perfect gift for the millions of men whose love of sport was kindled in their youth by Alf Tupper, but will also enthrall and inspire a new generation of boys to go and win against all the odds.

Alf the Bear is a timely retelling of the story of the Prodigal Son, written as a tale to be read by adults to children of all ages. Poignant, humorous, incisive and exciting, with simple illustrations designed to be copied or coloured in, this little book brings the timeless message of a classic parable to life in a novel and interesting way as unchanging themes are introduced in very modern ways. Alf is impatient to receive his inheritance and leave his home town for the bright lights of the big city. Having pestered his father to give in to his wishes, Alf sets off on his adventures, using his money to make a name for himself and become the celebrity he has always wanted to be. That is, until the money runs out and Alf’s star fades rapidly away. Alone, rejected and hungry, he thinks of all that he left behind at home and resolves to return there, where a surprise welcome awaits him. Whilst the Prodigal Son remains rooted in Christian teaching, those of other or no faith will enjoy this tale as much as anyone else. For Christian parents or carers, Alf’s story provides an accessible route into the lessons that Jesus’s parable teaches us about numerous topics, not least of which is the underlying message of God, our Father’s, Love for us all.

Alf Spanner is a mild mannered scientist who makes a living making robots and designing computer systems. One day he is approached by Major Tom Parker from the ESRA Corporation and is asked if he can build a craft that can move faster than the speed of light. Alf has been working on such a theory for six years and is happy to accept the task, until he discovers that the Major has hidden agendas. Alf is not a hero and enlists the help of his friend Liam Mail to stop the Major, but this puts Liams girlfriend in danger. In a race against time they must save the girl and stop the Major, whilst being pursued by a deadly assassin. Will they succeed? Only time will tell.

Life isn't always easy for Mrs Pepperpot. She never knows quite what size she's going to be from one moment to the next, and shrinking to the size of a pepperpot can have some unfortunate, hilarious and hair-raising results! Mrs Pepperpot, that tiny, feis