Mischief on the Moors
Illustrated by Marta Dorado
- Age Range: 8-11
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Education
- Format: Paperback
- Genre: fiction
- ISBN: 978-1801991780
- Publication date: 5 January 2023
- Print length: 80 pages
- Dimensions: 12.8 x 0.8 x 19.4 cm
- Curriculum Links: Myths, legends, British geography and folklore
Synopsis
Daisy and Liberty are two bored sisters living in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Dartmoor. The most adventure they ever have is riding their BMX bikes around the local abandoned quarry, until one day they come across a mysterious creature, and their world turns upside down!
A magical adventure imbued with humour that will keep readers involved as the girls try to solve the mystery
The story is immersed in local Dartmoor legend and features black-and-white illustrations by Marta Dorado.
Author’s note
“This book is very close to my heart for two reasons. Firstly, I grew up in Ivybridge right on the edge of Dartmoor, and often walked near Hay Tor, pictured on the front cover .Secondly, the two main characters are named after my daughters, Liberty and Daisy.”
For Teachers
- Folklore & Local Heritage Integration: The story blends a modern setting (BMX-riding sisters on Dartmoor) with classic British folklore (Dartmoor pixies). It provides a natural hook for Year 4 English units on myths, legends, and local British geography/traditions.
- High-Interest, Accessible Length: Published as a Bloomsbury Reader, it features black-and-white illustrations by Marta Dorado alongside short, manageable chapters. This makes it an ideal “bridge text” for confident Year 3 or Year 4 readers who need to build stamina with longer chapter books without feeling overwhelmed by dense text.
- Themes of Kindness & Problem-Solving: The plot centers on two sisters using empathy and problem-solving rather than conflict to address magical disruption. This fits nicely into PSHE topics around family relationships, teamwork, and community events (e.g., preparing entries for a local village fete).
- Bloomsbury Reader Teacher Resources: Bloomsbury publishes accompanying guided reading notes, discussion questions, and activity sheets designed specifically for classroom guided reading groups and reciprocal reading instruction.
Example Illustrations by Marta Dorado
Related Books
Young Discoverers
illustrated by Violaine Leroy
